Dependable, clean-cut star who was signed by MGM while still in school, and spent most of his subsequent career with the company. Boyishly handsome, with a "perfect profile," Taylor highlighted many a light romance and was immensely popular for years after starring in "Magnificent Obsession" (1935). He eventually grew out of his pretty-boy good looks, became a solid, gritty performer, and made up for any lack of talent with a much-noted professionalism in a succession of epics ("Ivanhoe" 1951 "Knights of the Round Table" 1953) and Westerns ("The Hangman" 1959, "Cattle King" 1963) that punctuated his mature screen work. Married to Barbara Stanwyck from 1939 to 1951.
Family
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Daughter: Theresa Taylor. born in 1959; mother, Ursula Thiess
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Father: Spangler Andrew Brugh.
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Mother: Ruth Brugh. was ill with heart condition for most of her life
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Son: Terrence Taylor. born in 1955; mother, Ursula Thiess
Significant Others
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Companion: Ava Gardner. had four-month romantic relationship during filming of The Bribe (1949)
Education
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Doane College, Crete, Nebraska, music, 1929
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Pomona College, Pomona, California, medicine, 1933
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Neely Dixon Dramatic School
Milestones
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1932 During senior year of college was spotted by MGM talent scout but declined offer to study further
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1934 Film debut on loan out to Fox in Handy Andy
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1934 First MGM film, A Wicked Woman
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1935 Breakthrough screen role in Society Doctor
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1935 Co-starred with Irene Dunne in The Magnificent Obsession for Universal
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1935 Made singing debut in Broadway Melody of 1936
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1936 First picture with Barbara Stanwyck, His Brother s Wife
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1937 Had title role in A Yank at Oxford ; first film with Vivien Leigh
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1937 Starred opposite Greta Garbo in Camille
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1940 Reteamed with Vivien Leigh for Waterloo Bridge
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1942 Played a ruthless underworld figure in Johnny Eager ; reportedly fell in love with co-star Lana Turner although according to Turner, they did not consummate their relationship
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1943 Enlisted in the Naval Air Corps; commissioned as a lieutenant but was deemed to old for active service; became a flying instructor
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1946 Returned to films in Undercurrent opposite Katharine Hepburn
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1947 Testified before the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities (HUAC)
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1951 Co-starred with Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov and Leo Genn in Quo Vadis?
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1952 Replaced Stewart Grainger in the title role of Ivanhoe
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1953 Delivered one of his best performances in Above and Beyond , playing a pilot assigned to drop an atomic bomb; first of three films with Eleanor Parker
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1955 Last film with Eleanor Parker, Many Rivers to Cross
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1958 Final film under his MGM contract, Party Girl , helmed by Nicholas Ray
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1959 Starred in first TV series The Detectives (ABC)
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1959 Had title role in Michael Curtiz s Western The Hangman
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1964 Reteamed with former wife Stanwyck for the William Castle-directed horror flick The Night Walker
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1967 Appeared in the made-for-television movie Return of the Gunfighter (ABC)
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1968 Final films, The Glass Sphinx , Where Angels Go ... Trouble Follows and The Day the Hotline Got Hot
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Hosted the syndicated Western Death Valley Days
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Raised in Beatrice, Nebraska
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Screen tested for Samuel Goldwyn; did not receive contract offer
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Tested at MGM; signed to seven-year contract and rechristened Robert Taylor