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PROFILE

Star of the Week

Leigh Taylor-Young

ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE

SOAP STAR STATS

Leigh Taylor-Young (ex-Katherine, PASSIONS)

— NBC

Vital Statistics

Birthdate:
January 25
Birthplace:
Washington, D.C.
Star Sign:
Aquarius
Years on Show:
2004-2006
Marital Status:
Divorced from Ryan O'Neal (ex-Rodney, PEYTON PLACE) and Guy McElwaine
Children:
Son, Patrick O'Neal

The 411

Leigh Taylor-Young was born in Washington, D.C. and studied economics at Northwestern University. She changed her major to theater and studied under Alvina Krause, who allowed her to perform as the youngest member of the distinguished Eaglesmere Summer Repertory Theatre. Taylor-Young then studied in New York under Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. The actress has an impressive resumé, filled with movies and TV gigs. Her first major role was starring opposite Peter Sellers in I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!. Among her other screen roles are Jagged Edge (with Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges) and Looker (with Albert Finney), The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (with Robert De Niro) and Soylent Green (with Charlton Heston). Taylor-Young won an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1994 for her role as the sexy mayor, Rachel, on PICKET FENCES. In addition, she has performed in several plays. Meanwhile, Taylor-Young is the voice of the Search for Serenity audio meditations for The Course in Miracles, she speaks on behalf of the Institute for Individual and World Peace and has worked with Ted Turner's Better World Society, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), Hands Across America, The Heartfelt Foundation and the American Cancer Society and hosted the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

Et Cetera

—Her son, Patrick, was married to Rebecca De Mornay and is a studio host and reporter at FOX SPORTS NET.
—Older sister to Lance and Dey Young (ex-Irene, MELROSE PLACE)

Career Highlights

Soap Roles
PEYTON PLACE (Rachel, 1966-67)
DALLAS (Kimberly, 1987-89)
SUNSET BEACH (Elaine, 1997)
TV Roles
FANTASY ISLAND (guest star Leslie, 1978)
THE LOVE BOAT (guest star Ann, 1978)
MARATHON (Barrie, 1980)
THE DEVLIN CONNECTION (Lauren, 1982)
HART TO HART (guest star Victoria, 1982)
THE HAMPTONS (Lee, 1983)
HOTEL (guest star Sharon, 1986; guest star Stephanie 1985; guest star Carole, 1983)
JAGGED EDGE (Virginia, 1985)
SPENSER: FOR HIRE (guest star Alicia, 1986)
HOUSTON KNIGHTS (guest star Police Sergeant, 1987)
PERRY MASON: THE CASE OF THE SINISTER SPIRIT (Maura, 1987)
NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE: A LOVE STORY (Madame de Stael, 1987)
OUTLAWS (guest star, 1987)
WHO GETS THE FRIENDS? (Aggie, 1988)
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (guest star Adelaide, 1988)
GHOST WRITER (Elizabeth, 1990)
EVENING SHADE (guest star Beck, 1991)
CIVIL WARS (guest star, 1992 and 1993)
THE YOUNG RIDERS (guest star Polly, 1992)
PICKET FENCES (Rachel, 1993-95)
MOMENT OF TRUTH: MURDER OR MEMORY? (Barbara, 1994)
EMPTY NEST (guest star Gwen, 1995)
MURDER, SHE WROTE (guest star Laney, 1995)
AN UNFINISHED AFFAIR (Cynthia, 1996)
MALIBU SHORES (guest star Mrs. Green, 1996)
THE SENTINEL (guest star Naomi, 1996, 1997 and 1999)
STRANGER IN MY HOME (Margot, 1997)
7TH HEAVEN (guest star Nora, 1997)
BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 (guest star Blythe, 1998)
THE PRETENDER (guest star Michelle, 1998, 1999)
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE (guest star Yanas, 1999)
Film Roles
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (Nancy, 1968)
The Big Bounce (Nancy, 1969)
The Adventurers (Amparo, 1970)
The Buttercup Chain (Manny, 1970)
The Horsemen (Zareh, 1971)
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (Angela, 1971)
Soylent Green (Shirl, 1973)
Aliens From Spaceship Earth (1977)
Can't Stop the Music (Claudia, 1980)
Looker (Jennifer, 1981)
Secret Admirer (Elizabeth, 1985)
Accidents (Beryl, 1988); Honeymoon Academy (Doris, 1990)
Dreamrider (Sharon, 1993)
Bliss (Redhead, 1997)
Addams Family Reunion (Patrice, 1998)
Slackers (Valerie, 2002)
Klepto (Teresa, 2003) Theater Roles Three Bags Full (1996)
Knives (1980)
The Beckett Plays (1983)
Sleeping Dogs (1985)

Memorable Quotes

"The two [actresses] I always get mistaken for are Lesley Ann Warren and Susan Sarandon. People come up to me and say, 'Aren't you...?' But they're not quite sure which one to say. I like to make them suffer while they're trying to figure it out." —Soap Opera Digest, 4/8/97

"I visited Candy [Spelling] in the hospital the night Tori was born." —Digest, 4/29/97

Official Web Site

www.lty.com

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