Tiny Ron Taylor

• Name — "Tiny Ron" Taylor • Birth Name — Ronald Taylor • Born — 21 November 1947 • Birthplace — Torrance, California, U.S. • Died — 28 November 2019 • Place of death — Santa Clarita, California, U.S. • Occupation — * Basketball player • actor

Taylor was born in Torrance, California. He attended North Torrance High School and graduated from the University of Southern California.

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.

• Name — Ron Taylor • Height Ft — 7 • Height In — 1 • Weight Lb — 265 • Born — 21 November 1947 • Birthplace — Torrance, California, U.S. • Died — 28 November 2019 • Place of death — Santa Clarita, California, U.S. • High School — North Torrance (Torrance, California) • College — USC (1966–1969) • Draft Year — 1969 • Draft Round — 2 • Draft Pick — 3 • Draft Team — Seattle SuperSonics • Career Start — 1969 • Career End — 1972 • Career Number — 5, 22 • Career Position — Center • Years1 — 1969 • Team1 — Washington Caps • Years2 — 1969–1970 • Team2 — New York Nets • Years3 — 1970–1971 • Team3 — Virginia Squires • Years4 — 1971–1972 • Team4 — Pittsburgh Condors • Stat1label — Points • Stat1value — 371 (4.8 ppg) • Stat2label — Rebounds • Stat2value — 294 (3.8 rpg) • Stat3label — Assists • Stat3value — 68 (0.9 apg)

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.

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, 9 years to the day after co-actor, Leslie Nielsen.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1982 — Police Squad! — Al — 4 episodes; uncredited • 1989 — Coach — Player — Episode: "Gambling for Meat" • My Two Dads — Jeffrey — Episode: "The Courtship of Nicole's Fathers" • 1990 — Life Goes On — Tall Man — Episode: "The Banquet Room Renovation" • The New Adam-12 — Tall Suspect — Episode: "Vigilante" • 1993–1999 — Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — Maihar'du — 7 episodes • 1994 — Bakersfield P.D. — Indian — Episode: "There Goes the Neighborhood" • 1995 — Alien Nation: Body and Soul — Giant — Television film • 1996 — Alien Nation: The Enemy Within — Queen Mother — Television film • 1998 — Star Trek: Voyager — Alpha-Hirogen Idrin — 2 episodes • 2010–2014 — Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule — God / Fake Dad — 2 episodes • 2016–2017 — Hitting the Breaks — Tiny — 3 episodes; Final role