Taylor, Meshach 1947(?)- (Mesach Taylor, Moshach Taylor)

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Taylor, Meshach 1947(?)- (Mesach Taylor, Moshach Taylor)

PERSONAL

Born April 11, 1947 (some sources cite birth year as 1960), in Boston, MA; father a professor of sociology; mother also a college professor; married second wife, Bianca Ferguson (an actress), January 1, 1983; children: (first marriage) Tamar (daughter); (second marriage) Yasmine, Esme Alana, Tarique (son). Education: Attended Wilmington College, Wilmington, OH; Florida A & M University, B.A., 1993. Avocational Interests: Travel, foreign languages.

Addresses:

Manager—Gordon Gilbertson, Gilbertson Management, 1334 Third St., Suite 201, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Career:

Actor. Member of Organic Theatre Group and Goodman Theatre, both Chicago, IL. Appeared in commercials. Worked as political reporter for a radio station in Indianapolis, IN; head of privately funded program for rehabilitating street gang members, Indianapolis, IN; also worked as an accountant and security guard.

Awards, Honors:

Joseph Jefferson Award, c. 1976, for Chicago production of Sizwe Banzi Is Dead; Q Awards, best supporting actor in a quality comedy series, Viewers for Quality Television, 1988, 1989, and 1990, and Emmy Award nomination, outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, 1989, all for Designing Women; RiverRun International Film Festival Award (with others), best ensemble acting, 2000, for Jacks or Better; Chicago Emmy Award for Huckleberry Finn.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Dr. Kane, Damien: Omen II (also known as Omen II and Omen II: Damien), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1978.

(As Mesach Taylor) Shantz, The Howling, Avco-Embassy, 1981.

Deputy Herbert, The Beast Within, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1982.

Sam, The Haircut (short film), 1982.

Gordon Miller, Explorers, Paramount, 1985.

Second video technician, Warning Sign, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985.

Bill Neal, One More Saturday Night (also known as Datenight), Columbia, 1986.

Inside Out, 1986.

Hotel detective Philip, The Allnighter, Universal, 1987.

Mr. Dean, House of Games, Orion, 1987.

Hollywood Montrose, Mannequin, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987.

From the Hip, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1987.

Freddy, Inside Out, Hemdale Film, 1987.

Elijah, Welcome to Oblivion (also known as Ultra Warrior), Concorde, 1990.

Doorman and Hollywood Montrose, Mannequin: On the Move (also known as Mannequin 2: On the Move), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991.

Duncan's dad, Class Act, Warner Bros., 1992.

(As Moshach Taylor) Voice of Cecil, The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue, MGM-UA Home Entertainment, 1998.

Ron, Jacks or Better, Trips to Win, 2000.

Bruno, Friends and Family, Regent Entertainment, 2000.

Cabbie, Tranced, Hypnovision Productions/Lotus Pictures/Sylver Enterprises, 2008.

Crazy Briggs, Hyenas, Entertainment Dome/Entertainment Lab, 2008.

Television Appearances; Series:

Tony, Buffalo Bill, NBC, 1983-84.

Anthony Bouvier, Designing Women, CBS, 1986-93.

Sheldon "Shel" Baylor, Dave's World, CBS, 1993-97.

Mr. Winsproggle, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Showtime, 1994.

Host, The Urban Gardener with Meshach Taylor, Home and Garden Television, 1996.

Host, Meshach Taylor's Hidden Caribbean, Travel Channel, 1998.

Mr. Wright, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (also known as Neds ultimativer schulwahnsinn), Nickelodeon, 2004-2007.

Host of Black Life, WMAQ (Chicago, IL).

Television Appearances; Movies:

Crosby, The Last Innocent Man, HBO, 1987.

Danny, How to Murder a Millionaire (also known as Bad Times in Beverly Hills, The Beverly Hills Get Rich Quick Caper, The Couch Potato Murders, and Your Money or Your Wife), CBS, 1990.

Mr. Nofziger (Mr. N), Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (also known as The Twins Halloween Caper), ABC, 1993.

Anderson, "Virtual Seduction" (also known as "Addicted to Love"), Roger Corman Presents, Showtime, 1995.

Lionel Clark, The Right Connections, Showtime, 1997.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Virgil, "The Rec Room," NBC Presents the AFI Comedy Special (also known as American Film Institute Comedy Special), NBC, 1987.

Toronto host, The CBS All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS, 1990.

Motown 30: What's Goin' On!, CBS, 1990.

