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Don Taylor is a Actor, Director, Scriptwriter and Producer American born on 13 december 1920 at Freeport (USA)

Don Taylor

Don Taylor
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Nationality USA
Birth 13 december 1920 at Freeport (USA)
Death 29 december 1998 (at 78 years) at Los Angeles (USA)

Don Taylor (December 13, 1920 – December 29, 1998) was an American actor and film director. He co-starred in 1950s classics, including Stalag 17, Father of the Bride, and the 1948 film noir The Naked City. He later turned to directing films such as Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), Tom Sawyer (1973), and Damien: Omen II (1978).

Biography

Early life and work
Born in Freeport, Pennsylvania, on December 13, 1920, Taylor studied speech and drama at Penn State University and hitchhiked to Hollywood in 1942. He was signed as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and appeared in small roles. Drafted into the United States Army Air Forces (AAF) during World War II, he appeared in the Air Forces's Winged Victory Broadway play and movie (1944), credited as "Cpl. Don Taylor."


Acting career
After discharge from the AAF, Taylor was cast in a lead role as the young detective, Jimmy Halloran, working alongside veteran homicide detective Dan Muldoon (Barry Fitzgerald) in Universal's 1948 screen version of The Naked City, which was notable for being filmed entirely on location in New York. Taylor was later part of the ensemble cast in MGM's classic World War II drama Battleground (1949). He then appeared as the husband of Elizabeth Taylor in the comedies Father of the Bride (1950) and its sequel Father's Little Dividend (1951), starring Spencer Tracy. Another memorable role was Vern "Cowboy" Blithe in Flying Leathernecks (1951). In 1953, Taylor had a key role as the escaping prisoner Lt. Dunbar in Billy Wilder's Stalag 17. His last major film role came in I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955).


Directorial career
From the late 1950s through the 1980s, Taylor turned to directing movies and TV shows, such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, the short-lived Steve Canyon, starring Dean Fredericks, and Rod Serling's Night Gallery. One of his memorable efforts, in 1973, was the musical film Tom Sawyer, which boasted a Sherman Brothers song score. Other films that Taylor directed are Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), Echoes of a Summer (1976), The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday (also 1976), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977) starring Burt Lancaster, Damien: Omen II (1978) with William Holden, and The Final Countdown (1980) with Kirk Douglas.

Taylor occasionally performed both acting and directing roles simultaneously, as he did for episodes of the TV detective series Burke's Law.


Personal life
Taylor was married twice.


His first wife was Phyllis Avery, whom he married in 1944; they divorced in 1955, but not before the births of their daughters Anne and Avery.
His second wife was Hazel Court, whom he married in 1964 and stayed with until his death; they had a son, Jonathan, and a daughter, Courtney.
Death
Taylor died on December 29, 1998 at the University of California Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, of heart failure.

Best films

The Final Countdown (1980)
(Director)
Stalag 17 (1953)
(Actor)
The Naked City (1948)
(Actor)

Usually with

Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Don Taylor (46 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Holy Wars
Holy Wars (2010)

