Jud Taylor
American actor/director (1932–2008)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Judson Taylor (February 25, 1932 – August 6, 2008) was an American actor, television director, and television producer.
February 25, 1932
television director
television producer
Jud Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Judson Taylor February 25, 1932 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 6, 2008 (aged 76) New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Alan Smithee |
| Occupations | Actor television director television producer |
| Years active | 1965–2004 |
| Spouse | Lynn Kressel[1] |
| Children | 1 |
Early years
Born in New York City, Taylor graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.[2]
Career
Taylor is perhaps best known for his directorial work on 1960s television shows such as Star Trek, Dr. Kildare, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. In the early 2000s, he directed several episodes of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Taylor also directed more than 40 made-for-TV movies, including the award-winning Tail Gunner Joe and Foxfire, and the final film appearances of both Susan Hayward in Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole (1972) and David Janssen in City in Fear (1980).
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, before becoming an established director, Taylor worked as an actor. He had a recurring role on Dr. Kildare as Dr. Gerson.[3] He appeared in several episodes of The Fugitive and Twelve O'Clock High playing different characters. Other TV programs in which he had small roles included Gunsmoke, Men of Annapolis, and Wagon Train. He also played the part of Goff, one of three Americans, in the feature film The Great Escape[4][5] and subsequently directed a made-for-TV sequel to the film titled The Great Escape II: The Untold Story (1988) starring Christopher Reeve.[6] Two years later, he directed a television miniseries based on Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea (1990 miniseries) starring Anthony Quinn in the role originally portrayed by Spencer Tracy in the earlier theatrical version.
Taylor was vice president of the Directors Guild of America from 1977 to 1981 and president from 1981 to 1983.[2]
He died in New York City in 2008, following a long illness.[7][8]
Selected filmography
Actor
- Attack! (1956 World War II film) – Pvt. Jacob R. Abramowitz - radioman
- General Electric Theater (1 episode, 1957) – Bellboy
- The Garment Jungle (1957) – Latzo (uncredited)
- Gunsmoke (1 episode, 1957) – Ed Thorpe
- Harbormaster (1 episode, 1957) – Pete
- Men of Annapolis (2 episodes, 1957–1958) – Red Magruder / Weaver
- The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1 episode, 1959) – Charlie Buffalo
- Follow the Sun (1 episode, 1961) – Peter
- Wagon Train (1 episode, 1961) – Arthur
- Dr. Kildare (16 episodes, 1961–1965) – Dr. Thomas Gerson
- The Interns (1962) – Dr. Van Wyck (uncredited)
- The Great Escape (1963) – 2nd Lieutenant Goff
- The Fugitive (5 episodes, 1963–1965) – Sergeant Rainey / Toby Weems / Joey / Floyd (final television appearance)
- 12 O'Clock High (3 episodes, 1964–1965) – Lieutenant Morgan / Sergeant Loren / Lieutenant Harold Zimmerman
Director
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Writer
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1 episode, 1965)
TV movies
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Awards and nominations
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Film or series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Nominated | Emmy Award | Outstanding Directing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy | Tail Gunner Joe[9] |
| 1988 | Won | Directors Guild of America Award | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials | Foxfire[10] (Shared with Frederic B. Blankfein, John Eyler & Murray Schwartz) |
| 2003 | Won | Directors Guild of America Award | Robert B. Aldrich Award for Extraordinary Service to the Guild[10] | - |
