Biography for
Leigh Taylor-Young More at IMDb Pro »

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The entrancing Leigh Taylor-Young was born in Washington, DC, to a diplomat father and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the older sister of future actress Dey Young and writer/director Lance Young. She studied classical ballet and, following high school, attended Northwestern University where she initially majored in economics. She switched gears after developing an interest in theater and apprenticed as the youngest member of the distinguished Eaglesmere Summer Repertory Theatre. Leigh eventually moved to New York with designs on a professional career and studied under acting guru Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Her major break came when she was cast in the already popular prime-time soap "Peyton Place" (1964). She played the mysterious Rachael Welles, whose character was brought in to provide clues to the disappearance of Allison MacKenzie's (Mia Farrow, who had shocked ardent viewers by abruptly leaving the series). A mysterious girl herself, Leigh had a fetching figure, slightly offbeat beauty and a strong propensity toward unsympathetic characters. She developed a bit of bad publicity when she walked off the weekly series after only one season and into the arms of the very popular--and very married--series' star 'Ryan O'Neal (I)'. The couple married in 1967 following his divorce from actress Joanna Cook Moore and had one child, Patrick O'Neal, who later became an actor and married actress Rebecca De Mornay.

Leigh started off in films auspiciously as a "flower child" of the psychedelic 1960s. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for "Best Newcomer" when she played opposite Peter Sellers in the eccentric comedy I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968), but then appeared opposite her husband in The Big Bounce (1969), a kinky flop that landed with a big thud. She went on to appear in a cameo in her husband's British-made movie The Games (1970), then her career sputtered again with a series of misguided features including the star-heavy but critically lambasted epic The Adventurers (1970); the kinky British film The Buttercup Chain (1970), which dealt with kissing cousins who don't quite stop at kissing; the beautifully photographed but rather hollow action-adventure The Horsemen (1971) co-starring Omar Sharif; and the so-so romp The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971), which is best remembered for starting Robert De Niro off and running in films. Leigh's best known role came alongside Charlton Heston in the controversial Soylent Green (1973), although she was a bit overshadowed by the grisly topic material and the showy performances of co-stars Heston and Edward G. Robinson.

Following her divorce from O'Neal in 1973, Leigh made herself somewhat scarce while raising her young son. In 1978 she married agent/director Guy McElwaine, but that marriage would also end in divorce. In the 1980s she made a comeback of sorts as a mature--but still spicy--and taunting character actress. Although she took a back seat to Albert Finney in the thriller Looker (1981) and to Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges in the whodunit Jagged Edge (1985), she found her best results back on TV again. She nabbed an Emmy award in 1994 for her vixenish supporting role on the acclaimed series drama "Picket Fences" (1992). In addition, she performed in several plays, in the US, England and Scotland, including "The Beckett Plays," "Knives" and "Sleeping Dogs." More recently she appeared in her writer/director son's film Bliss (1997). These days Leigh plays a regular role on the daytime soap "Passions" (1999).

Leigh also found a fulfilling life off-camera. She became an ordained minister in the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, and her voice can be heard in the Search of Serenity series of audio meditations from The Course in Miracles trainings. She is also the grandmother of two granddaughters by her son Patrick O'Neal.

Spouse

Trivia

Older sister of actress Dey Young and writer/director Lance Young.

She and ex-husband 'Ryan O'Neal (I)' have one son, Patrick O'Neal. They have grand-daughters Sophia (b. 1996) and Veronica (b. 2001) through Patrick's marriage to Rebecca De Mornay.

Began her formal education as an economics major at Northwestern University, but soon changed to theater and studied under the renowned teacher Alvina Krause. Subsequently, following graduation, she continued her studies in New York City with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

An ordained minister in the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, she has worked closely with John-Roger, an educator and way-shower.

Special advisor in arts and media for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as well as a representative for the Institute for the Study of Individual & World Peace. Also the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations for ICEBRIDGE: First Artic Environmental Forum in 1995.

Said in an interview that she was very nervous about doing her love scene with Charlton Heston in Soylent Green (1973).

Until 1999, she lived at 1221 N. Kings Rd. in the same apartment where Jack Cassidy had died in 1976.

Speaks on behalf of the Institute for Individual & World Peace and has worked with Ted Turner's Better World Society, UNEP (United Nations Environment Program), Hands Across America, Heartfelt Foundation, American Cancer Society and has hosted the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

When a New York play she was appearing in suddenly closed after only five weeks, she became so stressed out that she contracted pneumonia. While recuperating at a Palm Springs (CA) spa, she was introduced to organic food and healthy, rejuvenating sunshine, turned her life around and has to this day maintained her "Total Health" regimen of meditation, physical movement and healthy nutrition.

Is sometimes confused by fans with Susan Sarandon and Lesley Ann Warren.

While filming the shower scene with Charlton Heston in Soylent Green (1973), she tried to break tension by joking that perhaps Heston could part the shower water, a reference to his star-making role as Moses in The Ten Commandments (1956). Heston allegedly did not understand the reference.

Personal Quotes

It's about loving one's self, first and absolutely foremost. The more one comes to know the self, forgive the self, and love the self, the better lover one is of anything and everybody in this life.

I would just say love God with all your heart, body, mind and soul. And whatever comes forward for you to follow, as that love progressively awakens in you, do it. And it will awaken in each person as long as they have the willingness to open to the journey, because it is a journey. Don't try and form it, just have the love and the willingness to listen, and it will guide you with impeccable perfection.

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