Robert Taylor

Actor

About

Also Known As

Spangler Arlington Brugh, Lt. Robert Taylor U.S.N.R.

Birth Place

Finlley, Nebraska, USA

Born

August 05, 1911

Died

June 08, 1969

Cause of Death

Lung Cancer

Filmography

Hollywood On Trial (1976)

Himself

The Day the Hot Line Got Hot (1969)

Anderson

Where Angels Go ... Trouble Follows! (1968)

Mr. Farriday

The Glass Sphinx (1968)

Prof. Karl Nichols

Savage Pampas (1967)

Captain Martin

Return of the Gunfighter (1967)

Photos & Videos

View All

Undercurrent (1946) -- (Movie Clip) Flowers And Her Boys

Yank At Oxford, A (1938) -- (Movie Clip) Perfectly Beautiful Enemy

Family & Companions

Barbara Stanwyck

Wife

Actor. Married on May 14, 1939; divorced in 1951.

Ava Gardner

Companion

Actor. Had four-month romantic relationship during filming of "The Bribe" (1949).

Ursula Thiess

Wife

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.

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"

Biography

Filmography

Life Events

1932

During senior year of college was spotted by MGM talent scout but declined offer to study further

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

Starred in first TV series "The Detectives" (ABC)

1959

Had title role in Michael Curtiz's Western "The Hangman"

1964

Reteamed with former wife Stanwyck for the William Castle-directed horror flick "The Night Walker"

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"

Photo Collections

The Bribe - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from MGM's The Bribe (1949), starring Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Charles Laughton, and Vincent Price. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Camille - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are several behind-the-scenes photos taken during the shooting of Camille (1937). Look for director George Cukor and stars Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor.

Stand by for Action - Kapralik Trade Ad

Here is a trade ad for MGM's Stand by for Action (1943), starring Robert Taylor, Charles Laughton, and Brian Donlevy. The art is by mixed-media caricaturist Jaques Kapralik. Trade Ads were placed by studios in industry magazines like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

Devil's Doorway - Publicity Stills

Here are a few photos taken to help publicize MGM's Devil's Doorway (1950), starring Robert Taylor and Paula Raymond. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Johnny Eager - Behind-the-Scenes Photo

Here is a photo taken behind-the-scenes during production of MGM's Johnny Eager (1942), starring Robert Taylor and directed by Mervyn LeRoy.

Johnny Eager - Kapralik Trade Ad

Here is a trade ad for MGM's Johnny Eager (1942), starring Robert Taylor. The art is by mixed-media caricaturist Jaques Kapralik. Trade Ads were placed by studios in industry magazines like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

Flight Command - Publicity Stills

Here are some stills taken to help publicize MGM's Flight Command (1940), starring Robert Taylor, Ruth Hussey, and Walter Pidgeon. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Above and Beyond - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are a few photos taken behind-the-scenes during production of MGM's Above and Beyond (1953), starring Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker and produced and directed by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama.

When Ladies Meet - Kapralik Trade Ad

Here is a trade ad for MGM's When Ladies Meet (1941), starring Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor and Greer Garson. The art is by mixed-media caricaturist Jaques Kapralik. Trade Ads were placed by studios in industry magazines like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

Ambush - Movie Poster

Here is an original French movie poster for Ambush (1950), starring Robert Taylor.

All the Brothers Were Valiant - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from MGM's All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953). Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Waterloo Bridge (1940) - Publicity Stills

Here are a few photos taken to help publicize the 1940 version of Waterloo Bridge, starring Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Waterloo Bridge (1940) - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are a few behind-the-scenes photos taken during the making of Waterloo Bridge (1940), starring Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor.

A Yank at Oxford - Scene Stills

Here are a few scene stills from MGM's A Yank at Oxford (1938), starring Robert Taylor, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Vivien Leigh.

A Yank at Oxford - Publicity Stills

Here are a few stills taken to help publicize MGM's A Yank at Oxford (1938), starring Robert Taylor and Maureen O'Sullivan. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Escape - Movie Poster

Here is the American 1-Sheet movie poster for MGM's Escape (1940), starring Robert Taylor and Norma Shearer.

