Robert Taylor
ActingAbout Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor (born Spangler Arlington Brugh; August 5, 1911 – June 8, 1969) was an American film and television actor who was one of the most popular leading men of his time. Taylor began his career in films in 1934 when he signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He won his first leading role the following year in Magnificent Obsession. His popularity increased during the late 1930s and 1940s with appearances in A Yank at Oxford (1938), Waterloo Bridge (1940), and Bataan (1943). During World War II, he served in the United States Naval Air Corps, where he worked as a flight instructor and appeared in instructional films. From 1959 to 1962, he starred in the ABC series The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor. In 1966, he took over hosting duties from his friend Ronald Reagan on the series Death Valley Days. Taylor was married to actress Barbara Stanwyck from 1939 to 1951. He married actress Ursula Thiess in 1954, and they had two children. A chain smoker, Taylor was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 1968. He died of the disease on June 8, 1969 at the age of 57.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Robert Taylor reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Robert Taylor's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 62% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Robert Taylor remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Song of Russia, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Robert Taylor Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Robert Taylor's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Robert Taylor.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Real Charlie Chaplin | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | That's Entertainment, Part II | (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows | Mr. Farriday: The 'In' Group | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | Hondo and the Apaches | Gallagher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Glass Sphinx | Prof. Karl Nichols | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | Return of the Gunfighter | Ben Wyatt | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Night Walker | Barry Moreland | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Big Parade of Comedy | Raymond Dabney in 'Personal Property' (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | Cattle King | Sam Brassfield | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Hangman | Mackenzie Bovard | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Party Girl | Tommy Farrell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Law and Jake Wade | Jake Wade | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | Saddle the Wind | Steve Sinclair | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Tip on a Dead Jockey | Lloyd Tredman | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Last Hunt | Charlie Gilson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Many Rivers to Cross | Bushrod Gentry | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Above and Beyond | Lt. Col Paul W. Tibbets | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Ivanhoe | Wilfred of Ivanhoe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Westward the Women | Buck Wyatt | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Quo Vadis | Marcus Vinicius | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Devil's Doorway | Lance Poole | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Bribe | Rigby | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | High Wall | Steven Kenet | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Fighting Lady | Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Song of Russia | John Meredith | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Bataan | Sgt. Bill Dane | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Stand by for Action | Lieut. Gregg Masterman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Johnny Eager | Johnny Eager | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | When Ladies Meet | Jimmy Lee | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Escape | Mark Preysing | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Trifles of Importance | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Waterloo Bridge | Roy Cronin | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Lady of the Tropics | William 'Bill' Carey | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Lucky Night | Bill Overton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Crowd Roars | 'Killer' McCoy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Hollywood Goes to Town | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Three Comrades | Erich Lohkamp | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | A Yank at Oxford | Lee Sheridan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Romance of Celluloid | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Broadway Melody of 1938 | Steve Raleigh | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | This Is My Affair | Lt. Richard L. Perry | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Personal Property | Raymond Dabney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Camille | Armand Duval | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Private Number | Richard Winfield | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Magnificent Obsession | Dr. Robert Merrick | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Broadway Melody of 1936 | Robert Gordon | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Society Doctor | Dr. Ellis | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | There's Always Tomorrow | Arthur White | Super Hit | Similar → |
Robert Taylor - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Robert Taylor?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Robert Taylor is "Song of Russia" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Robert Taylor acted in?
Robert Taylor has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Robert Taylor?
Other notable films include "There's Always Tomorrow", "Waterloo Bridge", and "Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line".