Robert Taylor (Australian actor)

Robert John Taylor OAM (born 1963) is an Australian actor who has appeared in many films and television series in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. On television, he is known for playing the lead role of Walt Longmire in the A&E/Netflix television series Longmire. On film, he is known for playing "Agent Jones" in The Matrix (1999); he also starred in Vertical Limit (2000).

For the American actor, see Robert Taylor (actor). For other people with the same name, see Robert Taylor.

Robert Taylor

OAM
Born
Robert John Taylor

1963 (age 57–58)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Alma materWestern Australian Academy of Performing Arts
OccupationActor
Years active1989–present
Spouse(s)Ayisha Davies (m. 2017)
Children1

Early life

Taylor was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia.[1] His parents separated when he was nine, and he moved to a mining town in Western Australia to live with his aunt and uncle.[1][2][3] He worked as a miner when he was a teenager,[1][3] and later had jobs including lifeguard and bouncer. He went to university three times.[1][2][4]

At age twenty one, Taylor went to work on an oil rig in the Indian Ocean.[1][2][3] His ship collided with another and sank off the west coast of Australia, but he and two crew mates escaped on a lifeboat.[4] Taylor suffered a broken arm and ribs[4] and, while recovering in the hospital, saw an ad for auditions for drama school in Perth, at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA),[4] which he joined after a successful audition at the age of 24.[1][2][3]

Career

Taylor started acting professionally in 1988 after graduating from WAAPA. His first major role was in 1989 as Nicholas Walsh in the Australian television soap Home and Away.[5] His first lead role came in 1993 when he was cast as David Griffin in the Australian mini series The Feds.[6][7] He then appeared in various guest roles and on TV movies in Australia, such as Blue Heelers and Stingers, often being cast as a police officer.

Taylor's big break in Hollywood came when he was cast as the shapeshifting Agent Jones in the 1999 blockbuster The Matrix.[8] In 2000, he starred alongside Chris O'Donnell in the action thriller Vertical Limit.[9] His other film credits include The Hard Word (2002), Storm Warning (2007), Rogue (2007), and Coffin Rock (2009).[9]

In 2000, Taylor took on the role of Father Vincent Sheehan in Ballykissangel, a British television drama set in Ireland.[10] His television credits after that include MDA (2002), Satisfaction (2010), Cops L.A.C. (2010) and Killing Time (2011).[9][11] In 2011, Taylor was cast for the lead role of Walt Longmire in A&E's crime drama series Longmire.[12] The series later moved to Netflix after the third season and the network renewed the series for its sixth and final season, which aired in 2017.[13][14]


Personal life

Taylor is married to producer Ayisha Davies and they have a daughter.[1][4] He co-founded a farmer's market and community gardens in St Kilda, Victoria, called Veg Out.[15]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1997PhageCalhoun
1999The MatrixAgent Jones
2000MuggersDetective Constable Porter
2000Vertical LimitSkip Taylor
2000After the RainJack Behring
2002The Hard WordFrank Malone
2003Ned KellySherritt Trooper
2003RoundaboutPolice officer 1Short film
2007Storm WarningRob
2007RogueEverett Kennedy
2007The Bloody Sweet HitLindsayShort film
2008Long WeekendBartender
2009Coffin RockRob Willis
2012The Balibo NightPrivate Benjamin Cook (voice)Short video
2014HealingVander
2014Turkey ShootRamrod
2014The Menkoff MethodClive Struthers
2015FocusMcEwen
2015DownriverWayne
2015What Lola WantsJed
2017Kong: Skull IslandCaptain of the Boat
2017Don't TellRobert Brewster
2018The MegDr. Heller
2019Blood Vessel
2019Into the AshesFrank Parson

