Rod Taylor Dies - Legendary Actor and television personality Rod Taylor, who starred in over 50 films, including Alfred Hitchcock's classic The Birds, has died from a heart attack following a dinner party at his home.
Rod Taylor, who was born in Sydney, on January 11, 1930, is arguably one of the county's most successful film exports. He died on January 7th - a few days before his 85th birthday at his Los Angeles home.
Rod Taylor was 84 and surrounded by his family and friends at the time of death. His daughter Felicia Rodrica Stuart Taylor, a former CNN News correspondent, said her father loved acting and couldn't imagine life without it.
"My dad loved his work. Being an actor was his passion-calling it an honorable art and something he couldn't live without," Felicia said.
In 1961, Rod Taylor said " I don't do it just for money. I love it. It is an honorable art. I am proud to be an actor. I pray and try every day to be a better actor...I am a poor student sitting at the feet of giants, yearning for their wisdom and begging for lessons that might one day make me a complete artist, so that if all goes well, I may one day sit beside them."
Rod Taylor was certainly a complete artist, who has earned his place among the giants since landing his first major role in the 1960s, classic The Time Machine.
Rod Taylor went on to feature in other movies, holding his own against several Hollywood giants, like Edward G. Robinson and Alan Ladd in Hell on Frisco in 1956. He also played alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson in Giant (1956).
"There are so many incredible feelings I have for him," 85-year-old Tippi Hedren said of Rod Taylor following his death.
"Rod was a great pal to me...we were very, very good friends," She said. "He was one of the most fun people I have ever met, thoughtful and classy, there was everything good in that man."
Taylor appeared in The Birds with actress and fashion model Tippi Hedren.
Rod Taylor's most recent role was in 2009, when he played Winston Churchhill alongside Brad Pitt in Quentin Tarantino movie Inglorious Basterds.
Taylor is survived by his daughter Felicia and his wife of three decades, Carol Kikumura.
