Rod Taylor(1930-2015)

Suave and handsome Australian actor arrived in 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 La Machine à explorer le temps (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 Les Oiseaux (1963), the role of Jane Fonda's love interest in Un dimanche à New-York (1963), the title role in John Ford's biopic of Irish playwright Sean O'Casey in Le Jeune Cassidy (1965), and a co-starring role in Les voleurs de trains (1973) with John Wayne. Taylor also appeared as Bette Davis future son-in-law in the well-received film Un mariage du tonnerre (1956). He also gave a sterling performance as the German-American Nazi Major trying to fool James Garner in 36 heures avant le débarquement (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 Bearcats! (1971), Masquerade (1983), and Outlaws (1986); however, none of them truly ignited viewer interest, and they were cancelled after only one or two seasons. Most fans would agree that Rod Taylor's last great role was in the wonderful Australian film The Picture Show Man (1977), about a travelling sideshow bringing "moving pictures" to remote towns in the Australian outback.