Ronald "Tiny Ron" Taylor (November 21, 1947 – November 28, 2019) was an American film actor and former basketball player, known for his work in feature films such as The Rocketeer (1991) and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), and in television series such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and as Al, the very tall police detective whose face is always out of frame in the Police Squad! and Naked Gun franchise. His roles tended to exploit his seven-foot (2.13 m) frame.
Early life Taylor was born in Torrance, California. He attended North Torrance High School and graduated from the University of Southern California.
Sports career
Taylor was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the 1969 NBA draft, but never played in the NBA. Instead, he started playing in the American Basketball Association. He played for four teams from 1969 to 1972: the New York Nets and Washington Caps (1969–70); the Virginia Squires (1970–71); and the Pittsburgh Condors (1971–72). He played 75 of his 77 career games in his first season, 72 of them for the Nets. He scored 371 total points (4.8 ppg), 294 total rebounds (3.7 rpg), and 68 assists (0.9 apg). He also played some basketball in Austria before deciding to be an actor.
Acting career When Taylor applied to the Screen Actors Guild, he learned that the name "Ron Taylor" was already in use by another actor. His acting teacher suggested he use "Tiny Ron", figuring that in a niche category populated by actors with such screen names as "André the Giant," the name "Tiny Ron" would stand out.
Illness and death In 2016, Taylor stepped away from acting after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. He died in Santa Clarita on November 28, 2019, a week after his 72nd birthday, nine years to the day after his Naked Gun co-actor Leslie Nielsen.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1988Seven Hours to JudgmentIra MartinThe Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!Al1989Road HouseMountain1991The RocketeerLothar / Good Old BoyCamp FearThe DruidDirect-to-video film1994Ace Ventura: Pet DetectiveRoc1996Last Man StandingJacko the Giant2001Double DownTerry2004Six: The Mark UnleashedEddie2006Sasquatch MountainSasquatch2007RevampedGiant VladimusDirect-to-video film2010Holyman UndercoverTinyBrother WhiteTiny2013The Book of EstherNasir2015Dancer and the DameMartinFinal film role; Direct-to-video film
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1982Police Squad!Al4 episodes; uncredited1989CoachPlayerEpisode: "Gambling for Meat"My Two DadsJeffreyEpisode: "The Courtship of Nicole's Fathers"1990Life Goes OnTall ManEpisode: "The Banquet Room Renovation"The New Adam-12Tall SuspectEpisode: "Vigilante"1993–1999Star Trek: Deep Space NineMaihar'du7 episodes1994Bakersfield P.D.IndianEpisode: "There Goes the Neighborhood"1995Alien Nation: Body and SoulGiantTelevision film1996Alien Nation: The Enemy WithinQueen MotherTelevision film1998Star Trek: VoyagerAlpha-Hirogen Idrin2 episodes2010–2014Check It Out! with Dr. Steve BruleGod / Fake Dad2 episodes2016–2017Hitting the BreaksTiny3 episodes; Final role
References
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