Australian actor, renowned for his suave and handsome appearance, made a significant impact in Hollywood during the 1950s, gradually transitioning from supporting roles to leading man in several iconic films.
His most memorable role was arguably as the inventive George Herbert Wells in George Pal's visually stunning adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic novel, The Time Machine (1960). What's more, Taylor and his co-star Alan Young, who played his best friend Filby, were reunited three decades later to film a 30-minute epilogue to the original movie, a testament to the enduring popularity of the film.
Taylor's dashing good looks and charm also served him well in his portrayal of Mitch Brenner in Alfred Hitchcock's chilling thriller, The Birds (1963),as well as his role as Jane Fonda's love interest in Sunday in New York (1963). Furthermore, he took on the titular role in John Ford's biopic of Irish playwright Sean O'Casey in Young Cassidy (1965),and co-starred alongside John Wayne in The Train Robbers (1973).
Taylor's impressive repertoire also includes a memorable appearance as Bette Davis' future son-in-law in the well-received film The Catered Affair (1956),as well as a standout performance as a German-American Nazi Major attempting to deceive James Garner in 36 Hours (1964).
During the 1960s and 1970s, Taylor appeared in numerous westerns and action films, although none of these "B" pictures managed to propel his star to new heights. He also led several TV series, including Bearcats! (1971),Masquerade (1983),and Outlaws (1986),although none of these shows managed to capture the attention of viewers, ultimately being cancelled after a single or two seasons.
However, many fans would agree that Rod Taylor's final great role was in the captivating Australian film The Picture Show Man (1977),a poignant tale of a travelling sideshow bringing "moving pictures" to remote towns in the Australian outback, a true testament to his enduring talent and versatility as an actor.
