Clicky

Actor Rod Taylor of THE BIRDS, THE TIME MACHINE Dies at 84 – We Are Movie Geeks

General News

Actor Rod Taylor of THE BIRDS, THE TIME MACHINE Dies at 84

By  | 

rod taylor

People.com is reporting that actor Rod Taylor died Wednesday at the age of 84 of natural causes.

His daughter Felicia Taylor, a former CNN correspondent, confirmed the news Thursday.

“My dad loved his work. Being an actor was his passion – calling it an honorable art and something he couldn’t live without,” she said in a statement.

“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 continued, “ ‘so that if all goes well, I may one day sit beside them.”

Born on Jan 11, 1930 in Sydney, Australia, Rod Taylor is best remembered for his starring roles in Alfred Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS (1963) and George Pal’s THE TIME MACHINE (1960). He also provided the voice of Pongo in Disney’s 101 DALMATIANS (1961). Taylor also starred in TV’s “The Twilight Zone” in an episode called “And When the Sky Was Opened.”

‘There are so many incredible feelings I have for him. Rod was a great pal to me and a real strength, we were very, very good friends,’ said actress Tippi Hedren in a statement to People.

His final role was in Quentin Tarantino’s INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (2009) as Winston Churchill.

IB rod taylor

Filmography (TCM):

1. Kaw (2007)
2. Zabriskie Point (1970) as Lee Allen .
3. Darker Than Amber (1970) as Travis McGee .
4. The Man Who Had Power Over Women (1970) as Peter Reaney .
5. The High Commissioner (1968) as Scobie Malone .
6. Dark of the Sun (1968) as Curry .
7. The Hell With Heroes (1968) as Brynie MacKay .
8. Chuka (1967) as Chuka .
9. Hotel (1967) as Peter McDermott .
10. The Liquidator (1966) as Boysie Oakes .
11. The Glass Bottom Boat (1966) as Bruce Templeton .
12. Young Cassidy (1965) as John Cassidy .
13. 36 Hours (1965) as Maj. Walter Gerber .
14. Do Not Disturb (1965) as Mike Harper .
15. Sunday in New York (1964) as Mike Mitchell .
16. Fate Is the Hunter (1964) as Capt. Jack Savage .
17. A Gathering of Eagles (1963) as Hollis Farr .
18. The Birds (1963) as Mitch Brenner .
19. The V.I.P.s (1963) as Les Mangrum .
20. Seven Seas to Calais (1963) as Sir Francis Drake .
21. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) as Pongo.
22. The Time Machine (1960) as George, Time Traveler .
23. Ask Any Girl (1959) as Ross Taford .
24. Separate Tables (1958) as Charles .
25. Step Down to Terror (1958) as Mike Randall .
26. Raintree County (1957) as Garwood B. Jones .
27. The Catered Affair (1956) as Ralph Halloran .
28. The Rack (1956) as Al .
29. Hell on Frisco Bay (1956) as Brodie Evans .
30. Giant (1956) as Sir David Karfrey .
31. World Without End (1956) as [Herbert] Ellis .
32. Top Gun (1955) as [Lem] Sutter .
33. Long John Silver (1955) as Israel Hands .

34. The Virgin Queen (1955) as Corp. Gwilym .

Watch the trailer for the Rod Taylor documentary in development, “Pulling No Punches.”

Alfred Hitchock’s The Birds (1963). Credit: Universal/Getty Images.

Alfred Hitchock’s The Birds (1963). Credit: Universal/Getty Images.

Related Items