Cinematic Crush: Rod Taylor

Rod Taylor was likely my first cinematic crush, although I didn't know it at the time. The charismatic, ruggedly handsome Australian's two most famous films, The Time Machine and The Birds, were must-sees in my childhood home whenever they came on TV. My brothers and I thrilled to Taylor's heroism battling Morlocks and assorted avian antagonists; of course, it wasn't until much later that he thrilled me in other ways.

Taylor was an award-winning radio and stage actor in his homeland when he took a chance and headed to Hollywood in the mid-50's. Supporting roles in The Catered Affair, Giant, Raintree Country and Separate Tables, as well as appearances on such requisite television programs of the day as The Twilight Zone and Playhouse 90, led to his first starring role, as H.G. Wells himself, in The Time Machine.

His radio work came in handy when Walt Disney cast him as the voice of Pongo in 101 Dalmatians, his matinee idol looks netted him the hero role in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, and his authentic Aussie accent was heard in the all-star The V.I.P.'s. Romantic comedies (Sunday in New York, The Glass Bottom Boat) and topical dramas (A Gathering of Eagles, Zabriskie Point) followed, along with a string of war and western pictures.

Television called in the mid-70's, and Taylor starred in several series and TV movies, including a stint on Falcon Crest and supporting roles in the made-for-TV biopics of Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Diana. But it is two unique feature films, both set in his native Australia, that he'll be remembered for from his later career: The Picture Show Man and Welcome to Woop Woop. Taylor still acts occasionally, and was most recently seen in the Sci Fi Channel original movie Kaw.

The Time Machine airs on Turner Classic Movies this Thursday. If you can't wait until then to check him out, here's a video tribute from the creator of The Complete Rod Taylor Site.

Links via Imdb.com, TCM.com, YouTube.com and RodTaylorSite.com.