Walter Clarence Taylor II was born on February 26, 1907 in Richmond, Virginia.
As a boy, he had been called "W" as a nickname for his first name, Walter, and later, that was shortened to "Dub."
He was known by many as “Cannonball,” although I haven’t found a reason for that nickname.
In many of his earliest roles, his characters were actually named “Cannonball” by various writers.
Dub is the father of actor Buck Taylor - Newly on "Gunsmoke."
Dub is the grandfather of actors/stuntpersons Adam C. Taylor, Matthew Taylor, and Cooper Taylor.
He was cast in his first film, You Can't Take It with You (1938),
because he knew how to play the xylophone,
a requirement for the character.
He is known for his role as Wallie Sims in
the 1957 show "Casey Jones."
In 1962, Dub was on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Dub played the xylophone using three mallets in each hand.
It has been called "a phenomenal performance."
Man, would I love to see that!
In 1967, Dub starred as Ivan Moss in “Bonnie And Clyde.”
In 1967, Dub guest starred on his first of six Bonanza episodes.
“Ponderosa Explosion”
That’s Dub as Barlow alongside Chubby Johnson (Clyde).
That same year, Dub was back on the Ponderosa playing Simon in “The Gold Detector.”
Also in 1967, Dub guest starred opposite Bonanza’s
very own David Canady on Season 12 of Gunsmoke in a two-part episode titled, “Nitro.”
It was two years before Dub returned to Bonanza, playing Luke Calhoun in 1969’s “Meena.”
He showed up, again, as Luke Calhoun in 1970’s “The Horse Traders”,
and again in 1971’s Easy Come, Easy Go,
making Dub one of only two guest stars to repeat
a role three times – the other being Ann Prentiss as Meena, Luke Calhoun’s daughter.
It was that same year that Dub played Otto in 1971’s “An Earthquake Called Callahan.”
1980, Dub guest stars on “Little House On The Prairie” in an episode titled, “The Silent Cry.”
Dub loved shotgunning and was a common fixture
at many of the popular Southern California trap and skeet ranges.
His life was chronicled in 2007 in a feature length documentary,
"That Guy: The Legacy of Dub Taylor," directed by Mark Ezra Stokes
and produced by James Kicklighter.
Here’s the promo clip for that special.
In 1977, Disney’s The Rescuers premiered.
Dub is the voice of Digger!
Dub passed away on October 3, 1994 at the age of 87.[/center]