# | Quote |
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1 | [on his on- and off-screen chemistry with James Arness] You know, just a terrific gentleman, a very humorous guy, very humble, kind of a reclusive person, you know. He came to work, did his job and left. While he was there, he was just wonderful to talk to and to be around. I didn't say too much to him, for eight8 years. I didn't want to infringe on his privacy and I really respected that and I respected the way he conducted himself and his personal life. I got to know him real good, later, and a great friendship. |
2 | [When asked about reports James Arness had a great memory] That's true, he had a photographic memory and he wouldn't read a script, to come in on the first day of filming for Matt Dillon; and the director would say, "Tell 'em the story, you know, bad guys come into town, you're out of town, Festus goes dutchy, you come in, and beat the bad guy up and that's it". Basically, that's what happened every week; and then, you go and have a drink in the Long Branch. Well, he said, "In this scene, these are pages, it'll be about five pages, you have a scene at noon". Well, he had all the dialogue--I mean, there were several lines and he looked at them, put some other actors in the scene. You'd take them up, round them up, throw waste in the basket, over there and they looked at them. |
3 | [Of James Arness] He was great. With his boots on he was about six-foot-eight. He was huge. John Wayne loved Jim and introduced him for an award once. Jim walked on stage, and the Duke said: "You're bigger than I am!" Jim said, "Taller, maybe". You never felt intimidated by his height. He was a very gracious and humble man . . . In my travels around the country with my artwork, people always ask about Gunsmoke (1955). They still revere "Gunsmoke" over a half-century later. It's amazing. I was at the right spot at the right time. That show had great writing, but a simple premise: Some special friends that would do anything for each other . . . I would like to play in an action movie like Iron Man (2008). Maybe something with Mickey Rourke. I could play his dad [laughs]. He acts like I paint--extemporaneous and bold. Don't be afraid of color and breaking rules; make it different and interesting. If it turns out good, it's a happy accident. I have happy accidents. |
4 | [on how he felt about James Arness, who played Matt Dillon] James Arness is still my hero. He's a humble and shy guy. I named my son Matthew after his character. He's a patriotic American, wounded in World War II. When I painted a portrait of him, he asked me to make him look like he did on Gunsmoke (1955). |
5 | [About his introduction to James Arness] It was hard to work with him, because he was a funny guy. He had a great sense of humor. I'd run into the marshal's office in the rehearsal, out of breath, and say, "Marshal, there's a fight in the Long Branch!" He'd look at me and go: "Oh, all right now. OK. We've got ourselves a serious actor. Let's just wait till the take before we do all that stuff, Buck". And then when I would try to be serious, he'd start laughing. Once they got to laughing, they'd laugh for weeks. Milburn Stone [who played crusty but lovable Doc Adams], they were all the same way. You've got to have a sense of humor and have some fun. We had some great times. |
6 | I thought, "God, was their mother a buffalo?" |
7 | [asked about himself being recognized as Newly O'Brien] I don't know how they recognize me now. Even little kids, although their parents usually have to tell them who I am. |
8 | [describing his mentors] Milburn Stone [Doc] and Ken Curtis [Festus] of Gunsmoke (1955) told me early on, "When you go in public, you're going to meet people that let you into the privacy of their homes, into their bedrooms. They'll think of you as part of their family, so they'll feel like they know you. Some will want to hug you. When they do that, don't disappoint them". That's my advice to any actor--respect those that got you there. Enjoy those that you've made happy. My dad was like that also. That's old school, I guess. |
9 | I was at the Fort Worth stockyards in 1948 or '47, I was on tour with my dad, and Wild Bill was in the stockyards with some horses. I got to see Wild Bill there, never knowing that in years to come I'd be creating a poster of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. |
10 | [on how he was brought into the cast after a guest appearance in the 13th season of Gunsmoke (1955)] They liked me [from that guest appearance] so much they decided to test me as Newly O'Brien, who was a gunsmith and U.S. Deputy Marshal. Six months later, I was on the show. |
