Nathaniel Taylor

An American actor who worked only sporadically during his career, Nathaniel Taylor is best known for the role of Rollo Larson on the Redd Foxx sitcom, "Sanford and Son." Known early in his career as Jitahadi, Taylor made his debut in the 1969 film "Listen to the Man" and appeared in an episode of "The Bill Cosby Show" in 1971. He had a small part in the classic blaxploitation film "Trouble Man," and a bit part in the Ossie Davis drama "Black Girl" before being cast in "Sanford and Son" in 1972. On the show, Taylor played the best friend of main character Fred Sanford's son Lamont, and was a regular cast member throughout the show's six seasons. He also appeared in the blaxploitation film "Willie Dynamite," and made guest appearances on "Adam-12" and "Harry O." His only starring role in a feature film came in 1977, when he played a jazz musician and an ex-con in "Passing Through." When Redd Foxx reprised his famous role in "Sanford" in 1980, Taylor was back as Rollo. The series lasted just 26 episodes. Taylor also had a small role in Steve McQueen's last film, the 1980 thriller "The Hunter," and made a single-episode appearance on "The Redd Foxx Show" in 1986 before disappearing from film and TV. Taylor appeared as himself in the 2016 short film "Auditioning for Nathaniel,"which proved to be his final screen role. Nathaniel Taylor died on February 27, 2019 in Los Angeles at the age of 80.