Don Taylor
Biography
Don Taylor was a male actor and film director born on December 13, 1920, in Freeport, Pennsylvania, USA. He co-starred in classic films of the 1940s and 1950s, including The Naked City, Battleground, Father of the Bride, Father's Little Dividend, and Stalag 17. Taylor later transitioned to directing films, with notable credits including Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Tom Sawyer, Echoes of a Summer, and Damien: Omen II. He accumulated 125 known credits throughout his career. Don Taylor passed away on December 29, 1998, at the age of 78.
Career overview
Don Taylor began his directing career in the 1970s. His first notable film as a director was Escape from the Planet of the Apes, released in 1971. Taylor continued to direct films throughout the decade, including Tom Sawyer in 1973 and Echoes of a Summer in 1976. These early directing efforts showcased his ability to adapt to different genres and subject matter.
Taylor's directing career also included work on the 1978 film Damien: Omen II. This film was a sequel to the original Omen and demonstrated Taylor's ability to handle complex storylines and themes. The film's success likely contributed to Taylor's continued work in the film industry.
Taylor's directing credits span multiple genres and include a range of films. His body of work as a director showcases his versatility and ability to adapt to different projects. The specifics of his directing career are not extensively detailed in the available information, but his involvement in a number of notable films is evident.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
153 titles- Mrs. Weekley's Lover (2025) Director
- Holy Wars (2010) as Himself
- The World of Hammer (1994) as Self (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage)
- Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death (1990) Director
- The Diamond Trap (1988) Director
- Ghost of a Chance (1987) Director
- Classified Love (1986) Director
- Classified Love (1986) Producer
- Theatre Night (1985) Director
- Secret Weapons (1985) Director
- Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story (1985) Director
- My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn (1985) Teleplay
- My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn (1985) Director
- Man Hunt (1984)
- He's Not Your Son (1984) Director
- September Gun (1983) Director
- Listen to Your Heart (1983) Director
- Ghost Dancing (1983) Director
- Drop-Out Father (1982) Director
- Red Flag: The Ultimate Game (1981) Director
- Broken Promise (1981) Director
- Broken Promise (1981) Producer
- The Final Countdown (1980) Director
- The Promise of Love (1980) Director
- In Hiding (1980) Director
- In Hiding (1980) Writer
- The Gift (1979) Director
- The BBC Television Shakespeare (1978) Director
- Damien - Omen II (1978) Director
- When the Actors Come (1978) Writer
- When the Actors Come (1978) Director
- For Tea on Sunday (1978) Director
- The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977) Director
- The Achurch Letters (1977) Director
- The Achurch Letters (1977) Writer
- A Circle of Children (1977) Director
- The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday (1976) Director
- Dad (1976) Director
- Dad (1976) Writer
- Echoes of a Summer (1976) Director
- The Hemingway Play (1976) Director
- Private Affairs (1975) Director
- Petrocelli (1974) Director
- Honky Tonk (1974) Director
- Night Games (1974) Director
- Tom Sawyer (1973) Director
- The Man Hunter (1972) Director
- Heat of Anger (1972) Director
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972) as Self (archive footage)
- Cannon (1971) Director
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) Director
- Night Gallery (1970) Director
- Wild Women (1970) Director
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) Director
- The 5-Man Army (1969) as Poker Player (uncredited)
- The 5-Man Army (1969) Director
- The Name of the Game (1968) Director
- The Mod Squad (1968) Director
- Something for a Lonely Man (1968) Director
- Mannix (1967) Director
- The Flying Nun (1967) Director
- The Danny Thomas Hour (1967) Director
- The Enemy (1967) Director
- Jack of Diamonds (1967) Director
- The Tammy Grimes Show (1966) Director
- Preview Tonight (1966) Director
- The Wild Wild West (1965) Director
- The Big Valley (1965) Director
- The Loner (1965) Director
- Amos Burke: Secret Agent (1965) Director
- And Did Those Feet ? (1965) Director
- The Wednesday Play (1964) Director
- The Rogues (1964) Director
- Ride the Wild Surf (1964) Director
- Burke's Law (1963) as George Hogarth
- Burke's Law (1963) as Scubie Baker
- Burke's Law (1963) Director
- The Lieutenant (1963) Director
