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{{Short description|American actor (1910–1983)}}
{{about|the actor|the professional golfer|Vaughn Taylor}}
{{For|the professional golfer|Vaughn Taylor}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name=Vaughn Taylor
| name = Vaughn Taylor
|image= Veteran character actor Vaughn Taylor.jpeg
| image = Vaughn Taylor in Robert Montgomery Presents (cropped).jpg
| caption = Taylor in ''[[Robert Montgomery Presents]]'' (1952)
|birth_date={{birth date|1910|2|22}}
| birth_name = Vaughn Everett Taylor
|birth_place=[[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], USA
|death_date={{death date and age|1983|4|26|1910|2|22}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1910|02|22|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
|death_place=[[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1983|04|26|1910|02|22|mf=yes}}
|occupation=[[Film]], [[television]] [[actor]]}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| education = [[Northeastern University]] <br> [[Leland Powers School]]
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1933&ndash;1976
| spouse = {{marriage|Ruth Moss|1945|1983}}
}}


'''Vaughn Taylor''' (February 22, 1910 April 26, 1983) was an [[United States|American]] film and television actor. He was born in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]].
'''Vaughn Everett Taylor''' (February 22, 1911{{Citation needed |date=May 2023}} &ndash; April 26, 1983) was an American actor. He became known for his roles in many anthology series, including ''[[Kraft Television Theatre]]'' (1947–1957) and ''[[Robert Montgomery Presents]]'' (1950–1954). He also appeared in films such as ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958 film)|Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]'' (1958) and ''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'' (1960).


==Early years==
His film credits include ''[[Jailhouse Rock (1957 film)|Jailhouse Rock]]'', ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (film)|Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]'', ''[[Psycho (film)|Psycho]]'' and ''[[In Cold Blood (film)|In Cold Blood]]''.
Taylor was born in [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. He was a graduate of [[Northeastern University]] and the [[Leland Powers School|Leland Powers School of Elocution]], Boston.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Meegan|first1=Jean|title=Vaughn Taylor, 'Busiest' Television Actor, Gives Thanks That His Walk Up Rent Is Low|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501272/the_bridgeport_post/|work=The Bridgeport Post|agency=Associated Press|date=August 8, 1948|location=Connecticut, Bridgeport|page=3|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = June 5, 2017}} {{Open access}}</ref> Instead of pursuing a career in accounting, he tried [[summer stock theatre]] in Maine.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Panitt |first1=Merrill |title=Low Rent Helps Busiest Video Actor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24847448/vaughn_taylor/ |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=June 20, 1949 |location=Pennsylvania, Philadelphia |page=22|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = October 25, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> After army service in [[World War II]], he broke into TV. His wife Ruth Moss was a radio personality and Broadway actress.{{Citation needed |date=May 2023}}


==Military service==
In his many television appearances, Taylor was cast in several episodes of [[CBS]]'s ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|Twilight Zone]]'', including the role of the salesman in the episode" [[I Sing the Body Electric (The Twilight Zone)|I Sing the Body Electric]]". He also appeared in "[[Time Enough at Last]]", "[[Still Valley]]", "[[The Incredible World of Horace Ford]]" and "[[The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross]]".
After joining the Army as a private, Taylor became an officer via officer candidate school. Later he joined military intelligence and produced instructional plays about aspects of military intelligence to educate students from the Army.<ref name=":0" />


==Stage==
In 1958, Taylor appeared in [[Steve McQueen]]'s CBS [[western (genre)|western]] series, ''[[Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV series)|Wanted: Dead or Alive]]'' as a doctor shot to death in the back by the brother (played by [[Nick Adams (actor)|Nick Adams]]) of an outlaw (portrayed by [[Michael Landon]]), whom he had treated.
After his experience in summer stock, he joined a dramatic company and for several years participated in one-night productions in small towns in the Midwest.<ref name=":0" /> On Broadway, Taylor appeared in ''Hope's the Thing'' (1948).<ref>{{cite web |title=Vaughn Taylor |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/vaughn-taylor-98274 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026020538/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/vaughn-taylor-98274 |archive-date=26 October 2018}}</ref>


