Ron Taylor (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ron Taylor
Taylor as Coach Wingate in Twin Peaks
Born	Ronald James Taylor (1952-10-16)October 16, 1952 Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Died	January 16, 2002(2002-01-16) (aged 49) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, singer and writer
Years active	1977–2002
Spouse(s)	DeBorah Sharpe ​ (m. 1980)​
Children	1

Ronald James Taylor (born October 16, 1952 – died January 16, 2002) was an American actor, singer, and writer. He grew up in Galveston, Texas. Later, he moved to New York City to study acting.

After finishing school, Taylor started working in musical theater. He appeared in The Wiz in 1977. He became well-known for his role in the 1982 musical Little Shop of Horrors. In this show, Taylor was the voice of a talking plant named Audrey II. The show was very popular and ran for five years.

Taylor also created and starred in a musical show called It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues. This show told the story of blues music. It started as a short play in high schools. Then, it grew into a full two-hour show. It played all over the country and even opened on Broadway in 1999. The show was highly praised. Taylor received two Tony Award nominations for his work on it.

He also acted in many TV shows. These include The Simpsons, Twin Peaks, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Ally McBeal. His singing of the national anthem on L.A. Law led him to sing it at real sports events. Ron Taylor was married and had one son. He passed away in January 2002 from a heart attack.

Early Life and Education

Ronald James Taylor was born on October 16, 1952. His parents were Marian and Robert "Bruno" Taylor. He had two sisters, Roberta and Frances. Ron grew up in Galveston, Texas.

He went to O'Connell High School. He also attended Wharton County Junior College. There, he played football and sang in the school choir. His choir teacher heard him singing and suggested he join. Ron loved music more than football. At 19, he went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He wanted to become a singer.

A Look at His Career

Theater Performances

Starting in Theater

Ron Taylor had a strong, deep voice. He had a long career in musical theater. When he finished acting school, he couldn't read sheet music well. He also could barely play the piano. But he found work as a singer.

In 1977, he played the Cowardly Lion in a touring show of The Wiz. Later, in 1978, Taylor played Great Big Baby in the Broadway show Eubie!. He also played Caiaphas in a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Voicing Audrey II

In 1982, Ron Taylor voiced Audrey II. This was a "street-smart, funky" talking plant. It was like a mix between a Venus flytrap and an avocado. This was for the original Little Shop of Horrors musical.

Audrey II was played by four puppets. These puppets got bigger and bigger. Taylor sat in a box at the back of the stage. He would stand up to sing his songs. He worked closely with the puppet operator. This made sure the voice and actions matched perfectly.

This role was a big break for him. People often used Audrey II's famous line, "Feed me, feed me!" when they saw Taylor. Little Shop of Horrors was performed over 2,000 times. It closed in 1987. In 1983, Taylor won an award for Outstanding Special Effects. He shared it with the puppet operator.

In 1984, Taylor played Porthos in the Broadway show The Three Musketeers. The show did not run for very long.

It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues

Taylor created and starred in It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues. This musical show told the story of blues music. It showed how blues music started in Africa and became popular in America. He got the idea in 1987. He was playing a blues musician in another play.

He worked with others to write the show. Taylor was the main singer and narrator. He sang songs like "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" and "The Thrill is Gone". The show first played for 45 minutes in high schools. People loved it, so it grew to two hours and 50 songs.

Taylor said the show was "very friendly." The audience felt close to the performers. He explained that each show was different. Blues music is about how you feel each day. The show included African music, country, gospel, and old blues. It featured music by artists like Patsy Cline and Muddy Waters.

The show toured different theaters. In March 1999, it opened off-Broadway in New York. It was very popular with critics and audiences. The next month, it moved to Broadway. A critic from The New York Times said the show had "splendidly interpreted song." They also said it "engages the eye and touches the heart."

The show received four Tony Award nominations. Taylor was nominated for Best Actor and Best Book of a Musical. The cast was supposed to perform on the live Tony Awards show. But they were cut due to time limits. This caused some talk in the media. The cast performed on a talk show instead. This helped the show for a short time.

The show later moved to the Ambassador Theatre. It closed in January 2000. It had run for eight months on Broadway.

After Broadway, It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues toured again. It played in cities like Atlanta and San Diego. A reviewer praised Taylor's strong voice and stage presence. They also liked the writing of the show.

It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues was the longest-running show Taylor was in. It was also his last Broadway appearance. Taylor had plans to make an IMAX film version of the show. It was brought back to the stage nine years after his death.

Film, Television, and Music

Ron Taylor had many roles on television. He was the voice of ""Bleeding Gums" Murphy" on The Simpsons. He appeared in the first season and returned for the character's death. He was one of the first guest stars on the show. One critic said this role gave Taylor "television immortality." He also sang on The Simpsons album The Simpsons Sing the Blues.

He played a Klingon chef in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He was also wrestling instructor Coach Wingate in Twin Peaks. Other TV shows he appeared in include NYPD Blue, ER, and Ally McBeal. Taylor also had a regular role in the 2000 series City of Angels. He played a blues singer in an episode of Matlock. This role was written just for him.

He also appeared in more than 20 films. These include Trading Places, Amos & Andrew, and Rush Hour 2.

In 1991, Taylor was on the show L.A. Law. He played a singer who got fired for singing the national anthem too creatively. After this, he was invited to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at real sports events. He sang it at a Major League Baseball game in 1991. He also sang for a Los Angeles Kings hockey game.

Taylor was part of a blues group called The Nervis Bros. They performed all over the United States. He also sang with famous musicians like Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen.

Personal Life

Ron Taylor met DeBorah Sharpe in 1977. They were both working on The Wiz. They got married in 1980 and had a son named Adamah.

In his free time, Taylor often helped young people. He worked on different projects, like at the George Street Playhouse. He felt grateful for his career. He said that's why he worked with kids. A newspaper described him as "A jolly giant of a man." It said he looked like "a natural force." Taylor was a Christian.

In 1999, Taylor had a small stroke. But he was able to perform in It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues again 73 days later. He passed away from a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles. He was 49 years old. His funeral was held on January 28, 2002.

Filmography

Films

Television