Playwright and screenwriter. He grew up in San Francisco, graduating from the city's prestigious Lowell High School. From 1929 to 34 he studied English at the University of California at Berkeley. Briefly joined the Merchant Marine, then settled in New York, starting as a reporter for ´The New Yorker' and other magazines, then writing radio comedy, as well as doctoring, or re-writing stage plays. The first of his own plays, "The Happy Time," opened on Broadway in January 1950. His best-known work, "Sabrina Fair" was a huge hit on Broadway in 1953 and filmed by Billy Wilder with even greater success the following year. Taylor co-wrote its film adaptation, for which he won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for the screenplay. Other successful plays include "The Pleasure of His Company" (1958), filmed in 1960 starring Fred Astaire and Debbie Reynolds, "No Strings" (1962/nominated for a Tony Award), "Beekman Place" (1964) and "Avanti!" (1968), filmed in 1972 by Billy Wilder. Screenwriting credits include "The Eddy Duchin Story" (1956), "Vertigo" (1958/directed by Alfred Hitchcock), "The Pleasure of His Company", "Goodbye Again" (1961), "Topaz" (1968/dir. Hitchcock), "The Love Machine" (1971) and "Avanti, Avanti!" He also directed and scripted one picture, "The Monte Carlo Story" (1956/with Marlene Dietrich and Vittorio De Sica). He died from heart failure.
Playwright and screenwriter. He grew up in San Francisco, graduating from the city's prestigious Lowell High School. From 1929 to 34 he studied English at the University of California at Berkeley. Briefly joined the Merchant Marine, then settled in New York, starting as a reporter for ´The New Yorker' and other magazines, then writing radio comedy, as well as doctoring, or re-writing stage plays. The first of his own plays, "The Happy Time," opened on Broadway in January 1950. His best-known work, "Sabrina Fair" was a huge hit on Broadway in 1953 and filmed by Billy Wilder with even greater success the following year. Taylor co-wrote its film adaptation, for which he won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for the screenplay. Other successful plays include "The Pleasure of His Company" (1958), filmed in 1960 starring Fred Astaire and Debbie Reynolds, "No Strings" (1962/nominated for a Tony Award), "Beekman Place" (1964) and "Avanti!" (1968), filmed in 1972 by Billy Wilder. Screenwriting credits include "The Eddy Duchin Story" (1956), "Vertigo" (1958/directed by Alfred Hitchcock), "The Pleasure of His Company", "Goodbye Again" (1961), "Topaz" (1968/dir. Hitchcock), "The Love Machine" (1971) and "Avanti, Avanti!" He also directed and scripted one picture, "The Monte Carlo Story" (1956/with Marlene Dietrich and Vittorio De Sica). He died from heart failure.
Bio by: Fritz Tauber
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