Don Taylor (actor/director)

Don Taylor (December 13, 1920 – December 29, 1998) was an American movie actor and director best known for his performances in 1950s classics like Stalag 17 and Father of the Bride and the 1948 film noir The Naked City. He later turned to directing films such as Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) and Tom Sawyer (1973).

Life and work

Born in Freeport, Pennsylvania, on December 13, 1920, Taylor studied speech and drama at Penn State University and hitchhiked to Hollywood in 1942. He was signed as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and appeared in small roles. Drafted into the United States Army Air Forces (AAF) during World War II, he appeared in the Air Forces's Winged Victory Broadway play and movie (1944), credited as "Cpl. Don Taylor."

His acting career

After discharge from the AAF, Taylor was cast in a lead role as the young detective in The Naked City, which was notable for being filmed entirely on the streets of New York. He then appeared as the husband of Elizabeth Taylor in the comedies Father of the Bride (1950) and Father's Little Dividend (1951), starring Spencer Tracy. He also played Vern "Cowboy" Blithe in Flying Leathernecks in 1951. In 1953, Taylor had a key role as the escaping prisoner Lt. Dunbar in Billy Wilder's Stalag 17. His last major film role came in I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955).

His directorial career

From the late 1950s through the '80s, Taylor turned to directing movies and, mainly, TV shows,...
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