Quo Vadis - Behind-the-Scenes Publicity Photos

Here are several photos taken of Robert Taylor and his then-wife Barbara Stanwyck touring Italy while Taylor was on location shooting Quo Vadis (1951) for MGM.

Billy the Kid (1941) - Kapralik Trade Ad

Here is a trade ad for MGM's Billy the Kid (1941), starring Robert Taylor. The art is by mixed-media caricaturist Jaques Kapralik. Trade Ads were placed by studios in industry magazines like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

Rogue Cop - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from MGM's Rogue Cop (1954), starring Robert Taylor, Janet Leigh, George Raft, and Anne Francis. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Ivanhoe - Movie Posters

Following are a few original release American movie posters from Ivanhoe (1952), starring Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, and Joan Fontaine.

Ivanhoe - Publicity Stills

Here are a few Publicity Stills from MGM's Ivanhoe (1952), starring Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, and Joan Fontaine. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Billy the Kid (1941) - Publicity Stills

Here are a few photos taken to help publicize MGM's Billy the Kid (1941), starring Robert Taylor. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

The Bribe - Movie Poster

Here is the American One-Sheet Movie Poster for MGM's The Bribe (1949). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Camille (1937) - Movie Posters

Here are a few original release American movie posters from MGM's Camille (1937), starring Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor.

Videos

Undercurrent (1946) -- (Movie Clip) Flowers And Her Boys Alan (Robert Taylor) flips a bit, coming home to his new wife Ann (Katharine Hepburn) and servant George (Leigh Whipper), during their first stay at his old family home, in Vincente Minnelli's Undercurrent, 1946.

Yank At Oxford, A (1938) -- (Movie Clip) Perfectly Beautiful Enemy American jock Lee Sheridan (Robert Taylor) on the train to Oxford, introduces himself to fellow students Beaumont, Wavertree and Ramsey (Griffith Jones, Robert Coote, Peter Croft) when Beaumont's sister Molly (Maureen O'Sullivan) arrives, and a gag is pulled, in A Yank At Oxford, 1938.

Yank At Oxford, A (1938) -- (Movie Clip) The Mother In You After colliding again with the dean (Edmund Gwenn), Robert Taylor (as American student Lee Sheridan) visits a bicycle shop where he begins his first-ever scene with Vivien Leigh (as frisky faculty wife "Mrs. Craddock"), in the MGM-British production A Yank At Oxford, 1938.

Party Girl (1958) -- (Movie Clip) He's Out There Again Mob lawyer Farrell (Robert Taylor) gets an eye-full of Vicki (Cyd Charisse) in hot pink for her first dance number in Nicholas Ray's Party Girl, 1958, choreography by Robert Sidney.

Party Girl (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Would You Like To Take Me Home? Paid with girlfriends from the night club to attend a party thrown by Chicago gang boss Rico (Lee J. Cobb), who’s distraught over the marriage of movie star Jean Harlow, savvy dancer Vicki (Cyd Charisse) meets thug Louis (John Ireland) and lawyer Farrell (Robert Taylor, his first scene), in director Nicholas Ray’s crime-musical hybrid Party Girl, 1958.

Quo Vadis (1951) -- (Movie Clip) Appian Way Who better than MGM stalwart Walter Pidgeon to narrate, the opening scenes detailing the grandeur and moment of Quo Vadis, 1951, starring Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr and Peter Ustinov.

Camille (1936) -- (Movie Clip) Buy Me Some Sweets Mid 19th-century Paris courtesan Marguerite (Greta Garbo) thinks Armand (Robert Taylor) is the Baron with whom she's being set up, as they first meet at the theater, until her friend Prudence (Laura Hope Crews) shows up, in MGM's Camille, 1936.

Camille (1936) -- (Movie Clip) You Look Ill, Too Feeling faint at a party, consumptive Marguerite (Greta Garbo, title character) retreats, followed by Armand (Robert Taylor) who professes his feelings, in MGM's Camille, 1936, from the Alexandre Dumas fils novel.

Knights Of The Round Table (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Spoiled My Fight The first meeting between Lancelot (Robert Taylor), who's come to serve the new king, and Arthur (Mel Ferrer), who fight over a minor offense until they exchange names, Maureen Swanson the escorted bystander, in MGM's first wide-screen film, Knights Of The Round Table, 1954.

