Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor
Name	Robert Taylor
Caption	Taylor in 1955
Birth name	Spangler Arlington Brugh
Birth date	5 August 1911
Birth place	Filley, Nebraska, U.S.
Death date	8 June 1969
Death place	Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1934–1968
Spouse	Barbara Stanwyck (1939–1951), Ursula Thiess (1954–1969)

Robert Taylor was an American film and television actor who was one of the most popular leading men of the classical Hollywood era. Renowned for his handsome appearance and smooth baritone voice, he starred in a wide variety of genres for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer over nearly three decades. His career spanned from the Golden Age of Hollywood into the early years of American television, where he also found significant success.

Early life and education

Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Filley, Nebraska, he was the only child of a farmer. His family later moved to Beatrice, Nebraska, where he attended Beatrice High School and developed an interest in music, playing the cello. He initially pursued a medical career, enrolling at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, before transferring to Pomona College in Claremont, California. While at Pomona, his participation in a campus play caught the attention of a talent scout from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which led to a screen test and a contract with the major studio.

Film career

Taylor's film debut was in the 1934 comedy Handy Andy. His breakout role came the following year in the crime drama Murder in the Fleet. He quickly rose to stardom, earning the nickname "The Man with the Perfect Profile." He demonstrated his versatility in films such as the romantic drama Magnificent Obsession opposite Irene Dunne, the historical adventure Quo Vadis as a Roman commander, and the medieval romance Ivanhoe. Other notable films include the western Billy the Kid, the film noir Johnny Eager, and the wartime drama Bataan. He worked with leading directors like William A. Wellman, Mervyn LeRoy, and Vincente Minnelli, and co-starred with numerous major actresses including Greta Garbo in Camille and Elizabeth Taylor in Conspirator.

Military service

During World War II, Taylor served in the United States Navy. Initially commissioned as a lieutenant, junior grade, he became a flight instructor for the Naval Air Training Command and later served as a pilot flying cargo and personnel. He also starred in instructional films for the Navy and continued his service in the United States Naval Reserve after the war, eventually attaining the rank of lieutenant commander. His wartime service was a significant interruption to his peak film career at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Later career and television work

Following the war, Taylor's film career continued with roles in pictures like the thriller High Wall and the epic Knights of the Round Table. In the 1950s, as the studio system declined, he successfully transitioned to television. He hosted and starred in the anthology series The Robert Taylor Show and later found great success as the star of the detective series The Detectives. His final television role was as the host of the true-crime documentary series Death Valley Days, taking over from a former host, future President of the United States Ronald Reagan.

Personal life

Taylor was married twice. His first marriage was to actress Barbara Stanwyck in 1939; their union, closely followed by the Hollywood press, ended in divorce in 1951. In 1954, he married German actress and model Ursula Thiess; they had two children and remained together until his death. He was known as a conservative in his political views, which sometimes contrasted with the Hollywood mainstream. An avid aviator and outdoorsman, he owned a ranch in Mandan, North Dakota, and was a skilled pilot.

Death and legacy

Taylor was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1968. He died from the disease in 1969 at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. For his contributions to the motion picture industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 1500 Vine Street. He is remembered as a durable and reliable star whose career adeptly navigated the transition from the studio era to the age of television. His films, particularly his historical epics and westerns, continue to be shown on channels like Turner Classic Movies.

Category:American film actors Category:American television actors Category:1911 births Category:1969 deaths