- Vacation Playhouse (1963) Director
- The Farmer's Daughter (1963) Director
- Ensign O'Toole (1962) Director
- The Winter's Tale (1962) Director
- Dr. Kildare (1961) Director
- 87th Precinct (1961) Director
- The New Breed (1961) as Fred Kingman
- The Dick Powell Show (1961) Director
- The Savage Guns (1961) as Mike Summers
- Follow the Sun (1961) Director
- Everything's Ducky (1961) Director
- Checkmate (1960) as Chip Damion
- Checkmate (1960) Director
- Checkmate (1960) Teleplay
- Hong Kong (1960) Director
- Dennis the Menace (1959) Director
- Johnny Ringo (1959) Director
- Tightrope (1959) Director
- Peck's Bad Girl (1959) Director
- The Rifleman (1958) Director
- Steve Canyon (1958) Director
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) Director
- M Squad (1957) Director
- Alcoa Theatre (1957) Director
- Bachelor Father (1957) Director
- Love Slaves of the Amazons (1957) as Dr. Pete L. Masters
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Yankee
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) Director
- Telephone Time (1956)
- Telephone Time (1956) Director
- Hey, Jeannie! (1956) Director
- Ride The High Iron (1956) as Hugo Danielchik
- The Bold and the Brave (1956) as Ewald "Preacher" Wallister
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Prof. Donald Mason
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) Director
- I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955) as Wallie
- Climax! (1954) as John Appleby
- Climax! (1954) as Julian Coates
- Climax! (1954) as Timothy Colt
- Summer Playhouse (1954) Director
- The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954) as Robin Hood
- Johnny Dark (1954) as Duke Benson
- Stalag 17 (1953) as Lt. James Dunbar
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Bob Farrell
- The Girls of Pleasure Island (1953) as Lt. Jimmy Gilmartin
- Destination Gobi (1953) as Jenkins
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Bob Lawrence
- Japanese War Bride (1952) as Jim Sterling
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Dr. Soames
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Sergeant Ben Destry
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Tom Weldon
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Pete
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Max Swanson
- Flying Leathernecks (1951) as Lt. Vern 'Cowboy' Blithe
- Father's Little Dividend (1951) as Buckley Dunstan
- The Blue Veil (1951) as Dr. Robert Palfrey
- Submarine Command (1951) as Lt. Cmdr. Peter Morris
- Target Unknown (1951) as Lt. Frank Webster
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Mark Pine
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Roger
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Jim Emerson
- Father of the Bride (1950) as Buckley Dunstan
- Ambush (1950) as Lt. Linus Delaney
- Battleground (1949) as Standiferd
- Studio One (1948) Director
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- The Naked City (1948) as Jimmy Halloran
- For the Love of Mary (1948) as David Paxton
- Song of the Thin Man (1947) as Buddy Hollis
- The Last Bomb (1945) as Gunner
- Time to Kill (1945) as George
- Winged Victory (1944) as Danny 'Pinkie' Scariano
- Swing Shift Maisie (1943) as Young Pilot (Uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Don Taylor best known for?
Don Taylor is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Due West: Our Sex Journey (2012), That's Entertainment! III (1994), Valle salvaje (2024), M.I. High (2007).
When and where was Don Taylor born?
Don Taylor was born on December 13, 1920 in Freeport, Pennsylvania, USA. They passed away on December 29, 1998.
How many credits does Don Taylor have?
Don Taylor has accumulated over 153 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1943 to 2025.
What is Don Taylor's background in cinema and television?
Don Taylor was a male actor and film director born on December 13, 1920, in Freeport, Pennsylvania, USA. He co-starred in classic films of the 1940s and 1950s, including The Naked City, Battleground, Father of the Bride, Father's Little Dividend, and Stalag 17. Taylor later transitioned to directing films, with notable...
Don Taylor by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Prof. Donald Mason — aged about 34
- The New Breed (1961) as Fred Kingman — aged about 40
- Stalag 17 (1953) as Lt. James Dunbar — aged about 32
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Dr. Soames — aged about 30
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) — aged about 30
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Sergeant Ben Destry — aged about 30
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