Dub Taylor
Known for: Acting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Walter Clarence Taylor Jr. (February 26, 1907 – October 3, 1994), known as Dub Taylor, was an American character actor who from the 1940s into the 1990s worked extensively in films and on television, often in Westerns but also in comedies. He was the father of actor Buck Taylor, who played the character Newly O'Brien on Gunsmoke. Walter C. Taylor Jr. was born in 1907 in Richmond, Virginia, the middle child of five children of Minnie and Walter C. Taylor, Sr. According to the federal census of 1920, young Walter had two older sisters, Minnie Marg[aret] and Maud, a younger brother named George, and a little sister, Edna Fay. The family moved to Augusta, Georgia around 1912 when Walter was five years old, and the Taylors lived in this city until he was 13. The census of 1920 also documents that Dub's mother was a native of Pennsylvania and his father was a native of North Carolina, who worked in Augusta at that time as a "Cotton Broker". While living in Georgia as a boy, Walter, Jr., got his lifelong nickname when his friends began calling him "W" (double-u) and then shortened his nickname even farther, to just "Dub". It was in Georgia, too, where Taylor befriended Ty Cobb, Jr., the son of the legendary professional baseball player. A vaudeville performer, Dub Taylor was a member of the 1937 Alabama Crimson Tide football team that played in the 1938 Rose Bowl. He stayed behind to establish a career in films, making his film debut in 1938 as the cheerful ex-football captain Ed Carmichael in Frank Capra's You Can't Take It with You. Taylor secured the part because the role required an actor who could also play the xylophone. Later, during the 1950s and early 1960s, he demonstrated his considerable talent for playing the xylophone on several television shows, including an episode on the syndicated series Ranch Party hosted by Tex Ritter. In 1939, he appeared in the film Taming of the West, in which he originated the character of Cannonball, a role he continued to play for the next ten years, in over 50 films. Cannonball was a comic sidekick to Wild Bill Saunders (played by Bill Elliott), a pairing that continued through 13 features, during which Elliott’s character became Wild Bill Hickok. Despite his extensive career as a character actor in a wide range of roles, Dub Taylor continued to find his niche in Westerns, a genre in which he performed in literally dozens of more films and in episodes of many television series. Taylor often appeared in the guise of talkative hotel or postal clerks, court bailiffs, cooks, or dissolute doctors. He portrayed, for example, an ill-tempered chuckwagon cook in the 1969 film The Undefeated, starring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. He appeared as well in the 1971 movie Support Your Local Gunfighter as the drunken Doc Shultz. Taylor played Houston Lamb over the course of four episodes of Little House On The Prairie in seasons six and seven (1979 to 1981). Taylor made at least two film cameos in the early 1990s. In Back to the Future Part III, he appeared with veteran Western actors Pat Buttram and Harry Carey Jr.. His last appearance was in the film Maverick as a hotel room clerk. Dub Taylor died of a heart attack on October 3, 1994 in Los Angeles. In addition to being father to Buck Taylor, Dub had a daughter, Faydean Taylor Tharp. CLR
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Perry Mason
Stroller
1957
Series
Little House on the Prairie
Houston Lamb
1974
Series
The Andy Griffith Show
Billy Ray Talbot
1960
Series
The Andy Griffith Show
Preacher
1960
Series
The Andy Griffith Show
Ben Beecham
1960
Series
Bonanza
Simon
1959
Series
Bonanza
Otto
1959
Series
Bonanza
Luke Calhoun
1959
Series
Bonanza
Barlow
1959
Series
Hawaii Five-O
Ray Tobias
1968
Series
The Wild Wild West
Guard
1965
Series
The Twilight Zone
Peters
1959
Series
Emergency!
Old Man
1972
Series
Emergency!
