Taylor, 84, who starred in Hollywood films such as most recently in Quentin Tarantino’s oddly spelt Inglourious Basterds, reportedly passed away at his LA home following a dinner party. Born in Sydney, Australia, on 11 January 1930 next Sunday would have been Taylor’s birthday.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Carol and daughter Felicia who confirmed his death to CNN. “My dad loved his work. Being an actor was his passion, calling it an honourable art and something he couldn’t live without,” she said.
“He once said: ‘I am a poor student sitting at the feet of giants, yearning for their wisdom and begging for lessons that might one day make me a complete artist,” she added, “‘so that if all goes well, I may one day sit beside them.”
Taylor snapped up his very first major role in the 1960’s movie, The Time Machine, which raised his profile around Hollywood, and made the move into the big time on the small screen with detective series Hong Kong.
During the 60s Taylor was prolific, starring in numerous movies including 1963’s cult hit The Birds, directed by the Alfred Hitchcock. Other hits include The V.I.P.s with Elizabeth Taylor,
The Train Robbers, and The Catered Affair. More recently, he was the voice of Pongo in Disney’s family-friendly 101 Dalmatians .
“There are so many incredible feelings I have for him,” said Tippi Hedren, his co-star in The Birds. “Rod was a great pal to me and a real strength, we were very, very good friends.”
“He was one of the most fun people I have ever met, thoughtful and classy, there was everything good in that man,” she added.
Taylor was a Parramatta High School graduate and moved to the US in 1954. He once said that it was seeing Sir Laurence Olivier play Richard III in an Old Vic tour of Australia that had motivated him to pursue a career in acting.
