Josh Taylor
Encyclopedia
Josh Taylor is a long-time American
comedy and dramatic television actor
. He is best known for playing the roles of Chris Kositchek (he originated in 1977) and Roman Brady on the long-running American dramatic serial Days of our Lives
and as Michael Hogan, the father figure on NBC's long running situation comedy The Hogan Family
.
as Tommy Tim Taylor and known as "Timmy", Taylor moved with his family to Chillicothe, Illinois
when he was two years old. His dad became athletic director of Chillicothe Township High School (now Illinois Valley Central High School
) as well as a respected football
coach, and both Josh and older brother Ron played quarterback
under him. Heavily recruited for his football skills, Josh chose Dartmouth College
, where he was a member of two Ivy Championship teams and graduated from there with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology. He then received a full scholarship to the University of Denver
law school, where he earned his juris doctor
degree. After earning his law degree, he moved to the West Coast.
, he decided to take a year off and work on the Alaska Pipeline. On the way to Alaska he stopped in Los Angeles to visit friends and was offered a job as manager of the Westwood Village Bratskeller. He spent a year and a half at the restaurant which catered to celebrities and, surrounded by actors and producers, decided to give up a future in law to pursue acting. After the Bratskeller closed, he worked as a bartender at the Riverside Lounge in Santa Monica
until he snagged his first acting role playing a contemporary cowboy on an episode of Barnaby Jones
in 1976. This was quickly followed with roles on The Six Million Dollar Man
and The Hardy Boys
.
In 1977, he took the role of bartender Chris Kositchek
on the soap opera Days of our Lives
. His notoriety heightened as he became an integral part of the fictional landscape of Salem, the setting of the soap, and this eventually led to primetime starring tryouts. In 1981, Taylor went to CBS and had his own short-lived detective series, Riker. His role on Days continued uninterrupted. In 1985, producers Tom Miller and Bob Boyett were casting the husband role for Valerie Harper
on her new NBC series Close to Home, which was retitled Valerie before its premiere. Harper's on-screen husband, Michael Hogan, was an airline pilot who was seldom around; Taylor was called for the part, among many other actors who were willing to settle for part-time status on the show. When Valerie premiered in March 1986, it was a Top 20 series very quickly, and Taylor remained committed to his successful primetime series and his long-running role on Days. He would soon choose one over the other, when sudden changes on Valerie occurred. Valerie Harper was fired by the producers during the 1987 filming hiatus following a contract dispute. Sandy Duncan
was named as Harper's replacement, and Taylor felt that to ensure the continued success of the show, that he would leave Days of our Lives to expand his role as Mike Hogan full time. By the time Taylor was making his last appearance as Chris Kositchek on Days that year, after a ten-year run, the character had passed the bar exam and had become a lawyer, serving the residents of Salem, if only for a brief period. As Taylor devoted his full attention to the sitcom, it at first continued as Valerie's Family: The Hogans, later becoming The Hogan Family (to which all seasons of the show became known as in syndication).
In 1988, Taylor starred opposite Barbara Eden
in the made for television movie, The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick, and guest starred on series including Diagnosis: Murder
, Walker: Texas Ranger, Murder, She Wrote
, Matlock
, and L.A. Law
. The Hogan Family moved to CBS for its sixth season in 1990, but was canceled by the end of 1990-91 season. Taylor followed this with the pilot of the television version of North Dallas Forty
. He played Jack McKay, Dylan's father, on Beverly Hills, 90210
on and off between 1991 and 2000.
In 1997, he returned to Days, this time playing the character of Roman Brady
. In 2004, Roman was murdered by the Salem Stalker (who turned out to be his ex-wife, Marlena) during his and Kate's wedding reception. A few months later, it was revealed that Roman didn't die but was alive on a tropical island called Melaswen (New Salem backwards). He is still appearing on the show. Roman is the father of Carrie Brady
, Sami Brady
, Eric Brady
, Cassie Brady
, and Rex Brady
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedy and dramatic television actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He is best known for playing the roles of Chris Kositchek (he originated in 1977) and Roman Brady on the long-running American dramatic serial Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
and as Michael Hogan, the father figure on NBC's long running situation comedy The Hogan Family
The Hogan Family
The Hogan Family is an American television situation comedy that aired from March 1, 1986 to July 20, 1991...
.
Early years
Born in Princeton, IllinoisPrinceton, Illinois
Princeton is a city in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,501 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bureau County.Princeton is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
as Tommy Tim Taylor and known as "Timmy", Taylor moved with his family to Chillicothe, Illinois
Chillicothe, Illinois
Chillicothe is a city on the Illinois River in Peoria County, Illinois. The population was 5,996 at the 2000 census. Chillicothe is just north of the city of Peoria and is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.- Geography :...
when he was two years old. His dad became athletic director of Chillicothe Township High School (now Illinois Valley Central High School
Illinois Valley Central High School
Illinois Valley Central High School, also known as Chillicothe IVC, IVCHS, or simply IVC, is a public four-year high school located at 1300 West Sycamore Street in Chillicothe, Illinois, a city in Peoria County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States...
) as well as a respected football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach, and both Josh and older brother Ron played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
under him. Heavily recruited for his football skills, Josh chose Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, where he was a member of two Ivy Championship teams and graduated from there with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology. He then received a full scholarship to the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
law school, where he earned his juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree. After earning his law degree, he moved to the West Coast.
