Jack Taylor, the American born actor whose long career made him a recognizable figure in European horror, has died at 99. The news was confirmed today by the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which noted his decades long connection to Spain and highlighted films including “Conan the Barbarian,” “Pieces” and “The Ninth Gate.”
From American Television to European Cult Cinema
Born George Brown Randall in Oregon City, Oregon, Taylor began performing as a child before finding small television roles in the United States during the 1950s. Early appearances included parts on shows such as “The Jack Benny Program” and “Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.” His career soon took an international turn when he relocated to Mexico and later Europe, where he gradually became a fixture in genre filmmaking.
Taylor’s breakthrough arrived through his collaboration with Spanish filmmaker Jesús Franco, one of the defining figures of European horror cinema. The actor took leading roles in films such as “Succubus” before appearing in Franco’s version of “Count Dracula” alongside Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom and Klaus Kinski.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Taylor became closely associated with Spanish and Italian horror productions. His filmography included titles such as “Female Vampire,” “Dr. Jekyll vs. The Werewolf,” “The Ghost Galleon” and the cult title “Pieces.”
His later career brought appearances in higher profile international productions. Taylor appeared as a priest in “Conan the Barbarian,” later worked in “1492: Conquest of Paradise” for Ridley Scott, and shared the screen with Johnny Depp in “The Ninth Gate,” directed by Roman Polanski. He continued acting well into the 2010s, adding films such as “Grand Piano” and “Son of Cain” to a career that spanned more than five decades.