"Birds" Actor Rod Taylor Has Died at 84
Source: People
Legendary actor Rod Taylor died of natural causes Wednesday, his rep tells PEOPLE. He was 84.
The Australia-born movie star appeared in more than 50 Hollywood films throughout his career, from The Time Machine and The Train Robbers to The Catered Affair. More recently, he voiced Pongo in Disney's family-favorite 101 Dalmatians and played Winston Churchill in Inglourious Basterds.
But his most iconic role was that of Mitch Brenner in Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 classic The Birds, opposite Tippi Hedren.
"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," Hedren, 84, said in a statement. "He was one of the most fun people I have ever met, thoughtful and classy, there was everything good in that man."
Taylor died at home, surrounded by his family and friends. He is survived by Carol, his wife of 35 years, and his daughter Felicia.
"My dad loved his work. Being an actor was his passion calling it an honorable art and something he couldnt live without," Felicia, a former CNN News correspondent, said in a statement.
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Read more: http://www.people.com/article/rod-taylor-dies
Sad to hear this R.I.P.
Scairp
(2,749 posts)RIP Rod Taylor
KT2000
(20,577 posts)I remember him as being a very handsome man too.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,325 posts)I was just watching The Time Machine on Netflix last night.
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)Brother Buzz
(36,419 posts)He returned to Australia several times over the years to make films but died in LA
Non-Automatic_Belief
(24 posts)Tom_Foolery
(4,691 posts)elias49
(4,259 posts)it was running on a cable station. So good and yet so bad (the movie).
villager
(26,001 posts)...back when the only way to see movies at home was on broadcast networks, with commercials...
Watched that film on TV way back in the 1960s, age 10 or so. That scene with the guy with his eyes pecked out, freaked me right the fuck out. I had nightmares for a week.
Now, I love the film.
villager
(26,001 posts)They must've, because I had the same nightmares.
But I think it was a much quicker cut than in the original film?
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)Just checked the original scene on my hard drive recording.
First, there a full shot of his entire body. I think they showed just that on TV, and it was a quick cut. Then there are two close ups. One of his torso and head, then a final closeup up of just his head. I think they cut those out completely.
These days, I have another issue with this film. The ages / sexual dynamics of the Mother (Jessica Tandy), Son (Rod Taylor) and Daughter (Veronica Cartwright) creeps me out.
Tandy was 54.
Taylor was 33, (but looks older to me, say 45).
Hedren was 33.
Cartwright was 14.
Taylor's character keeps calling his mother "darling". Cartwright is young enough to be Taylor's daughter, but she is his sister. Tandy's character is clearly sexually jealous of Hedren's. I have to turn off my brain, and just watch it for the shock value.
villager
(26,001 posts)I remember being shocked anew when I saw those close-ups at a screening at some 70's-era repertory cinema.
As for all the sexual mixed messaging -- remember, it's Hitchcock!
TheNutcracker
(2,104 posts)niyad
(113,275 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)[center][/center]
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)RIP Mr. Taylor.
p.s...the pic at the link...he was SO very handsome.
project_bluebook
(411 posts)and a class act. R.I.P.
edbermac
(15,938 posts)Some great set pieces but today the FX in a few scenes are a little cheesy looking.
RIP