Friday, January 9, 2015

Actor Rod Taylor, star of The Birds, Dies

Actor Rod Taylor, who memorably starred as Mitch Brenner in The Birds, has passed away at the age of 84. Taylor also provided the voice of Pongo in Disney's 101 Dalmations. People reports that Tippi Hedron, his costar in The Birds, has released a statement: "There are so many incredible feelings I have for him. Rod was a great pal to me and a real strength, we were very, very good friends. He was one of the most fun people I have ever met, thoughtful and classy, there was everything good in that man." Taylor died of natural causes at home, surrounded by friends and family. He is survived by his wife of 35 years Carol, and his daughter Felicia.

18 comments:

  1. RIP. He was so handsome - what do you Aussies put in the water down there?

    The Birds was the first movie I ever saw that scared the ever loving crap out of me. I'm not a bird fan to begin with, after that I was terrified of the little feathered demons. That's what happens when you let your five year old watch Turner Classic Movies.

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    1. Or for some of us who saw it the first time it was also scary (young whipper snapper!!)

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  2. His name is Rod Taylor not Mitch Brenner.

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    1. They're saying Mitch Brenner is his character's name in The Birds.

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    1. Cheese- yes, me too!!! I was about 12 or so, and found it so romantic that he went back for the girl!! Rip, and thanks Rod.

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    2. Grater: convinced Mr Haven to watch that classic with me last week. I loved Rod. That's how i like to remember him. Just like the manequin in the dress shop window - never changing.

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  4. I thought Rod was so handsome when I was a little girl. To be honest, I didn't realize he was still alive.

    SoE, The Birds scared me too and I've had black birds dive bomb me and thought it must be a blonde-Tippi thing.

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  5. I didn't realize he was an Aussie either. I swear, I didn't see any of these hot guys when I visited Australia. The women were gorgeous but the men didn't impress me much. They were all short. Maybe it's just Sydney like that?

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    1. as a single lady in Sydney I agree with that statement. But most of the good looking guys are near the beaches.

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    2. Jessie, maybe they're all in Melborne or Perth?

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    3. They're here. Just got to know where to look, Bondi or Narrabeen is a good start

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  6. My mother has a terror of birds after being attacked as a child. A crazy (or rabid?) one landed on her head and kept pecking her.

    Needless to say she refuses to watch The Birds--or even The Girl, which is about Tippi.

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  7. I watched the birds when I was in primary school. One day in the following week, I went outside at lunch and the area where a particular grade usually ate lunch was completely empty and there were crows everywhere.

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  8. I loved him in The Birds, and then in Glass Bottom Boat. I still love those movies after all these years!

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  9. He was such a ruggedly handsome man. I loved him in The Time Machine as well. Had nightmares about Morlocks for weeks.

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