==Film==
Taylor guest starred as Jeremy Tolliver in the title role in the 1959 episode "The Trouble with Tolliver" of the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[Western (genre)|western]] drama, ''[[The Man from Blackhawk]]'', starring [[Robert Rockwell]] as a roving insurance investigator. [[Robert Bray]] also appeared in this episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ctva.biz/US/Western/ManFromBlackhawk.htm|title=''[[The Man from Blackhawk]]''|publisher=Classic Television Archives|accessdate=January 30, 2013}}</ref>
Taylor began his career in film in ''[[Up Front (film)|Up Front]]'' (1951).<ref name=cj/> His film appearances include ''[[Jailhouse Rock (1957 film)|Jailhouse Rock]]'' (1957), ''[[Decision at Sundown]]'' (1957), ''[[Gunsmoke in Tucson]]'' (1958),''[[Cowboy (1958 film)|Cowboy]]'' (1958), ''[[Screaming Mimi (film)|Screaming Mimi]]'' (1958), ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958 film)|Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]'' (1958), ''[[Warlock (1959 film)|Warlock]]'' (1959), ''[[The Gallant Hours]]'' (1960), ''[[The Plunderers (1960 film)|The Plunderers]]'' (1960), ''[[Diamond Head (film)|Diamond Head]]'' (1963), ''[[The Wheeler Dealers]]'' (1963), ''[[The Carpetbaggers (film)|The Carpetbaggers]]'' (1964), ''[[The Unsinkable Molly Brown (film)|The Unsinkable Molly Brown]]'' (1964), ''[[The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming]]'' (1966), ''[[The Professionals (1966 film)|The Professionals]]'' (1966), ''[[In Cold Blood (film)|In Cold Blood]]'' (1967), ''[[The Shakiest Gun in the West]]'' (1968), ''[[The Power (1968 film)|The Power]]'' (1968), ''[[The Ballad of Cable Hogue]]'' (1970).


<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Veteran character actor Vaughn Taylor.jpeg|thumb|Taylor in the film ''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'' (1960){{Deletable file-caption|Wednesday, 11 January 2023|F7}}]] -->
He was cast in 1960 again as a physician, Bryan Craig, in the episode "Strange Encounter" of the ABC/[[Warner Brothers]] [[Western (genre)|western]] series, ''[[Colt .45 (TV series)|Colt .45]]'', starring [[Wayde Preston]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050006/fullcredits#cast|title=''[[Colt .45 (TV series)|Colt .45]]''|publisher=[[Internet Movie Data Base]]|accessdate=December 17, 2012}}</ref>He also guest starred in the ABC/WB detective series, ''[[Bourbon Street Beat]]'' and in the 1960 NBC summer western series, ''[[Tate (TV series)|Tate]]'', starring [[David McLean (actor)|David McLean]].
In 1960 he appeared in [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s original ''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'' as Mr. Lowery, Marion Crane's employer in a small real estate office. The same year he starred in the movie about Admiral [[William F. Halsey]], ''[[The Gallant Hours]]'', as Commander Mike Pulaski, USN. Taylor's final film appearance was in another comedy, ''[[The Gumball Rally]]'', released in 1976.


==Television==
Taylor appeared three times in the 1960–1961 season in the [[Television syndication|syndicated]] series ''[[COronado 9]]'' starring [[Rod Cameron]]. He guest starred on ABC's ''[[The Real McCoys]], with [[Walter Brennan]], and in 1961, he played a [[veterinarian]] in another ABC [[sitcom]], ''[[The Hathaways]]'', starring [[Peggy Cass]], [[Jack Weston]], and the Marquis Chimps.
[[File:Cast of Robert Montgomery Presents.jpg|thumb|Ensemble cast of ''[[Robert Montgomery Presents]]'' (from left): [[Elizabeth Montgomery]], Vaughn Taylor, [[Margaret Hayes]] and [[John Newland]]]]
Taylor portrayed Horatio Frisby on the comedy series ''[[Johnny Jupiter]]''.<ref name="etvs">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, N.C.|isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7|page=541|edition=2nd}}</ref> He was also a regular performer on ''Montgomery's Summer Stock'', which was a summer replacement for ''[[Robert Montgomery Presents]]'' from 1953 through 1956.{{r|etvs|page1=713}}


