The Birds Actor Rod Taylor Has Died at 84


Taylor in The V.I.P.s, (1963). Source: wikipedia.org

LOS ANGELES: -- Legendary actor Rod Taylor died of natural causes Wednesday, his rep tells PEOPLE. He was 84.

The Australia-born movie star appeared in more than 50 Hollywood films throughout his career, from The Time Machine and The Train Robbers to The Catered Affair. More recently, he voiced Pongo in Disney's family-favorite 101 Dalmatians and played Winston Churchill in Inglourious Basterds.

But his most iconic role was that of Mitch Brenner in Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 classic The Birds, opposite Tippi Hedren.

"There are so many incredible feelings I have for him. Rod was a great pal to me and a real strength, we were very, very good friends," Hedren, 84, said in a statement. "He was one of the most fun people I have ever met, thoughtful and classy, there was everything good in that man."

Full story: http://www.people.com/article/rod-taylor-dies

-- The People 2015-01-09

He was in some fun action and thriller films in the 60s, too. That was his day. Will always remember him that way.

Wonderful actor and very versatile in his numerous acting roles.

RIP Rod. Hope to see you on the Silver Screen on the Silver Cloud.

He was in some fun action and thriller films in the 60s, too. That was his day. Will always remember him that way.

Another one of the best of the best gone. Makes me feel older watching all these older stars from my heyday pass on. The new replacements leave so much to be desired. They talk about copy right laws none of the new stars produce a good enough movie to worry about copyrighting it. You have to run through about 30 crappy movies to get an entertaining one now days. As soon as some of the off beat film company names show up like made by "Horses Arse Pictures" I hit delete and move on. I find the best answer is to download the oldie moldies and watch em over again. At my age that makes them new movies. God bless you Rod Taylor you hit the sweet spot on the age scale. I am some 7 years behind you. Well back to the violence in France. What an ughly world.

I'm an Aussie and I've never heard of him. Bit before my time.

I'm an Aussie and I've never heard of him. Bit before my time.

Wow. I'm an American. And when I thought of Australia, I always thought of the two Rods, Rod Laver and Rod Taylor.

He was very good in the under-rated TV series Hong Kong , made in the 60s , in which he played a journalist.

He was a legend in " The Time Machine " .... ( The original was a great movie )

F.J

Excellent actor and interesting guy also. RIP

Enjoyed his movies, he had a good run RIP

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001792/bio

He certainly had good taste in Birds. RIP ROD!

I'm an Aussie and I've never heard of him. Bit before my time.

I didn't think you were that young Chooka. He actually was in a movie in 2009.

His most recent film appearance was in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds in 2009, playing Winston Churchill in a cameo.

http://deadline.com/2015/01/rod-taylor-inglourious-basterds-the-birds-actor-dead-at-84-1201344970/

A great actor and a staple of many great movies. RIP.

Quintessential Aussie male making a living in movies. Great actor. RIP Mr Taylor.

I remember him from The Time Machine.

RIP

I'm an Aussie and I've never heard of him. Bit before my time.

Bit before my time.

Obviously. Even Australia had movies in the 60s and 70s when many of his movies were shown.

He was one of the best actors of that time and I remember many of his movies with affection.

RIP Rod.

I remember him from The Time Machine.

RIP

That would have been the first movie I saw him in. I was at school at the time.

Very good actor & a true gentleman. Will be sadly missed by alot of people. You will live forever on the silver screen.

RIP

He was very good in the under-rated TV series Hong Kong , made in the 60s , in which he played a journalist.

Yes loved the Hong Kong series.

Rest in Peace Rod.

I'm an Aussie and I've never heard of him. Bit before my time.

Then you missed a LOT mate.

I'm an Aussie and I've never heard of him. Bit before my time.

Then you missed a LOT mate.

Probably missed things like the Beatles, 60s pop, decent tv shows, moon landing, real cars, not the plastic rubbish we have now etc. Sometimes I feel sorry for those born too late to experience such.

Enjoyed his movies, he had a good run RIP

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001792/bio

I cant believe they didn't mention "The Mercenaries" is his bio, (aka "Dark of the Sun) based on the Wilbur Smith novel.

A great action movie in its day.

Enjoyed his movies, he had a good run RIP

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001792/bio

I cant believe they didn't mention "The Mercenaries" is his bio, (aka "Dark of the Sun) based on the Wilbur Smith novel.

A great action movie in its day.

Yes it was and still is. And, if you're living in Thailand, it pops up several times a year on Truevisions' Cinemax.

Enjoyed his movies, he had a good run RIP

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001792/bio

I cant believe they didn't mention "The Mercenaries" is his bio, (aka "Dark of the Sun) based on the Wilbur Smith novel.

A great action movie in its day.

Yes it was and still is. And, if you're living in Thailand, it pops up several times a year on Truevisions' Cinemax.

Yes, I am here in Thailand but I swapped Truevision for CTH when they lost the rights to the Premier League. I presume the version they show is an edited one, same as they've shown from time to time on Turner Network Television.

I would love to be able to find the original cinema version but it doesn't seem to exist, all the versions available for sale seem to be the tv version.

Enjoyed his movies, he had a good run RIP

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001792/bio

I cant believe they didn't mention "The Mercenaries" is his bio, (aka "Dark of the Sun) based on the Wilbur Smith novel.

A great action movie in its day.

Yes it was and still is. And, if you're living in Thailand, it pops up several times a year on Truevisions' Cinemax.

Yes, I am here in Thailand but I swapped Truevision for CTH when they lost the rights to the Premier League. I presume the version they show is an edited one, same as they've shown from time to time on Turner Network Television.

I would love to be able to find the original cinema version but it doesn't seem to exist, all the versions available for sale seem to be the tv version.

I have heard it's easily available through downloading.

Yes, the heavily edited version is available online but I've never come across the cinema version.