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1988The Flying DoctorsLachlan McGregorSeason 3, episode 15: "Clapped Out"
1988Reed Down UnderKingTelevision movie
1988Something Is Out There1st officer
1988The Clean MachineConstable Ron HealyTelevision movie
1988The RocksConstable GottliebTelevision movie
1989Brotherhood of the RosePollux
1989Home and AwayNicholas Walsh20 episodes
1990Yellowthread StreetDetective Peter Marenta7 episodes
1990The Paper ManJohnny Coates
1992Steel JusticeDetective Lieutenant David NashTelevision movie
1993–1996The FedsDavid GriffinLead role
1995The Last BulletSergeant CaldwellTelevision movie
1996Twisted TalesPeterSeason 1, episode 12: "A Sure Thing"
1996FlipperSeason 1, episode 11: "Fish Out of Water"
1996The Thorn Birds: The Missing YearsJack ClearyTelevision movie
1998Good Guys, Bad GuysAndrew CostelloSeason 2, episode 12: "Blood is Thicker Than Walter"
1999WildsideClayton ClarkSeason 2, episode 8
1999Blue HeelersDetective Barry CraigSeason 6, episode 10: "Dirty Money"
Season 6, episode 12: "Web of Lies"
1999StingersDetective Sergeant Mick FoleySeason 1, episode 20: "Proving Ground"
Season 1, episode 21: "Cast Off"
Season 1, episode 22: "Dead Man's Throw"
Season 2, episode 8: "White Lies"
1999First DaughterMasonTelevision movie
2001BallykissangelFather Vincent Sheehan8 episodes
2002MDAPaul Bennett8 episodes
2004The Mystery of Natalie WoodNicholas RayTelevision movie
2005HerculesChiron
2008City HomicideKevin SteeleSeason 2, episode 12: "Spoils of War"
2010SatisfactionJohn McCoy6 episodes
2010Cops L.A.C.Tom O'NeillSeason 1, episode 1: "The Learning Curve"
2011Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was HereDeputy Commissioner Graham SinclairTelevision movie
2011Killing TimeTim Watson-Munro5 episodes
2011TwentysomethingTrevorSeason 1, episode 6
2012–2017LongmireSheriff Walt LongmireLead role
2013Mr & Mrs MurderAlistair TraversSeason 1, episode 8: "A Flare for Murder"
2016Wolf CreekRoland ThorogoodSeason 1, episode 1: "Billabong"

References
  1. "Week of March 3, 2014: Ballykissangel's Robert Taylor". Tea with Heather. Maryland Public Television.
  2. Myskow, Nina (2 March 2001). "The Real Me: Robert Taylor - I'd like to marry and have kids but my girlfriend can't stand me ..am I really that bad a catch?; Robert Taylor reveals all to NINA MYSKOW". The Mirror. United Kingdom.
  3. Moore, Frazier (23 May 2013). "Robert Taylor: arresting as TV lawman 'Longmire'". Associated Press.
  4. Lee, Luaine (1 June 2012). "Robert Taylor stars in new A&E series 'Longmire'". McClatchy-Tribune News Service. North Jersey.
  5. "Aussie star at home in west". News.com.au. 12 November 2013.
  6. "Four decades of Aussie cop shows". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 September 2004.
  7. "The Feds : Abduction". AustLit: The Australian Literature Resource.
  8. Barron, Frank (8 July 2012). ""Longmire" stars Robert Taylor on A&E – Big Sky country setting for modern western Longmire". Entertainment Today.
  9. "Robert Taylor as Walt Longmire". ninemsn.
  10. Pennells, Steve (13 August 2000). "Ballykissangel Answers Actor's Prayers". The Sun-Herald via WA Television.
  11. Jeffery, Morgan (16 February 2011). "'The Matrix' star joins A&E pilot". Digital Spy.
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (14 February 2011). "'Matrix' Actor Robert Taylor Gets The Lead In A&E's Pilot 'Longmire'". Deadline Hollywood.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie (2 November 2016). "'Longmire' Renewed For Sixth & Final Season By Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  14. Dietz, Jason (2 June 2016). "2016-17 TV Season Scorecard". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  15. Tomazin, Farrah (1 February 2003). "Community gardeners veg out in the suburbs". The Age. Australia: Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
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