In his many television appearances, Taylor was cast as Julian Tyler in the 1957 episode "The Chess Player" of the [[CBS]] crime drama, ''[[Richard Diamond, Private Detective]]'', starring [[David Janssen]]. He appeared too in several episodes of CBS's ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|Twilight Zone]]'', including the role of the salesman in S3 E35 (1962) "[[I Sing the Body Electric (The Twilight Zone)|I Sing the Body Electric]]". He also appeared in "[[Time Enough at Last]]", "[[Still Valley]]", "[[The Incredible World of Horace Ford]]" and "[[The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross]]".
In the 1960 movie about Admiral [[William F. Halsey]], ''[[The Gallant Hours]]'', he was cast as Commander Mike Pulaski, USN. Taylor also appeared in 1961 in [[James Franciscus]]'s short-lived [[Columbia Broadcasting System|CBS]] [[drama]] series, ''[[The Investigators (American TV series)|The Investigators]]''. He was also a frequent guest on the ''[[Perry Mason (TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' series, appearing a total of eight times (including the first episode).


In 1958, Taylor appeared in ''The Martin Poster,'' the first episode of [[Steve McQueen]]'s CBS [[western (genre)|western]] series, ''[[Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV series)|Wanted: Dead or Alive]]'' as a doctor shot to death in the back by the brother of an outlaw whom he had treated. In a later episode, titled "Criss-Cross" he appeared as a doctor 'Doc Adams' whose son is a thief whom Josh has brought in, only to lose the bounty because the doctor paid someone else to take the blame. He also played Olie Ridgers in the ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' episode "Claustrophobia" (Season 3, Episode 20).
Taylor was cast in two episodes of the ABC [[science fiction]] series, ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]''; in "[[Expanding Human]]" as Dean Flint, and "[[The_Guests_(The_Outer_Limits)|The Guests]]" as Mr. Latimer.


In 1959, Taylor appeared in ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' Episode 2, ''Ma Barker and Her Boys'', as Pa Barker.
Taylor's final film appearance was in ''[[The Gumball Rally]]'', released in 1976. He died in April 1983 at the age of seventy-three.
Taylor guest starred as Jeremy Tolliver in the title role in the 1959 episode "The Trouble with Tolliver" of the ABC western drama ''[[The Man from Blackhawk]]'' as a roving insurance investigator.{{Citation needed |date=January 2021}}

He was cast in 1960 again as a physician, Bryan Craig, in the episode "Strange Encounter" of the ABC/[[Warner Brothers]] western series, ''[[Colt .45 (TV series)|Colt .45]]''.{{Citation needed |date=January 2021}} He also guest starred in the ABC/WB detective series, ''[[Bourbon Street Beat]]'' and in the 1960 NBC summer western series, ''[[Tate (TV series)|Tate]]'', starring [[David McLean (actor)|David McLean]].

Taylor was cast as bank president Houghton in the 1961 episode "The Proxy" on another ABC western series, ''[[The Rebel (American TV series)|The Rebel]]'', starring Nick Adams, with whom Taylor had worked three years earlier in ''Wanted: Dead or Alive''. Taylor was cast as Pettis in the 1961 episode "The Debt" on the NBC western series Laramie.

In 1962 he appeared in one episode as the head college librarian opposite [[Gertrude Berg]] in her short-lived sitcom ''[[Mrs. G. Goes to College]].''

In 1963, he appeared in an episode of ''[[Hazel (TV series)|Hazel]]'', "The Fire's Never Dead While the Ashes are Red," as a law professor who wrote a best-selling novel and is reunited with his lost love though Hazel's machinations.
He was also a frequent guest on CBS's ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' legal drama, having appeared eight times, including Louis Boles in the premiere episode, [[The Case of the Restless Redhead (Perry Mason)|"The Case of the Restless Redhead"]] in 1957. In 1959, he played the title role, murder victim Bishop Arthur Mallory, in "The Case of the Stuttering Bishop." In 1961, he played defendant Ralph Duncan in "The Case of the Fickle Fortune." In 1963, he again played the murder victim and title character; this time as Martin Weston in "The Case of the Witless Witness."

