Suave and handsome Australian actor who came to Hollywood in the 1950s, and built himself up from a supporting actor into taking the lead in several well-remembered movies. Arguably his most fondly remembered role was that as George (Herbert George Wells), the inventor, in George Pal's spectacular Die Zeitmaschine (1960). As the movie finished with George, and his best friend Filby Alan Young seemingly parting forever, both actors were brought back together in 1993 to film a 30-minute epilogue to the original movie! Taylor's virile, matinée idol looks also assisted him in scoring the lead of Mitch Brenner in Alfred Hitchcock's creepy thriller Die Vögel (1963), the role of Jane Fonda's love interest in Sonntag in New York (1963), the title role in John Ford's biopic of Irish playwright Sean O'Casey in Cassidy, der Rebell (1965), and a co-starring role in Dreckiges Gold (1973) with John Wayne. Taylor also appeared as Bette Davis future son-in-law in the well-received film Mädchen ohne Mitgift (1956). He also gave a sterling performance as the German-American Nazi Major trying to fool James Garner in 36 Stunden (1964). Later, Taylor made many westerns and action movies during the 1960s and 1970s; however, none of these were much better than "B" pictures and failed to push his star to the next level. Additionally, Taylor was cast as the lead in several TV series including Ohne Furcht und Sattel (1971), Operation: Maskerade (1983), and Outlaws (1986); however, none of them truly ignited viewer interest, and they were canceled after only one or two seasons. Most fans would agree that Rod Taylor's last great role was in the wonderful Australian film Wanderkino Pym (1977), about a traveling sideshow bringing "moving pictures" to remote towns in the Australian outback.