Anthony Bouvier, The Designing Women Special: Their Finest Hour, CBS, 1990.

Laughing Back: Comedy Takes a Stand, Lifetime, 1992.

The 61st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1992.

Side show barker, The All New Circus of the Stars and Side Show XVII (also known as The 17th Annual Circus of the Stars and Side Show), CBS, 1992.

Voice of the rat, "Jirimpimbira: An African Folktale" (animated), ABC Weekend Specials, ABC, 1995.

Harry Anderson: The Tricks of His Trade, CBS, 1996.

Intimate Portrait: Delta Burke, Lifetime, 1998.

Entertainment Tonight Presents: The Real Designing Women, 2000.

(In archive footage) Brilliant but Cancelled, 2002.

The Designing Women Reunion, Lifetime, 2003.

Judge, Queen for a Day, Lifetime, 2004.

(In archive footage) Retrosexual: The 80's, 2004.

Appeared in the special Huckleberry Finn, PBS.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Gus Venable, Nothing Lasts Forever (also known as Sidney Sheldon's "Nothing Lasts Forever"), CBS, 1995.

The Great American Celebrity Spelling Bee, Fox, 2004.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Blue collar man, I'd Rather Be Calm, CBS, 1982.

Tony, Buffalo Bill, NBC, 1983.

Cop, The Golden Girls, NBC, 1985.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Parking lot attendant, "A Frame for Murder," Barnaby Jones, 1978.

M. P., "Blind Rage," The Incredible Hulk, 1979.

Calvin, "Home," Lou Grant, CBS, 1979.

Marcus Prescott, "Charlatan," Lou Grant, CBS, 1979.

Chipper, "Out at Home," The White Shadow, CBS, 1980.

Orderly, "The Life You Save," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1981.

Melvin Jackson, "Landmark: Part 2," Barney Miller, ABC, 1982.

"Internal Affairs," Cagney & Lacey, 1982.

Police officer, "Stan the Man," Hill Street Blues, 1982.

Cop, "The Engagement," The Golden Girls, 1985.

Buddy, "The Bully," What's Happening Now!, 1985.

Addison, "Pennsylvania 6-5000," ALF, NBC, 1986.

Rick, Melba, CBS, 1986.

Con man, "The Best Defense," Hill Street Blues, 1986.

Buddy, "Opening Day," What's Happening Now!, 1987.

Delivery man, "Unhooking Henry," Punky Brewster, 1987.

Tyler Corbin, "Brother's Keeper," In the Heat of the Night, NBC, 1992.

The Arsenio Hall Show, 1992.

Storytime, PBS, 1994.

Ozzie Banks, "Who Killed the Anchorman?" Burke's Law, CBS, 1994.

Anthony Bouvier, "Dear Diary," Women of the House, CBS, 1995.

The woodcutter (some sources cite role as voice of prince), "Rapunzel," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, HBO, 1995.

James, "Caroline and the Cereal," Caroline in the City (also known as Caroline), NBC, 1996.

Voices of bus driver and cyclops, "Friends, Romans, Beavers!/Big Round Sticky Fish Thingy," The Angry Beavers (animated), 1998.

Dr. Harris, "Aftershock," Static Shock, 2000.

Panelist, To Tell the Truth, syndicated, 2000.

Oswald's double, "What's Wrong with This Episode IV," The Drew Carey Show, ABC, 2001.

"Coffee, Tea, or Me?," Rendez-View, 2002.

"Caution: Goldigger Ahead," Rendez-View, 2002.

Super Secret TV Formula, VH1, 2003.

Judge, Pet Star, Animal Planet, 2004, 2005.

Roger, "Liar, Liar," All of Us, UPN, 2005.

Howard Whitwell, "Old Home Week," The Unit, CBS, 2006.

Host, Living Live!, 2007.

Dahliano, "Yet Another Side of Me," Hannah Montana, The Disney Channel, 2008.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The 41st Annual Emmy Awards, Fox, 1989.

The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, Fox, 1991.

Stage Appearances:

Streamers, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1976.

Sizwe Banzi Is Dead, Goodman Theatre, 1976.

Native Son, Goodman Theatre, 1978.

The Island, Annenberg Center, Philadelphia, PA, 1979.

Lumiere, Beauty and the Beast (musical), Palace Theatre, New York City, 1998.

Also appeared in Sizwe Banzi Is Dead, Westwood Playhouse, Los Angeles; and in Bloody Bess, Cops, Night Feast, The Sirens of Titan, and The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit.