Nathaniel Taylor (actor)

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Other people". Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image Nathaniel Taylor (March 31, 1938 – February 27, 2019) was an American television and film actor best known for portraying Rollo Lawson on the 1970s sitcoms Sanford and Son, Grady and the 1980s sitcom Sanford.

He acted in several movies and TV shows and later created a performing arts studio. Some of the major shows he acted in are The Redd Foxx Show, Police Story and What's Happening!! . Taylor also appeared in the films Trouble Man (1972), Willie Dynamite (1974), and Passing Through (1977).

Early life

Taylor was born on March 31, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri.[1][2] Growing up, he had two brothers, Richard and Eugene, and three sisters Betty, Mary, and Rose.[3][4][5]

Career

Before becoming an actor, Taylor worked as an electrician at the Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles (PASLA). His mentor, Larry Clark, suggested he try out for a part. Clark had him read a few lines to him and then sent him down to Redd Foxx's room, who talked with Taylor about their hometown, St. Louis. Foxx told Taylor that he had the role which would become Rollo Lawson.[6]

Taylor was best known for his recurring role as Rollo Lawson in the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son, a role he later reprised on its short-lived 1980–1981 spin-off Sanford. He later played the first version of Jim-Jam with Redd Foxx on the 1986 series The Redd Foxx Show.[7] In the late 1970s, he played Rerun's (Fred Berry) brother–in–law, Ike, in the sitcom What's Happening!!.[3] Taylor also reprised the role of Rollo Lawson in the short–lived Grady. He also guest starred in episodes of The Bill Cosby Show, Adam 12, and Police Story.[8]

Taylor also appeared in Trouble Man as one of Mr. Big's henchmen.[9] In 1973, he acted in Clark's As Above, So Below. Taylor later became the Executive Director of Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles (PASLA).Template:Sfn He then starred in the blaxploitation film Willie Dynamite,[10] Clark's drama Passing Through and the thriller The Hunter.[9] In 2016, he acted as himself in the short film Auditioning for Nathaniel directed by Kevin Jerome Everson.[11]

BlueLine Classics, LLC bought the original 1952 Ford F1 used in Sanford and Son. The owners, Jeff Canter and Tim Franko, restored the vehicle in October 2015. They then decided to reunite a cast member with the truck they preserved. Canter then contacted Taylor. Afterwards, Taylor called Canter and agreed to sign autographs with the restored Ford truck in October 2015.[12] In June 2016, Taylor was asked to sign autographs at the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park with the 1951 Ford F1 'Sanford and Son Salvage' truck.[6]

Personal life and death

Taylor was friends with fellow actor Rocco Karega, hip-hop promoter Alonzo Williams, and producer Darius Owens of North Carolina [9]Template:Sfn In 2000, he married Loretta Taylor. They had two children together. Taylor additionally had five children from a previous marriage to Bernice Gordon-Taylor [3] After Taylor stopped acting, he opened a performing arts studio for young actors.[7][10]

In April 1986, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested and booked Taylor on burglary charges along with his brother, James, and Pang Shing.[4][13] About $200,000 in computers and typewriters were seized. The arrest came within hours of the Sports Connection athletic club in West Los Angeles reported the theft of 10 IBM typewriters and a computer.[13][14]

On February 23, 2019, Taylor was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after suffering from a heart attack.[8] He died there from the complications on February 27, 2019.[5][15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1972 Trouble Man Leroy Template:Plain list [7]
Black Girl Supporting Players Template:Plain list [16]
1973 As Above, So Below Jita Hadi Drama film directed by Larry Clark [17][18]
1974 Willie Dynamite Sugar Blaxploitation film directed by Gilbert Moses [7]
1977 Passing Through Eddie Warmack Drama film directed by Larry Clark & co-written by Clark and Ted Lange [18]
1980 The Hunter Trotter Thriller film directed by Buzz Kulik [3]
2016 Auditioning for Nathaniel Himself Short film directed by Kevin Jerome Everson [11]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1969 Listen to the Man Starring role Template:Plain list Template:Sfn
1971 The Bold Ones: The Senator Job Trainee Machinist Template:Plain list [19]
The Bill Cosby Show Bob Steffen Template:Plain list [3]
1972–77 Sanford and Son Rollo Lawson Recurring role (32 episodes) [7]
1973 Adam-12 Joe Episode: "Keeping Tabs" (S 5:Ep 23) [3]
1974 Harry O Bartender Template:Plain list [3]
1975 Police Story Thurman Template:Plain list [7]
Grady Rollo Lawson Episode: "Grady's Night In" (S 1:Ep 4) [19]
1977–1979 What's Happening!! Ike Episodes: Template:Plain list [7]
1980 Sanford Rollo Lawson Main cast (season 1 only) [7]
1985 227 Man #3 Episode: "Football Widow" (S 1:Ep 10) [19]
1986 The Redd Foxx Show Jim-Jam Episodes: Template:Plain list [7]

Documentaries

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 Spirits of Rebellion: Black Film at UCLA Eddie Warmack Template:Plain list [20]
2016 American Masters Himself Episode: "Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You" [21]

References

Citations

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Sources

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External links

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