Taylor was cast in two episodes of the ABC science fiction series ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]''; in "[[Expanding Human]]" as Dean Flint, and "[[The Guests (The Outer Limits)|The Guests]]" as Mr. Latimer. In addition, he appeared in the pilot episode of ''[[The Invaders]]'' entitled "Beachhead".

Usually involved in dramatic roles, Taylor continued to accept work in comedic productions. He appeared in a 1964 episode of the CBS sitcom ''[[The Cara Williams Show]]''. In 1965, he played Professor Clemmens in the 1965 episode "Uncle Martin and the Identified Flying Object" of ''[[My Favorite Martian]]''. He also played in the ''[[Get Smart]]'' episode "The Diary," in 1966, in which he portrayed Herb Gaffer, a retired secret agent sought by [[CONTROL (Get Smart)|CONTROL]] agent [[Get Smart#Characters|Maxwell Smart]] ([[Don Adams]]) and by enemy spies. Taylor gets a chance in the plot to exchange humorous takes with Adams and perform some physical comedy. Another veteran of acting, [[Ellen Corby]], also appears in this same ''[[Get Smart]]'' episode, which takes place in "Spy City," a retirement community for former agents.

Between 1961 and 1970, Taylor guest starred in four episodes of the western TV series ''[[Bonanza]]'', in which he portrayed the following characters: Horace Ogleby ("The Infernal Machine", 1961), C. R. Lively ("A Real Nice, Friendly Little Town", 1966), Eggers ("Judgment at Olympus", 1967) and Bert Taylor ("Is There Any Man Here?", 1970).

In 1966 and 1968, Taylor made guest appearances on ''[[Petticoat Junction]]''. In 1966, he played Mr. Foley, episode: "Better Never Than Late", and in 1968, he played Mr. Clayton, in the episode "Uncle Joe Runs the Hotel". In 1968, he also appeared in the 4th episode of the first season of ''[[The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (TV series)|The Ghost and Mrs. Muir]]''.