Knights Of The Round Table (1954) -- (Movie Clip) We Are One People Politics very olde English style, as Arthur (Mel Ferrer) orates and Merlin (Felix Aylmer) explains about Stonehenge (with an altogether unfounded theory!), and Lancelot (Robert Taylor) sounds the alarm, in MGM's Knights Of The Round Table, 1953.

Knights Of The Round Table (1954) -- (Movie Clip) I Make You Henceforth The Queen's Champion The pretty form of Guinivere (Ava Gardner) is emphasized in her speedy wedding to Arthur (Mel Ferrer) and Lancelot (Robert Taylor) arriving late, is rewarded for his service, in MGM's Knights Of The Round Table, 1953.

Johnny Eager (1942) -- (Movie Clip) High And Handsome Opening scene, Robert Taylor (title character), evidently a cabbie, drops in on his parole officer Verne (Henry O'Neill), his aide Miss Mines (Leona Maricle) not interested, but visiting students (Diana Lewis, Lana Turner) are, in Mervyn LeRoy's Johny Eager, 1943.

Devil's Doorway - (Original Trailer) A Native American Civil War hero (Robert Taylor) returns home to fight for his people. Directed by Anthony Mann.

Ambush - (Original Trailer) A Westerner (Robert Taylor) searches for a white woman held by the Apaches. The last movie from director Sam Wood (Good-bye Mr. Chips).

Secret Land, The - (Original Trailer) The Secret Land (1948) is an Oscar-winning documentary about Admiral Richard Byrd and his explorations of the Antarctic, narrated by Van Johnson, Robert Montgomery, and Robert Taylor.

West Point Of The Air - (Original Trailer) An army sergeant (Wallace Beery) inspires his son to become an ace flyer and join the West Point of the Air (1935).

Valley of the Kings - (Original Trailer) Archaeologists clash with graverobbers during the search for a priceless Egyptian treasure in Valley of the Kings (1954) starring Robert Taylor.

Crowd Roars, The (1938) - (Original Trailer) This time, The Crowd Roars (1938) about boxing as a fighter's hard-drinking father gets his son (Robert Taylor) mixed up with the underworld.

Lady of the Tropics - (Original Trailer) An American playboy (Robert Taylor) in Saigon has to fight to get his Eurasian wife (Hedy Lamarr) out of the country in Lady of the Tropics (1939).

Murder in the Fleet - (Original Trailer) Robert Taylor got his first starring role solving a Murder In The Fleet (1935) when he becomes a suspect.

Youngest Profession, The - (Original Trailer) A teenage autograph hound (Virginia Weidler) invades Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in The Youngest Profession (1943).

Return of the Gunfighter - (Original Trailer) An aging gunfighter (Robert Taylor) tries to help a younger man accused of murder in Return of the Gunfighter (1967).

Times Square Lady - (Original Trailer) In Times Square Lady (1935), a nightclub manager (Robert Taylor) helps an heiress keep her fortune.

Broadway Melody of 1938 - (Original Trailer) Backstage problems jeopardize a Broadway musical in Broadway Melody of 1938 starring Eleanor Powell, George Murphy, and Judy Garland.

Family

Spangler Andrew Brugh

Father

Doctor, former grain merchant.

Ruth Brugh

Mother

Was ill with heart condition for most of her life.

Terrence Taylor

Son

Born in 1955; mother, Ursula Thiess.

Theresa Taylor

Daughter

Born in 1959; mother, Ursula Thiess.

Companions

Barbara Stanwyck

Wife

Actor. Married on May 14, 1939; divorced in 1951.

Ava Gardner

Companion

Actor. Had four-month romantic relationship during filming of "The Bribe" (1949).

Ursula Thiess

Wife

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.

Bibliography

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"

About

Filmography

Photos & Videos

Family & Companions

Notes

Biography

Filmography

Cast (Feature Film)

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

Cast (Special)

Cast (Short)

Life Events

1932

1934

1934

1935

1935

1935

1936

1937

1937

1940

1942

1943

1946

1947

1951

1952

1953

1955

1958

1959

1959

1964

1967

1968

Photo Collections

Videos

Movie Clip

Trailer

Family

Companions

Bibliography

Notes

TCM Emails