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Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor

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Also Known As: Spangler Arlington Brugh, Lt. Robert Taylor U.S.N.R. Died: June 8, 1969
Born: August 5, 1911 Cause of Death: lung cancer
Birth Place: Finlley, Nebraska, USA Profession: actor
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Biography CLOSE THE FULL BIOGRAPHY

Dependable, clean-cut star who was signed by MGM while still in school, and spent most of his subsequent career with the company. Boyishly handsome, with a "perfect profile," Taylor highlighted many a light romance and was immensely popular for years after starring in "Magnificent Obsession" (1935). He eventually grew out of his pretty-boy good looks, became a solid, gritty performer, and made up for any lack of talent with a much-noted professionalism in a succession of epics ("Ivanhoe" 1951 "Knights of the Round Table" 1953) and Westerns ("The Hangman" 1959, "Cattle King" 1963) that punctuated his mature screen work. Married to Barbara Stanwyck from 1939 to 1951.

Dependable, clean-cut star who was signed by MGM while still in school, and spent most of his subsequent career with the company. Boyishly handsome, with a "perfect profile," Taylor highlighted many a light romance and was immensely popular for years after starring in "Magnificent Obsession" (1935). He eventually grew out of his pretty-boy good looks, became a solid, gritty performer, and made up for any lack of talent with a much-noted professionalism in a succession of epics ("Ivanhoe" 1951 "Knights of the Round Table" 1953) and Westerns ("The Hangman" 1959, "Cattle King" 1963) that punctuated his mature screen work. Married to Barbara Stanwyck from 1939 to 1951.

Filmographyclose complete filmography

CAST: (feature film)

1.
 Hollywood On Trial (1976) Himself (Archival Footage)
2.
 The Day the Hot Line Got Hot (1969) Anderson
3.
 The Glass Sphinx (1968) Prof. Karl Nichols
4.
 Where Angels Go ... Trouble Follows! (1968) Mr. Farriday
5.
 Hondo And The Apaches (1967)
6.
 Savage Pampas (1967) Captain Martin
7.
 Return of the Gunfighter (1967) Ben Wyatt
8.
 Johnny Tiger (1966) George Dean
9.
 The Night Walker (1964) Barry Morland
10.
 A House Is Not a Home (1964) Frank Costigan
VIEW THE FULL FILMOGRAPHY

Milestones close milestones

:
Raised in Beatrice, Nebraska
1932:
During senior year of college was spotted by MGM talent scout but declined offer to study further
:
Screen tested for Samuel Goldwyn; did not receive contract offer
:
Tested at MGM; signed to seven-year contract and rechristened 'Robert Taylor'
1934:
Film debut on loan out to Fox in "Handy Andy"
1934:
First MGM film, "A Wicked Woman"
1935:
Breakthrough screen role in "Society Doctor"
1935:
Made singing debut in "Broadway Melody of 1936"
1935:
Co-starred with Irene Dunne in "The Magnificent Obsession" for Universal
1936:
First picture with Barbara Stanwyck, "His Brother's Wife"
1937:
Starred opposite Greta Garbo in "Camille"
1937:
Had title role in "A Yank at Oxford"; first film with Vivien Leigh
1940:
Reteamed with Vivien Leigh for "Waterloo Bridge"
1942:
Played a ruthless underworld figure in "Johnny Eager"; reportedly fell in love with co-star Lana Turner although according to Turner, they did not consummate their relationship
1943:
Enlisted in the Naval Air Corps; commissioned as a lieutenant but was deemed to old for active service; became a flying instructor
1946:
Returned to films in "Undercurrent" opposite Katharine Hepburn
1947:
Testified before the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities (HUAC)
1951:
Co-starred with Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov and Leo Genn in "Quo Vadis?"
1952:
Replaced Stewart Grainger in the title role of "Ivanhoe"
1953:
Delivered one of his best performances in "Above and Beyond", playing a pilot assigned to drop an atomic bomb; first of three films with Eleanor Parker
1955:
Last film with Eleanor Parker, "Many Rivers to Cross"
1958:
Final film under his MGM contract, "Party Girl", helmed by Nicholas Ray
1959:
Had title role in Michael Curtiz's Western "The Hangman"
1959:
Starred in first TV series "The Detectives" (ABC)
1964:
Reteamed with former wife Stanwyck for the William Castle-directed horror flick "The Night Walker"
:
Hosted the syndicated Western "Death Valley Days"
1967:
Appeared in the made-for-television movie "Return of the Gunfighter" (ABC)
1968:
Final films, "The Glass Sphinx", "Where Angels Go ... Trouble Follows" and "The Day the Hotline Got Hot"
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Education

Neely Dixon Dramatic School: -
Doane College: Crete , Nebraska - 1929
Pomona College: Pomona , California - 1933

Notes

The Robert Taylor Building on the old MGM lot was renamed the George Cukor Building in the early 1990s because of Taylor's appearance before HUAC.

"It's as if we were never married," --Taylor's comment about reteaming with ex-wife Barbara Stanwyck in 1965's "The Night Walker"

Companions close complete companion listing

wife:
Barbara Stanwyck. Actor. Married on May 14, 1939; divorced in 1951.
companion:
Ava Gardner. Actor. Had four-month romantic relationship during filming of "The Bribe" (1949).
wife:
Ursula Thiess. Actor. German; born on May 15, 1924; had been previously married to producer George Thiess, with whom she had two children; married from May 24, 1954 until his death in 1969.

Family close complete family listing

father:
Spangler Andrew Brugh. Doctor, former grain merchant.
mother:
Ruth Brugh. Was ill with heart condition for most of her life.
son:
Terrence Taylor. Born in 1955; mother, Ursula Thiess.
daughter:
Theresa Taylor. Born in 1959; mother, Ursula Thiess.
VIEW COMPLETE FAMILY LISTING

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