Jana Taylor (July 27, 1943 – April 27, 2004) was an American actress best known for her role as Angie Costello on the ABC soap opera General Hospital.
Early life Taylor was born on July 27, 1943, in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York. She began taking ballet lessons when she was 4 years old. She was educated at elementary schools on Long Island before she and her parents moved to Phoenix, Arizona. After that, they moved to California. With her parents' encouragement she began taking acting lessons when she was 13 years old.
Career
Dancing Taylor danced with the Southern California Ballet Company, and by age 19 she was a member of the Los Angeles City Ballet. She performed a modern Jazz dance on Steve Allen's television program.
Acting She started her career in the 1961 film A Cold Wind in August as Alice. Also in 1961, Taylor was uncredited as Elsa Scheffler in 1961's Judgment at Nuremberg. She was Abigale in 1967's Hells Angels on Wheels. Taylor's last film was 1984's Dreamscape as Mrs. Webber. Her biggest role was Angie Costello in the ABC soap opera General Hospital from 1963 to 1965 as an original cast member. Taylor guest starred in such television series as Perry Mason, The Gallant Men, Get Smart, Run for Your Life, The Wild Wild West, and The Interns. She had a recurring role on Make Room for Granddaddy as Susan McAdams Williams. Taylor ended her acting career with a guest appearance back on General Hospital on April 1, 1993, for its 30th anniversary.
Photography and philanthropy Taylor had a production and photography studio located at 713 Palms Boulevard Venice, Los Angeles, 90291 since 1989. She was committed to showing disadvantaged children how to work a camera. Taylor's son now owns the business.
Personal life and death Taylor married Michael R. Sinclair in 1969 and divorced him in 1970. She then married Louis Michael Perretta of Italian American descent in 1976. In that same year on December 10, they gave birth to rapper Michael "Evidence" Perretta, who is the lead member of his group Dilated Peoples. Taylor died on April 27, 2004, of cancer in Venice, Los Angeles.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1961 A Cold Wind in August Alice Low-budget independent drama film directed by Alexander Singer and adapted from the eponymous novel by Burton Wohl. Judgment at Nuremberg Elsa Scheffler 1967 Hells Angels on Wheels Abigale Biker film directed by Richard Rush. 1984 Dreamscape Mrs. Webber Science fiction–adventure horror film directed by Joseph Ruben and written by David Loughery, with Chuck Russell and Ruben co-writing.
Television Year Title Role Notes 1962 Perry Mason Merle Telford Episode: "The Case of the Lonely Eloper" (S 5:Ep 30) 1963 The Gallant Men Carla Episode: "The Bridge" (S 1:Ep 17) 1963–65 General Hospital Angie Costello Contract role 1967 Occasional Wife Renata Episode: "Instant Fatherhood" (S 1:Ep 24) Get Smart Isabella Episode: "Viva Smart" (S 3:Ep 2) The Danny Thomas Hour Susan McAdams Williams Episode: "Make More Room for Daddy" (S 1:Ep 8) 1968 Run for Your Life Mary Kendall Episode: "Carol" (S 3:Ep 24) The Mod Squad Susan Episode: "Find Tara Chapman!" (S 1:Ep 7) 1969 The Wild Wild West Alicia Crane Episode: "The Night of the Bleak Island" (S4:Ep21) 1970 Then Came Bronson Betty Webber Episode: "A-Pickin' an' A-Singin'" (S 1:Ep 16) Medical Center Janet Johns Episode: "A Duel with Doom" (S 1:Ep 18) The Interns Pam Episode: "Death Wish" (S 1:Ep 2) 1970–71 Make Room for Granddaddy Susan McAdams Williams 1993 General Hospital Angie Costello-Weeks 30th Anniversary episode
References
Sources
External links