==Death==
On April 26, 1983, Taylor died at [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]] of a [[cerebral hemorrhage]]. He was 73.<ref name=cj>{{cite news |title=Television and film actor Vaughn Taylor dies at 73. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24847963/vaughn_taylor/ |work=The Courier-Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=May 7, 1983 |location=Kentucky, Louisville |page=8|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = October 25, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==Recognition==
Taylor was nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1952 and 1953.<ref>{{cite web |title=("Vaughn Taylor" search results) |url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=Vaughn+Taylor&submit=Search&field_celebrity_details_field_display_name=&field_show_details_field_nominee_show_nr_title=&field_show_details_field_network=All&field_show_details_field_production_company=All&field_nominations_year=1949-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_nominations_year_1=2018-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_award_category=All |website=EMMYS |publisher=The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026022010/http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=Vaughn+Taylor&submit=Search&field_celebrity_details_field_display_name=&field_show_details_field_nominee_show_nr_title=&field_show_details_field_network=All&field_show_details_field_production_company=All&field_nominations_year=1949-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_nominations_year_1=2018-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_award_category=All |archive-date=26 October 2018}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Div col}}
*''[[Picture Snatcher]]'' (1933) - Editor (uncredited)
*''[[Up Front (film)|Up Front]]'' (1951) - MP Major Lester
*''[[Francis Goes to the Races]]'' (1951) - Chief Inspector Carrington
*''[[Meet Danny Wilson (film)|Meet Danny Wilson]]'' (1952) - T.W. Hatcher
*''[[Back at the Front]]'' (1952) - Major Lester Ormsby
*''[[It Should Happen to You]]'' (1954) - Entrikin
*''[[This Could Be the Night (film)|This Could Be the Night]]'' (1957) - Ziggy Dawit - Columnist
*''[[Jailhouse Rock (film)|Jailhouse Rock]]'' (1957) - Mr. Shores
*''[[Decision at Sundown]]'' (1957) - Mr. Baldwin
*''[[Wanted Dead or Alive (TV series)|Wanted Dead or Alive]]'' (1957) - Dr. Glen Leach - Episode: "The Martin Poster"
*''[[Cowboy (1958 film)|Cowboy]]'' (1958) - Mr. Fowler, Chicago Hotel Manager
*''[[The Young Lions (film)|The Young Lions]]'' (1958) - John Plowman (uncredited)
*''[[The Lineup (film)|The Lineup]]'' (1958) - The Man
*''[[Cheyenne (TV series)|Cheyenne]]'' (1958) - Doc Johnson - Episode: "Ghost of the Cimarron"
*''[[Screaming Mimi (film)|Screaming Mim]]'' (1958) - Raoul Reynarde
*''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958 film)|Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]'' (1958) - Deacon Davis
*''[[Party Girl (1958 film)|Party Girl]]'' (1958) - Dr. Caderman (uncredited)
*''Gunsmoke in Tucson'' (1958) - Ben Bodeen
*''[[Andy Hardy Comes Home]]'' (1958) - Thomas Chandler
*''[[Warlock (1959 film)|Warlock]]'' (1959) - Henry Richardson
*''[[Blue Denim]]'' (1959) - Professor Willard
*''[[The Gallant Hours]]'' (1960) - Commander Mike Pulaski
*''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'' (1960) - George Lowery
*''[[The Plunderers (1960 film)|The Plunderers]]'' (1960) - Jess Walters, General Store Owner
*''[[The Wizard of Baghdad]]'' (1960) - Norodeen
*''[[Wanted Dead or Alive (TV series)|Wanted Dead or Alive]]'' (1960) - Doc Adams - Episode: "Criss-Cross"
*''[[Diamond Head (film)|Diamond Head]]'' (1962) - Judge James Blanding
*''[[FBI Code 98]]'' (1962) - Joseph Petersen
*''[[The Wheeler Dealers]]'' (1963) - Thaddeus Whipple
*''[[The Carpetbaggers (film)|The Carpetbaggers]]'' (1964) - Doctor
*''[[The Unsinkable Molly Brown (film)|The Unsinkable Molly Brown]]'' (1964) - Mr. Cartwright
*''[[Zebra in the Kitchen]]'' (1965) - Councilman Pew
*''[[Dark Intruder]]'' (1965) - Dr. Burdett
*''[[The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming]]'' (1966) - Mr. Bell
*''[[The Professionals (1966 film)|The Professionals]]'' (1966) - Banker
*''[[The Last Challenge]]'' (1967) - Jim Haskell (uncredited)
*''[[In Cold Blood (film)|In Cold Blood]]'' (1967) - Good Samaritan
*''[[The Power (1968 film)|The Power]]'' (1968) - Mr. Hallson
*''[[Fever Heat]]'' (1968) - Toad Taplinger
*''[[The Shakiest Gun in the West]]'' (1968) - Reverend Longbaugh
*''[[The Ballad of Cable Hogue]]'' (1970) - Powell
*''[[The Million Dollar Duck]]'' (1971) - Bank President (uncredited)
*''[[The Gumball Rally]]'' (1976) - Andy McAllister - Mercedes Team (final film role)
{{div col end}}

==Television==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1961|| ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' || Judge Brady || S3:E23, "Incident of the Phantom Bugler"
|-
|1963|| ''[[The Alfred Hitchcock Hour]]'' || Dr. Babcock || Season 1 Episode 25: "The Long Silence"
|}Gunsmoke


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

{[Portal box|Film|Television|Massachusetts|California}}
==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{IMDb name|0853299|Vaughn Taylor}}
{{Portal|Film|Television|United States|California}}


* {{ AFI person | 150287-Vaughn-Taylor }}
{{Authority control|VIAF=69142071}}
* {{IMDb name}}
<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
* {{IBDB name}}
{{Persondata

|NAME= Taylor, Vaughn
{{Authority control}}
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=[[Film]], [[television]] [[actor]]


|DATE OF BIRTH=1910-02-22
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Boston, Massachusetts]], U.S.
|DATE OF DEATH=1983-04-26
|PLACE OF DEATH=[[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Vaughn}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Vaughn}}
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:American film actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Actors from Boston, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Male actors from Boston]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]