# | Fact |
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1 | Revealed that he had a wonderful relationship with James Arness on Gunsmoke (1955). |
2 | His acting mentor and best friend James Arness, died on June 3, 2011, at age 88. Taylor attended his funeral and read the eulogy. |
3 | Had attended the funeral of his longtime friend James Arness. Taylor even read a eulogy. |
4 | Has a portrait of his mentor and best friend James Arness. |
5 | He worked with his late son Adam C. Taylor in Tombstone (1993). |
6 | Is a well-known western artist. |
7 | As of 2003 was living in Fort Worth, TX. |
8 | Inducted into The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame in 2011. |
9 | His acting mentor was the late James Arness. |
10 | Both his father Dub Taylor and his son Adam C. Taylor died in 1994. |
11 | Ex-brother-in-law of Nick Adams and Carol Nugent. |
12 | Uncle of Allyson Adams and Jeb Stuart Adams. |
13 | Ex-son-in-law of Carl Nugent. |
14 | Grandfather of Zane Taylor and Carlyle Taylor. |
15 | His grizzled, roly-poly character actor/father Dub Taylor was best known as Michael J. Pollard's turncoat father who leads Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to their memorably stylized deaths in Bonnie and Clyde (1967). On TV he appeared in many western settings and will be remembered for his role on I Love Lucy (1951) as "Rattlesnake Jones," the gruff cowboy entertainer who tries to help Lucy prepare for Ricky's rodeo show by nasaling out a version of "Home on the Range." |
16 | He studied art on a scholarship while in college and later was seen sketching during film and TV breaks. An accomplished western artist who enjoys exploring America's "Old West" and delving into typical everyday cowboy scenes of hitching horses or setting up camp, he specializes in watercolor. |
17 | Has earned several Western awards over the years. Received "The Wrangler" award in 1972 and was inducted into the National Cowboy Western Heritage Musuem as a trustee. He later received the National Festival of the West award "Cowboy Spirit Award" in 1998, which actor Dennis Weaver also received several years later, and received a plaque on the "Walk of Western Stars" in Santa Clarita, CA, that includes past recipients Weaver and Amanda Blake. |
18 | Western character actor who is best remembered for his eight seasons (1967-1975) as gunsmith Newly O'Brien on the classic series Gunsmoke (1955). |
19 | He thought so highly of Gunsmoke (1955) star James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon, that he named his second son Matthew. He also named his third son Cooper Glenn after Glenn Strange. |
20 | He and current wife Goldie live on a ranch north of Fort Worth, Texas. They met in 1995 at a world quarter-horse show, where his paintings were being exhibited, and married after a three-month courtship. |
21 | Father-in-law of actress/producer Anne Lockhart. |
22 | Son of Dub Taylor. |
23 | Father of Adam C. Taylor, Matthew Taylor, and Cooper Taylor |
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
Dallas: J.R. Returns | 1996 | TV Movie | Steve Grisham |
Walker, Texas Ranger | 1995-1996 | TV Series | Sheriff / Logan Reno |
Tombstone | 1993 | | Turkey Creek Jack Johnson |
Gettysburg | 1993 | | Col. William Gamble |
The Young Riders | 1991 | TV Series | Mr. Metcalf |
Knots Landing | 1991 | TV Series | Fred Morgan |
Conagher | 1991 | TV Movie | Tile Coker, Ladder Five Rider |
Dallas | 1990-1991 | TV Series | Detective Bussey |
Payback | 1991 | | Nick |
Guns of Paradise | 1989-1991 | TV Series | Slatter / Frank |
Big Bad John | 1990 | | Bob Simmons |
Desperado: The Outlaw Wars | 1989 | TV Movie | Wes Porter |
Dark Before Dawn | 1988 | | Charlie |
High Mountain Rangers | 1988 | TV Series | |
Proud Men | 1987 | TV Movie | Homer |
Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge | 1987 | TV Movie | Newly |
Starman | 1987 | TV Series | Stan / Driver |
Timestalkers | 1987 | TV Movie | Shaving Cowboy |
Simon & Simon | 1984-1987 | TV Series | Jackson Fischer / Buddy |
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory | 1987 | TV Movie | Buck Smith |
Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills | 1986 | TV Movie | Grey |
T.J. Hooker | 1984-1986 | TV Series | Off. Phillips / Sam Rand |
Dream West | 1986 | TV Mini-Series | Egloffstein |
The All American Cowboy | 1985 | TV Movie | |
Wild Horses | 1985 | TV Movie | Cowboy |