George
1972
Series
The Virginian
Walt Cooper
1962
Series
The Virginian
Runty Bojohn
1962
Series
The Cosby Show
Slim Claxton
1984
Series
Love, American Style
1969
Series
Love, American Style
Pa
1969
Series
Love, American Style
Grover
1969
Series
Cheyenne
Hoyt
1955
Series
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Yancie
1956
Series
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Harper - Auctioneer
1956
Series
Lawman
1958
Series
Lawman
Chef's Assistant (uncredited)
1958
Series
Lawman
Bartender
1958
Series
I Love Lucy
Rattlesnake Jones
1951
Series
Gunsmoke
Sonny Starr
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Cook
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Bartender
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Farnum
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Noah Riker
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Rev. Finney Cox
1955
Series
The Big Valley
Doc Tully
1965
Series
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Hogan
1955
Series
Burke's Law
Garnet
1963
Series
The High Chaparral
Oscar Hipple
1967
Series
The High Chaparral
Fargo Smith
1967
Series
Designing Women
1986
Series
The Partridge Family
Flicker
1970
Series
The Odd Couple
Slim
1970
Series
The Loner
Jim
1965
Series
Hazel
1961
Series
Hazel
Mitch Brady
1961
Series
77 Sunset Strip
1958
Series
77 Sunset Strip
Man Tourist
1958
Series
Surfside 6
1960
Series
That Girl
1966
Series
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Preacher
1964
Film
Back to the Future Part III
Saloon Old Timer
1990
Series
Dennis the Menace
Opie
1959
Series
The Monkees
Paw
1966
Series
Alias Smith and Jones
1971
Series
The Guns of Will Sonnett
1967
Series
The Guns of Will Sonnett
Henry Jackson
1967
Film
The Rescuers
Digger (voice)
1977
Series
The Mod Squad
1968
Series
Lancer
1968
Series
How the West Was Won
Moss
1977
Series
Laredo
1965
Series
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
George B. Glines
1960
Series
Cimarron Strip
Owley
1967
Film
Bonnie and Clyde
Ivan Moss
1967
Film
1941
Mr. Malcomb
1979
Film
How the West Was Won
Man (uncredited)
1962
Film
The Wild Bunch
Reverend Wainscoat
1969
Series
The Monroes
1966
Film
The Getaway
Laughlin
1972
Film
Maverick
Room Clerk
1994
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Purse
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Fire Tender
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Cicero Everhart
1954
Series
26 Men
1957
Series
Mr. Terrific
Preacher
1967
Series
Ensign O'Toole
Clerk
1962
Series
The Lloyd Bridges Show
Freddy
1962
Series
Movin' On
1974
Series
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
Ed Hewley
1965
Film
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
Josh
1973
Series
Darkroom
Dixie Weeks
1981
Film
Them!
Railroad Yard Watchman
1954
Film
Used Cars
Tucker
1980
Film
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Reporter (uncredited)
1939
Film
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin
Timekeeper
1967
Series
Custer
1967
Series
The Brian Keith Show
1972
Series
Wichita Town
1959
Series
The Westerner
Walt Smith
1960
Film
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Station Attendant
1974
Film
Cannonball Run II
Police Officer
1984
Series
Bret Maverick
Toothless Tim Teal
1981
Film
Bandolero!
Attendant
1968
The Beachcomber
Pete Dibley
1962
Film
The Undefeated
McCartney
1969
Series
Temple Houston
Cliff Willard
1963
Series
Casey Jones
Wallie Sims
1957
Series
Run, Joe, Run
1974
Film
The Cincinnati Kid
Dealer
1965
Film
You Can't Take It with You
Ed Carmichael
1938
Film
Major Dundee
Priam
1965
Film
Gator
Mayor T.L. Caffery
1976
Film
Pocketful of Miracles
Man (uncredited)
1961
Film
A Star Is Born
Norman's Driver (uncredited)
1954
Film
Don't Make Waves
Electrician
1967
Series
Death Valley Days
Rupert
1952
Film
Auntie Mame
County Veterinarian (uncredited)
1958
Film
Tom Sawyer
Clayton
1973
Film
… tick… tick… tick…
Junior
1970
Film
The Hallelujah Trail
Clayton Howell
1965
Film
The Reivers
Dr. Peabody
1969
Film
Burnt Offerings
Walker
1976
Film
Home from the Hill
Bob Skaggs (uncredited)
1960
Film
The Fastest Gun Alive
Nolan Brown (uncredited)
1956
Film
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Doc Schultz
1971
Film
Sweet Bird of Youth
Dan Hatcher
1962
Film
Conagher
1991
Film
A Man Called Horse
Joe
1970
Film
Crime Wave
Gus Snider
1953
Series
Chopper One
Rudy
1974
Film
Poor Pretty Eddie
Justice of the Peace Floyd
1975
Film
Spencer's Mountain
Percy Cook
1963
Film
The Fortune
Rattlesnake Tom
1975
Film
Death of a Gunfighter
Doc Adams
1969
Film
Riding Shotgun
Eddie (uncredited)
1954
Film
The Best of Times
Mac
1986
Film
Treasure of Matecumbe
Sheriff Forbes
1976
Film
You Can't Run Away from It
Joe
1956
Film
Hot Rod Gang
Landlord
1958
Film
No Time for Sergeants
Mr. McKinney
1958
Film
Junior Bonner
Del
1972
Film
Carefree
(uncredited)
1938
Film
The Shakiest Gun in the West
Pop Cushings
1968
Film
Once Upon a Texas Train
Charlie Lee
1988
Film
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
The Westerner's Friend
1991
Film
Tall Man Riding
Townsman (uncredited)
1955
Film
The Delphi Bureau: The Merchant of Death Assignment
Old Timer
1972
Film
The Wild Country
Phil
1970
Film
I Died a Thousand Times
Ed (uncredited)
1955
Film
The Bounty Hunter
Eli Danvers (as Dubb Taylor)
1954
Film
A Hole in the Head
Fred
1959
Film
They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way
Gunner
1978
Film
Parrish
Teet Howie
1961
Film
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Mayor
1970
Film
Moonshine County Express
Uncle Bill
1977
Film
Period of Adjustment
Drunk (uncredited)
1962
Film
Something for a Lonely Man
Sheriff
1968
Film
Creature from Black Lake
Grandpaw Bridges
1976
Film
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Gimme Cap
1991
Film
Shootout in a One-Dog Town
Halsey
1974
Film
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
(archive footage)
1976
Film
The Daughters of Joshua Cabe Return
Bitteroot
1975
Film
Hearts of the West
Nevada Ticket Agent
1975
Film
The Great Smokey Roadblock
Harley Davidson
1978
Film
The Son of Davy Crockett
Cannonball
1941
Film
Evel Knievel
Turquoise Smith
1971
Film
Riding High
Joe
1950
Film
Dragnet
Miller Starkie
1954
Film
Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?