Origin USA
Genres Documentary
Themes Films about religion, Documentary films about religion
Actors Sam Harris, Don Taylor
Roles Himself
Rating72% 3.6096353.6096353.6096353.6096353.609635
Holy Wars is mostly filmed from the perspective of two missionaries, Khalid Kelly and Aaron Taylor. The film takes a look at the religious fundamentalism in Pakistan, Lebanon, United Kingdom, and the United States as well as the decades long conflict between Islam and Christianity. The film features several interviews, including one with author Sam Harris.
The Truman Show, 1h43
Directed by Peter Weir, David Cronenberg
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Social science fiction, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Comic science fiction
Themes Films about families, Films about television, Comedy science fiction films, La téléréalité, Dystopian films
Actors Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor
Rating81% 4.0703154.0703154.0703154.0703154.070315
Truman Burbank is the unsuspecting star of The Truman Show, a reality television program in which his entire life, since before birth, is filmed by thousands of hidden cameras, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is broadcast live around the world. The show's creator and executive producer Christof is able to capture Truman's real emotion and human behavior when put in certain situations. Truman's coastal hometown of Seahaven is a giant set built under a giant arcological dome in the Los Angeles area. Truman's family and friends are all played by actors, allowing Christof to control every aspect of Truman's life.
That's Entertainment! III, 1h53
Genres Documentary, Musical
Themes Films about films, Documentary films about business, Documentary films about the film industry, Documentary films about cities, Musical films, Documentary films about films
Actors Gene Kelly, June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Lena Horne, Howard Keel, Esther Williams
Roles (archive footage)
Rating74% 3.7388153.7388153.7388153.7388153.738815
Troisième volet de "Il était une fois Hollywood", "That's Entertainment III" nous propose un nouveau panorama de l'age d'or de la MGM mais aussi des chutes rarissimes, des séquences coupées lors de la sortie des films et des essais d'autres stars que celles qui furent finalement choisies.
The Manhunt, 1h31
Genres Action, Western
Actors Ethan Wayne, Henry Silva, Bo Svenson, Ernest Borgnine, Raimund Harmstorf, Don Taylor
Rating49% 2.489942.489942.489942.489942.48994
Wayne plays a nameless cowboy in modern-day Arizona who buys two horses at a fair but who is then arrested for theft because he failed to get the papers which would prove his ownership. He's sentenced to prison but escapes and begins a desperate search to find the man who sold him the horses.
The Five Man Army, 1h45
Directed by Don Taylor, Italo Zingarelli
Origin Italie
Genres Western, Spaghetti Western
Themes Transport films, Rail transport films, Political films
Actors Peter Graves, Bud Spencer, Nino Castelnuovo, Claudio Gora, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Marino Masè
Roles Poker Player (uncredited)
Rating65% 3.2973953.2973953.2973953.2973953.297395
The rebels want the "Dutchman" (Peter Graves) to rob a train carrying $500,000 in gold on behalf of Victoriano Huerta to finance the Mexican Revolution. So the Dutchman enlists four other men, a strong man (Bud Spencer), an acrobat (Nino Castelnuovo), an explosives specialist (James Daly) and a samurai (Tetsuro Tamba), promising to reward each one a thousand dollars. Their first undertaking is to save the rebel leader from being executed.
Ride the Wild Surf, 1h41
Directed by Don Taylor, William Castle, Phil Karlson
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Surfing films
Actors Shelley Fabares, Fabian Forte, Peter Brown, Barbara Eden, Tab Hunter, Susan Hart
Rating57% 2.899462.899462.899462.899462.89946
The story follows three surfers Jody Wallis (Fabian), Steamer Lane (Tab Hunter) and Chase Colton (Peter Brown), who come to Hawaii's Oahu Island to ride the world's biggest waves and compete against surfers from all over the world.
The Savage Guns, 1h23
Directed by Michael Carreras
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Romance, Western
Actors Richard Basehart, Don Taylor, Alex Nicol, José Manuel Martín, Fernando Rey, José Nieto
Roles Mike Summers
Rating49% 2.4774552.4774552.4774552.4774552.477455
The film takes place in a small valley in the Mexican state of Sonora, near the Arizona Territory, around 1870. Steve Fallon, a drifter and gun-for-hire, is severely exhausted when travelling through the barren landscape and is found by Mike Summers and his wife, Franchea. He is taken into their home and, while recovering, he learns that a local land baron, Ortega, is pressuring local ranchers to sell their land to him with the help of Danny Pose and his gang of outlaws. Fallon also develops feelings for Fanchea's sister, Juana.
Love Slaves of the Amazons, 1h21
Directed by Curt Siodmak
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Adventure, Romance
Actors Don Taylor, Eduardo Ciannelli, John Herbert, Tom Payne, Paul Frees
Roles Dr. Pete L. Masters
Rating48% 2.411972.411972.411972.411972.41197
Un jeune archéologue américain, le docteur Peter L. Masters, séjournant à Manaos, au Brésil, reçoit les confidences d'un excentrique : Crespi. Ce dernier lui apprend l'existence d'une troupe de femmes blondes et cruelles sur les bords de l'Amazone. Pour lui prouver le bien-fondé de ses affirmations, il lui dévoile une statuette d'or massif. Intrigué par cette découverte, Masters voyage dans cette communauté féminine. Mais, à sa plus grande surprise, les guerrières Amazones dévoilent leur cruauté envers les hommes qu'elles veulent dresser comme des esclaves sexuels. Aussitôt arrivé, Masters est rapidement prisonnier dans la jungle où il rencontre une captive, Gina. Le couple prépare leur évasion.
