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.
Family
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.
Companion
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.
Milestone
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 - 1961: 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"
Education
Neely Dixon Dramatic School
Doane College - Crete , Nebraska - Music - 1929
Pomona College - Pomona , California - Medicine - 1933
Margaret Gaffney
Robert Taylor Tribute in April
Thank you for making Robert Taylor star of the month. There were films that I had never seen ...
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Ann Parkhrst
Robert Taylor
Thanks so much for presenting such good material about Robert Taylor. As a Nebraskan I'm so proud of his ...
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