Reed, the Lawyer
1971
Film
Hands Across the Rockies
Cannonball Taylor
1941
Film
Menace on the Mountain
Cicero Everhart
1970
Film
Ride a Northbound Horse
Purse
1969
Film
Beyond the Sacramento
Cannonball
1940
Film
Beartooth
1978
Film
Pony Express Rider
Boomer Riley
1976
Film
Country Blue
J.J. 'Jumpy' Belk
1973
Film
Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.
Cottonmouth Gorch
1981
Film
The Learning Tree
Spikey
1969
Film
The Return of Daniel Boone
Cannonball
1941
Film
This Is a Hijack
Sheriff Gordon
1973
Film
Honky Tonk
1974
Film
Falling from Grace
Grandpa Parks
1992
Film
Across The Rio Grande
Cannonball Taylor
1949
Film
Prairie Schooners
Cannonball
1940
Film
Man and Boy
Atkins
1971
Film
Mooncussers
Fire Tender
1962
Film
The Outlaws
L.D. Sloane
1984
Film
The Losers
Gregory
1963
Kit Carson and the Mountain Men
Stableman
1977
Film
Blazing the Western Trail
Cannonball
1945
Film
Partners of the Sunset
Cannonball
1948
Film
Riders of the Northwest Mounted
Cannonball
1943
Film
The Last Horseman
Cannonball
1944
Film
The Rangers Ride
Cannonball Taylor
1948
Film
The Wildcat of Tucson
Cannonball
1940
Film
Across the Sierras
Cannonball
1941
Film
Black Gold
Doc
1962
Film
The Winds of Autumn
Rattler S. Gravley
1976
Film
Life with Buster Keaton
1951
Film
North from the Lone Star
Cannonball
1941
Film
Range Renegades
Cannonball
1948
Film
Pioneers of the Frontier
Cannonball Simms
1940
Film
Song of the Drifter
Cannonball
1948
Film
Wild in the Sky
Officer Roddenberry
1972
Film
Cyclone Prairie Rangers
Cannonball
1944
Film
Flash and the Firecat
Sheriff C.W. Thurston
1975
Film
Brock's Last Case
Judge Robbins
1973
Film
Minesweeper
Seaman Stubby Gordon
1943
Film
Frontier Gunlaw
Cannonball
1946
Film
One Man's Law
Nevady
1940
Film
The Man from Tumbleweeds
Cannonball
1940
Film
The Return of Wild Bill
Cannonball
1940
Film
Silver Trails
Cannonball
1948
Film
Rustlers of the Badlands
Cannonball
1945
Film
Cowboy Canteen
Cannonball
1944
Film
King of Dodge City
Cannonball Taylor
1941
Film
The Money Jungle
Pete Jensen
1967
Film
Cowboy in the Clouds
Cannonball
1943
Film
Ridin' Down the Trail
Cannonball
1947
Film
Saddles and Sagebrush
Cannonball
1943
Film
Roaring Westward
Cannonball
1949
Film
Cowboy from Lonesome River
Cannonball
1944
Film
The Lone Prairie
Cannonball
1942
Film
The Decorator
Taxi Driver
1965
Film
Cowboy Cavalier
Cannonball
1948
Film
Gun Runner
Cannonball Taylor (as 'Cannonball' Taylor)
1949
Film
Brand of Fear
Cannonball
1949
Film
Both Barrels Blazing
Cannonball
1945
Film
Tanks a Million
Malloy
1941
Film
Oklahoma Blues
Cannonball Taylor
1948
Film
Wyoming Hurricane
Doc 'Canonball' Jones
1944
Film
Sagebrush Heroes
Cannonball
1945
The Marshall of Trail City
Cannonball
1950
Film
Outlaw Brand
Cannonball
1948
Film
Outlaws of the Rockies
Cannonball
1945
Film
Doc Hooker's Bunch
Dr. Isaiah Beauregard Hooker
1978
Film
Rough Ridin' Justice
Cannonball
1945
Film
Saddle Leather Law
Cannonball
1944
Film
Silver City Raiders
Cannonball
1943
Film
Great Day
Doc
1977
Film
Taming of the West
Cannonball
1939
Film
Johnny Banco
1967
Film
A Tornado in the Saddle
Cannonball
1942
Film
Lawless Empire
Cannonball
1945
Film
Sundown Valley
Cannonball Boggs
1944
Film
The Vigilantes Ride
Cannonball Taylor
1943
Film
Courtin' Trouble
Cannonball
1948
Film
Lawless Code
Cannonball Taylor
1949
Film
Gun Law Justice
Cannonball
1949
Film
Texas Panhandle
Cannonball Taylor
1945