TV roles
After earning his Juris DoctorJuris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
, he decided to take a year off and work on the Alaska Pipeline. On the way to Alaska he stopped in Los Angeles to visit friends and was offered a job as manager of the Westwood Village Bratskeller. He spent a year and a half at the restaurant which catered to celebrities and, surrounded by actors and producers, decided to give up a future in law to pursue acting. After the Bratskeller closed, he worked as a bartender at the Riverside Lounge in Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
until he snagged his first acting role playing a contemporary cowboy on an episode of Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones is a television detective series starring Buddy Ebsen and Lee Meriwether as father- and daughter-in-law who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles. A spin-off from Cannon, the show ran on CBS from January 28, 1973 to April 3, 1980, beginning as a midseason replacement...
in 1976. This was quickly followed with roles on The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for the OSI...
and The Hardy Boys
The Hardy Boys
The Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe Hardy, are fictional teenage brothers and amateur detectives who appear in various mystery series for children and teens....
.
In 1977, he took the role of bartender Chris Kositchek
Chris Kositchek
Christopher Kositchek nicknamed Chris, is a former resident of the fictional town of Salem on the soap opera Days of our Lives. He was portrayed by Josh Taylor from 1977 until 1987. Josh currently plays the role of Roman Brady on Days.-Biography:...
on the soap opera Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
. His notoriety heightened as he became an integral part of the fictional landscape of Salem, the setting of the soap, and this eventually led to primetime starring tryouts. In 1981, Taylor went to CBS and had his own short-lived detective series, Riker. His role on Days continued uninterrupted. In 1985, producers Tom Miller and Bob Boyett were casting the husband role for Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper is an American actress, known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on the 1970s television show The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and for her starring roles on the sitcoms Rhoda and Valerie.-Early life and career:Harper was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, Rockland County,...
on her new NBC series Close to Home, which was retitled Valerie before its premiere. Harper's on-screen husband, Michael Hogan, was an airline pilot who was seldom around; Taylor was called for the part, among many other actors who were willing to settle for part-time status on the show. When Valerie premiered in March 1986, it was a Top 20 series very quickly, and Taylor remained committed to his successful primetime series and his long-running role on Days. He would soon choose one over the other, when sudden changes on Valerie occurred. Valerie Harper was fired by the producers during the 1987 filming hiatus following a contract dispute. Sandy Duncan
Sandy Duncan
Sandra Kay "Sandy" Duncan is an American singer, dancer and actress of stage and television, recognized through a blonde, pixie cut hairstyle and perky demeanor...
was named as Harper's replacement, and Taylor felt that to ensure the continued success of the show, that he would leave Days of our Lives to expand his role as Mike Hogan full time. By the time Taylor was making his last appearance as Chris Kositchek on Days that year, after a ten-year run, the character had passed the bar exam and had become a lawyer, serving the residents of Salem, if only for a brief period. As Taylor devoted his full attention to the sitcom, it at first continued as Valerie's Family: The Hogans, later becoming The Hogan Family (to which all seasons of the show became known as in syndication).
In 1988, Taylor starred opposite Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden is an American film and television actress and singer who is best known for her starring role in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Early years:...
in the made for television movie, The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick, and guest starred on series including Diagnosis: Murder
Diagnosis: Murder
Diagnosis: Murder is a mystery/medical/crime drama television series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son, a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van Dyke. The series began as a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman...
, Walker: Texas Ranger, Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
, Matlock
Matlock (TV series)
Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of attorney Ben Matlock. The show originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC, where it replaced The A-Team, then from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC.The show's format was similar...
, and L.A. Law
L.A. Law
L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...
. The Hogan Family moved to CBS for its sixth season in 1990, but was canceled by the end of 1990-91 season. Taylor followed this with the pilot of the television version of North Dallas Forty
North Dallas Forty
North Dallas Forty is a 1979 dramatic film starring Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, and G. D. Spradlin. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff and based on the best selling novel by Peter Gent: the screenplay was by Kotcheff, Gent, Frank Yablans and Nancy Dowd ....
. He played Jack McKay, Dylan's father, on Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
on and off between 1991 and 2000.
In 1997, he returned to Days, this time playing the character of Roman Brady
Roman Brady
Roman Augustus Brady is a fictional character on the television drama Days of our Lives. Roman was played by Wayne Northrop from 1981 to 1984 and 1991 to 1994, and has been played by Josh Taylor since 1997, with a brief hiatus in early 2004, when he was a victim of the show's now-infamous serial...
. In 2004, Roman was murdered by the Salem Stalker (who turned out to be his ex-wife, Marlena) during his and Kate's wedding reception. A few months later, it was revealed that Roman didn't die but was alive on a tropical island called Melaswen (New Salem backwards). He is still appearing on the show. Roman is the father of Carrie Brady
Carrie Brady
Caroline Anna "Carrie" Reed is a fictional character on the NBC soap opera, Days of our Lives, a long-running serial about working class life in the fictional town of Salem. Created by head writer Margaret DePriest, the role of Carrie was originated by child actress Andrea Barber, known for her...
, Sami Brady
Sami Brady
Samantha Gene "Sami" Hernandez is a fictional character on the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives. She was born onscreen on October 16, 1984, though was later SORASed to October 16, 1977. Created by head writer Margaret DePriest, Sami has been portrayed by Alison Sweeney since January 22, 1993...
, Eric Brady
Eric Brady
Eric Roman Brady is a fictional character on the television drama Days of our Lives. As an adult, the role of Eric was played by Jensen Ackles from early 1997 to July 31, 2000 and Ritz Gregory from April 1994 to early 1997 and again from August 2000 to January 11, 2002...
, Cassie Brady
Cassie Brady
Cassie Brady is a fictional character in the soap opera Days of our Lives. The role was played by actress Alexis Thorpe from July 8, 2002 to 2003 , 2004, 2005 .- Character's background :...
, and Rex Brady
Rex Brady
Rex Brady is a fictional character in the soap opera Days of our Lives. The role was played by actor Eric Winter. Rex first appeared on July 8, 2002 and left town on July 26, 2005....
.
External links
- Alljoshtaylor.com — fan-created site