{{US-film-actor-1910s-stub}}
{{US-tv-actor-1910s-stub}}

[[fr:Vaughn Taylor]]
[[it:Vaughn Taylor]]

Latest revision as of 16:53, 19 November 2024

Vaughn Taylor
Born
Vaughn Everett Taylor

(1910-02-22)February 22, 1910
DiedApril 26, 1983(1983-04-26) (aged 73)
EducationNortheastern University
Leland Powers School
OccupationActor
Years active1933–1976
Spouse
Ruth Moss
(m. 1945⁠–⁠1983)

Vaughn Everett Taylor (February 22, 1911[citation needed] – April 26, 1983) was an American actor. He became known for his roles in many anthology series, including Kraft Television Theatre (1947–1957) and Robert Montgomery Presents (1950–1954). He also appeared in films such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Psycho (1960).

Early years

[edit]

Taylor was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Northeastern University and the Leland Powers School of Elocution, Boston.[1] Instead of pursuing a career in accounting, he tried summer stock theatre in Maine.[2] After army service in World War II, he broke into TV. His wife Ruth Moss was a radio personality and Broadway actress.[citation needed]

Military service

[edit]

After joining the Army as a private, Taylor became an officer via officer candidate school. Later he joined military intelligence and produced instructional plays about aspects of military intelligence to educate students from the Army.[2]

Stage

[edit]

After his experience in summer stock, he joined a dramatic company and for several years participated in one-night productions in small towns in the Midwest.[2] On Broadway, Taylor appeared in Hope's the Thing (1948).[3]

Film

[edit]

Taylor began his career in film in Up Front (1951).[4] His film appearances include Jailhouse Rock (1957), Decision at Sundown (1957), Gunsmoke in Tucson (1958),Cowboy (1958), Screaming Mimi (1958), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Warlock (1959), The Gallant Hours (1960), The Plunderers (1960), Diamond Head (1963), The Wheeler Dealers (1963), The Carpetbaggers (1964), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966), The Professionals (1966), In Cold Blood (1967), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), The Power (1968), The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970).

In 1960 he appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's original Psycho as Mr. Lowery, Marion Crane's employer in a small real estate office. The same year he starred in the movie about Admiral William F. Halsey, The Gallant Hours, as Commander Mike Pulaski, USN. Taylor's final film appearance was in another comedy, The Gumball Rally, released in 1976.

Television

[edit]
Ensemble cast of Robert Montgomery Presents (from left): Elizabeth Montgomery, Vaughn Taylor, Margaret Hayes and John Newland

Taylor portrayed Horatio Frisby on the comedy series Johnny Jupiter.[5] He was also a regular performer on Montgomery's Summer Stock, which was a summer replacement for Robert Montgomery Presents from 1953 through 1956.[5]: 713 

In his many television appearances, Taylor was cast as Julian Tyler in the 1957 episode "The Chess Player" of the CBS crime drama, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, starring David Janssen. He appeared too in several episodes of CBS's Twilight Zone, including the role of the salesman in S3 E35 (1962) "I Sing the Body Electric". He also appeared in "Time Enough at Last", "Still Valley", "The Incredible World of Horace Ford" and "The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross".

In 1958, Taylor appeared in The Martin Poster, the first episode of Steve McQueen's CBS western series, Wanted: Dead or Alive as a doctor shot to death in the back by the brother of an outlaw whom he had treated. In a later episode, titled "Criss-Cross" he appeared as a doctor 'Doc Adams' whose son is a thief whom Josh has brought in, only to lose the bounty because the doctor paid someone else to take the blame. He also played Olie Ridgers in the Gunsmoke episode "Claustrophobia" (Season 3, Episode 20).

In 1959, Taylor appeared in The Untouchables Episode 2, Ma Barker and Her Boys, as Pa Barker. Taylor guest starred as Jeremy Tolliver in the title role in the 1959 episode "The Trouble with Tolliver" of the ABC western drama The Man from Blackhawk as a roving insurance investigator.[citation needed]

He was cast in 1960 again as a physician, Bryan Craig, in the episode "Strange Encounter" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series, Colt .45.[citation needed] He also guest starred in the ABC/WB detective series, Bourbon Street Beat and in the 1960 NBC summer western series, Tate, starring David McLean.

Taylor was cast as bank president Houghton in the 1961 episode "The Proxy" on another ABC western series, The Rebel, starring Nick Adams, with whom Taylor had worked three years earlier in Wanted: Dead or Alive. Taylor was cast as Pettis in the 1961 episode "The Debt" on the NBC western series Laramie.

In 1962 he appeared in one episode as the head college librarian opposite Gertrude Berg in her short-lived sitcom Mrs. G. Goes to College.

In 1963, he appeared in an episode of Hazel, "The Fire's Never Dead While the Ashes are Red," as a law professor who wrote a best-selling novel and is reunited with his lost love though Hazel's machinations.

He was also a frequent guest on CBS's Perry Mason legal drama, having appeared eight times, including Louis Boles in the premiere episode, "The Case of the Restless Redhead" in 1957. In 1959, he played the title role, murder victim Bishop Arthur Mallory, in "The Case of the Stuttering Bishop." In 1961, he played defendant Ralph Duncan in "The Case of the Fickle Fortune." In 1963, he again played the murder victim and title character; this time as Martin Weston in "The Case of the Witless Witness."

Taylor was cast in two episodes of the ABC science fiction series The Outer Limits; in "Expanding Human" as Dean Flint, and "The Guests" as Mr. Latimer. In addition, he appeared in the pilot episode of The Invaders entitled "Beachhead".

Usually involved in dramatic roles, Taylor continued to accept work in comedic productions. He appeared in a 1964 episode of the CBS sitcom The Cara Williams Show. In 1965, he played Professor Clemmens in the 1965 episode "Uncle Martin and the Identified Flying Object" of My Favorite Martian. He also played in the Get Smart episode "The Diary," in 1966, in which he portrayed Herb Gaffer, a retired secret agent sought by CONTROL agent Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) and by enemy spies. Taylor gets a chance in the plot to exchange humorous takes with Adams and perform some physical comedy. Another veteran of acting, Ellen Corby, also appears in this same Get Smart episode, which takes place in "Spy City," a retirement community for former agents.

Between 1961 and 1970, Taylor guest starred in four episodes of the western TV series Bonanza, in which he portrayed the following characters: Horace Ogleby ("The Infernal Machine", 1961), C. R. Lively ("A Real Nice, Friendly Little Town", 1966), Eggers ("Judgment at Olympus", 1967) and Bert Taylor ("Is There Any Man Here?", 1970).

In 1966 and 1968, Taylor made guest appearances on Petticoat Junction. In 1966, he played Mr. Foley, episode: "Better Never Than Late", and in 1968, he played Mr. Clayton, in the episode "Uncle Joe Runs the Hotel". In 1968, he also appeared in the 4th episode of the first season of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

Death

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On April 26, 1983, Taylor died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 73.[4]

Recognition

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Taylor was nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1952 and 1953.[6]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1961 Rawhide Judge Brady S3:E23, "Incident of the Phantom Bugler"
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Dr. Babcock Season 1 Episode 25: "The Long Silence"

Gunsmoke

References

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  1. ^ Meegan, Jean (August 8, 1948). "Vaughn Taylor, 'Busiest' Television Actor, Gives Thanks That His Walk Up Rent Is Low". The Bridgeport Post. Connecticut, Bridgeport. Associated Press. p. 3. Retrieved June 5, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c Panitt, Merrill (June 20, 1949). "Low Rent Helps Busiest Video Actor". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. p. 22. Retrieved October 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Vaughn Taylor". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Television and film actor Vaughn Taylor dies at 73". The Courier-Journal. Kentucky, Louisville. Associated Press. May 7, 1983. p. 8. Retrieved October 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 541. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  6. ^ "("Vaughn Taylor" search results)". EMMYS. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
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