General Hospital | 1985 | TV Series | Ralph Russell |
Wildside | 1985 | TV Series | Captain Angus Flint |
Lottery! | 1984 | TV Series | |
No Man's Land | 1984 | TV Movie | Feeny |
Matt Houston | 1983 | TV Series | |
Triumphs of a Man Called Horse | 1983 | | Sgt. Bridges |
The Fall Guy | 1982 | TV Series | Clyde |
Dangerous Company | 1982 | TV Movie | Petrie |
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | 1963-1981 | TV Series | Josh / Laird |
The Legend of the Lone Ranger | 1981 | | Robert Edward Gattlin (Cavendish gang) |
East of Eden | 1981 | TV Mini-Series | |
Cattle Annie and Little Britches | 1981 | | Dynamite Dick |
Wild Times | 1980 | TV Mini-Series | Joe McBride |
The Sacketts | 1979 | TV Mini-Series | Reed Carney |
The Busters | 1978 | TV Movie | Billy Burnett |
Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid | 1978 | TV Movie | Joe |
Standing Tall | 1978 | TV Movie | George Fewster |
Beartooth | 1978 | | |
Barnaby Jones | 1977 | TV Series | Foster |
Doc Hooker's Bunch | 1976 | | Mike Lassiter |
Pony Express Rider | 1976 | | Bovey Kingman |
Gunsmoke | 1967-1975 | TV Series | Newly / Leonard Parker |
Death Valley Days | 1968-1969 | TV Series | Will / Billy Stiles |
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre | 1967 | | Poolside Interviewer 2 (uncredited) |
Devil's Angels | 1967 | | Gage |
The Monroes | 1966-1967 | TV Series | John Bradford |
Combat! | 1965-1966 | TV Series | Jeetleman / Tobin |
Daniel Boone | 1966 | TV Series | Jonathan Warren |
The F.B.I. | 1966 | TV Series | Ed Rule |
The Wild Angels | 1966 | | Dear John |
And Now Miguel | 1966 | | Gabriel |
Branded | 1966 | TV Series | Corporal |
The Virginian | 1964-1966 | TV Series | Lem Bliss / Scott Briscoe / Deputy Plumb |
The Big Valley | 1965 | TV Series | Turk |
The Legend of Jesse James | 1965 | TV Series | John Bedford |
My Three Sons | 1964-1965 | TV Series | Howard Sears |
Mr. Novak | 1964-1965 | TV Series | Don / Scott Lawson / Nick Bradley |
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | 1962-1965 | TV Series | Dancer Smith / Officer Frazier |
Wagon Train | 1965 | TV Series | Skeeter Ames |
12 O'Clock High | 1964 | TV Series | Cpl. Dennis Moody |
Karen | 1964 | TV Series | Jim Fraser |
The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet | 1964 | TV Series | Pete / Carlisle |
Bonanza | 1964 | TV Series | Billy |
Ben Casey | 1964 | TV Series | Eddie Boyd |
Ensign Pulver | 1964 | | Mannion (uncredited) |
My Favorite Martian | 1964 | TV Series | Bruce Baker |
The Greatest Show on Earth | 1963-1964 | TV Series | Tony / Joe |
The Outer Limits | 1964 | TV Series | Gard Hayden |
The Fugitive | 1963 | TV Series | Jamie |
Stoney Burke | 1962-1963 | TV Series | Mule / Joey Kilgore / Young Racer |
The Eleventh Hour | 1963 | TV Series | Willie |
Going My Way | 1963 | TV Series | Mickey Vecchione |
Johnny Shiloh | 1963 | TV Movie | Josh |
Have Gun - Will Travel | 1962 | TV Series | Eddie |
The Rebel | 1961 | TV Series | Gunman |
Zane Grey Theater | 1961 | TV Series | Trooper Shattuck |
Palominas | 2017 | pre-production | Judge Guilt Roads |
Color Me You | 2016 | post-production | Richard Donnegan |
Billy and the Bandit | | TV Movie post-production | Jesse |
Rectify | 2016 | TV Series | Zeke |
Home on the Range | 2016 | TV Movie | Trube Reese |
Bender | 2016 | | Sheriff J.E. Stone |
Indiscretion | 2016 | | Abe |
Hell or High Water | 2016/II | | Old Man |
Canyon Trail | 2015 | Video | Marshal Trevor Cooper |
Rodeo & Juliet | 2015 | | Judge Lawrence |
Cowboys & Aliens | 2011 | | Wes Claiborne |
Crashing the Fest | 2011 | TV Series | |
The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy | 2011 | | Pete Snyder |
Cactus Creek | 2010 | Video | Marshal Trevor Cooper |
Comanche Moon | 2008 | TV Mini-Series | Ben Lily |
The Mist | 2007 | | Ambrose Cornell |
Flicka | 2006 | | Wagner |
Miracle at Sage Creek | 2005 | | Buckskin Charlie |
Hell to Pay | 2005 | | Dr. Adam Galen |
Truce | 2005 | | Harry Dodds |
The Wendell Baker Story | 2005 | | Bob Draper |
The Trail to Hope Rose | 2004 | TV Movie | Parson Brown |
Frontier Texas! | 2004 | | Trail Guide / Narrator |
The Alamo | 2004 | | Settler |
Screen Door Jesus | 2003 | | Old Man Nickles |
Gods and Generals | 2003 | | Gen. Maxcy Gregg |
Grand Champion | 2002 | | Big Texas Show Judge |
Jericho | 2000 | | Pap Doolin |
Comanche | 2000 | | Capt. Myles Keogh |
The Soul Collector | 1999 | TV Movie | Charlie |
Wild Wild West | 1999 | | Cross-Eyed Reb |
Hard Time | 1998 | TV Movie | Capt. Adam Gunther |
Rough Riders | 1997 | TV Series | George Neville |