The Bold and the Brave, 1h27
Directed by Mickey Rooney, Lewis R. Foster
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Historical
Themes Political films
Actors Wendell Corey, Mickey Rooney, Don Taylor, Nicole Maurey, John Smith, Tara Summers
Roles Ewald "Preacher" Wallister
Rating59% 2.953472.953472.953472.953472.95347
Amour, gloire et Brave trace les destins de trois soldats américains stationnés en Italie pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
I'll Cry Tomorrow, 1h57
Directed by Daniel Mann
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Melodrama
Themes Films about alcoholism, Medical-themed films, Films about music and musicians, Films about drugs, Films about television
Actors Susan Hayward, Richard Conte, Eddie Albert, Margo, Jo Van Fleet, Don Taylor
Roles Wallie
Rating71% 3.59413.59413.59413.59413.5941
Eight-year-old Lillian Roth (Carole Ann Campbell) is constantly pushed by her domineering stage mom, Katie (Jo Van Fleet), to audition and act even though she is merely a child. One day, Katie finally secures an opportunity in Chicago, which leads to Lillian, now older (Susan Hayward), to having a successful musical career. Even though 20 years have passed, Katie is still managing Lillian as well as running her life and career choices.
The Men of Sherwood Forest, 1h17
Directed by Val Guest
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Adventure, Historical
Actors Don Taylor, Reginald Beckwith, David King-Wood, Douglas Wilmer, Ballard Berkeley, Patrick Holt
Roles Robin Hood
Rating57% 2.8618052.8618052.8618052.8618052.861805
In 1194, on his return from the Third Crusade, Richard the Lionheart is taken prisoner in Germany. Disguised as a troubadour, Robin Hood builds a plan to take out it of this tight spot. Unfortunately, he is captured. The Merry Men then have to fulfil a double mission: find Robin Hood and save the King.
Johnny Dark, 1h30
Directed by George Sherman
Origin USA
Genres Action
Themes Sports films, Transport films, Films about automobiles, Auto racing films, Road movies
Actors Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, Don Taylor, Paul Kelly, Ilka Chase, Sidney Blackmer
Roles Duke Benson
Rating60% 3.0000353.0000353.0000353.0000353.000035
Johnny Dark and his pal Duke Benson work for Fielding Motors, where owner James Fielding manufactures family-friendly automobiles. Chief engineer Scotty overhears the guys complaining about the company and spots a sports-car design Johnny and Duke have done.
Stalag 17
Stalag 17 (1953)
, 2h
Directed by Billy Wilder
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Thriller, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Historical, Romance
Themes Military humor in film, Prison films, Théâtre, Political films, Évasion, Films based on plays
Actors William Holden, Don Taylor, Otto Preminger, Sig Ruman, Robert Strauss, Peter Graves
Roles Lt. James Dunbar
Rating79% 3.998243.998243.998243.998243.99824
Stalag 17 begins on "the longest night of the year" in 1944 in a Luftwaffe prisoner-of-war camp somewhere along the Danube River. The story is narrated by Clarence Harvey "Cookie" Cook (Gil Stratton). The camp holds Poles, Czechs, Russian females and, in the American compound, 640 sergeants from bomber crews, gunners, radiomen, and flight engineers.
Destination Gobi, 1h29
Directed by Robert Wise
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Adventure
Themes Political films
Actors Richard Widmark, Don Taylor, Ross Bagdasarian, Murvyn Vye, Max Showalter, Darryl Hickman
Roles Jenkins
Rating62% 3.1455853.1455853.1455853.1455853.145585
In November 1944, Chief Boatswain's Mate Sam McHale (Richard Widmark) is aghast to learn that he is being transferred from the USS Enterprise, his beloved aircraft carrier, to Argos 6, a Navy-operated weather station in Inner Mongolia's Gobi Desert. Capt. Gates (Willis Bouchey) explains to McHale that accurate weather forecasts are crucial to the Allies' success in the Pacific theater, and that his practical experience is required by meteorologist Commander Hobart Wyatt (Russell Collins) and his crew of technicians: Jenkins (Don Taylor), Walter Landers (Max Showalter), Wilbur "Coney" Cohen (Darryl Hickman), Elwood Halsey (Martin Milner), Frank Swenson (Earl Holliman) and Paul Sabatello (Ross Bagdasarian). Despite his longing for the ocean, McHale adjusts to life in the desert during the following six months, although Wyatt is bemused by McHale's dependence on the military's strict chain of command.
The Girls of Pleasure Island, 1h35
Directed by F. Hugh Herbert, Alvin Ganzer
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Political films
Actors Don Taylor, Leo Genn, Gene Barry, Elsa Lanchester, Philip Ober, Audrey Dalton
Roles Lt. Jimmy Gilmartin
Rating57% 2.860742.860742.860742.860742.86074
In 1945, Roger Halyard is a stiff-upper-lipped British gentleman who lives on a South Pacific island with his three nubile, naive daughters, Violet, Hester and Gloria. Hoping to shelter the girls from the lascivious advances of the opposite sex, Halyard is thwarted when 1,500 Marines arrive to transform the island into an aircraft landing base. Despite the best efforts of Halyard, his housekeeper Thelma, and Marine Colonel Reade, romance blossoms between the three girls and a trio of handsome leathernecks.