Robin Lord Taylor is an American film and television actor and director. He has recently emerged as a highly sought after actor in some popular shows and films. In particular, his portrayal of the Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot) in Gotham has earned him significant praise from fans, critics, and cast members. He has even been singled out as one of the most universally loved aspects of the show. His popular work also includes the 2006 comedy Accepted, in which he played Abernarthy Darwin Dunlap.
Although he has risen to fame in the past several years, Taylor has acted professionally since 2005. He was born in Shueyville, Iowa on June 4, 1978, making him 38 years old. Despite his talent at portraying odd characters, Taylor is beloved for his charisma and kind demeanor.
Although his popularity has skyrocketed since he began work on Gotham, Taylor remains a figure that many people do not know in depth. This is partly due to his private nature. However, greater insights into who the actor is and what he has experienced throughout his career will help fans appreciate his work even more. Here are 10 of the lesser known facts about Robin Taylor.
He once worked on the Late Show with David Letterman
Although the bulk of Taylor’s career has been spent portraying characters in comedic and dramatic television series or films, some of his early work was more diverse. This included a stint on David Letterman’s iconic late-night talk show. Taylor played the recurring role of Darrell, the Late Show age with a Fake British accent. Although this job most likely did little for his development as a serious actor, having a role on such a popular and iconic show certainly gave him valuable experience in the industry.
He is close friends with Billy Eichner
Taylor is good friends with this popular comedian known for his energetic and boisterous routines. In fact, the two have collaborated on a number of projects. Most notably, Taylor and Eichner created and starred in a touring stage performance called Creation Nation: A Nighty Talk Show. This production was performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, HBO Aspen Comedy Festival, and across some major cities.
He has classical training
Although Taylor displays incredible talent when acting, his progression to become so adept at becoming other characters is a product of hard work and study. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science degree in theatre from Northwestern University. Clearly, investing in education was a wise choice for this successful actor.
He is fairly short
Despite having an impressive screen presence that immediately captures the attention of the viewer, Taylor is somewhat physically diminutive. Standing only 5’6, his presence is certainly larger than his stature. However, he is well-suited to the role of Penguin on Gotham, although he is considerably taller than Danny DeVito’s version in the 1992 Batman movie.
Robin Taylor Net Worth
Robin Taylor has amassed a significant amount of money throughout his career. His current net worth stands at approximately $5 million. He has earned this impressive sum mostly through his successful acting work. In fact, his salary for his work on Gotham has earned him over a million each year. The show’s popularity, and the popularity of his character in general, certainly contributed to his wealth. Although he is a motivated actor, Taylor has enough earnings to live quite comfortably.
He is beloved in real life as well as on screen
Although his portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot has been a fan-favorite for fans of Gotham, Taylor has received just as much praise and adoration for his real-life personality. Even co-star Ben McKenzie has expressed his admiration of Taylor, stating that he is McKenzie’s favorite actor to work with. Although the praise he has received for his work on Gotham from reputable sources like The Wall Street Journal and Esquire is definitely impressive, it is always great to hear from peers that the actor is a genuinely kind person in his personal life.
He based his portrayal of Penguin on other figures
In order to fully round-out and understand his most popular character to date, Taylor built upon past examples. These included characters in Richard III and A Clockwork Orange. He has stated that he used these types of portrayals to understand his character as an individual who is motivated by his physical limitations and deformities to pursue power relentlessly. Clearly, he is an actor who cares about his roles enough to understand the innermost workings of the character he is portraying.
He is openly homosexual
Although Taylor rarely talks about his personal life, it is known that he is gay. He publicly came out in October of 2016. Unfortunately, after identifying as gay to the public he received homophobic messages and insults. He expressed his disappointment that this type of hateful behavior is still occurring. He also prefers for his sexuality to remain unrelated to his career. He has stated that the less his fans know about him personally, the more fully they will be immersed in his character.
He has been married for over 5 years
Despite being very private, it was revealed in an interview that Taylor has been in a stable relationship for over a decade, including 5 years of marriage. In 2014, he admitted to having a 3-year marriage after the interviewer noticed his ring. To this day, he has not revealed the name of his partner.
His actual father and his character’s father died on the same day
While shooting the scenes in which Penguin’s father dies, Taylors actual father sadly passed away. Unfortunately, due to his schedule and his family’s schedule, he was unable to attend his father’s funeral back home in Iowa. This sad irony meant that he was acting out his reality. This is a strange and unfortunate coincidence, but reveals the incredible professionalism of the actor, as he was able to continue to perform well even with the added stress of a personal loss.
Conclusion
Despite his fame and success, little is known about Robin Taylor. This is mainly due to the fact that he is deliberately reclusive and prefers not to talk about his personal life. However, learning about who he is as an individual and the struggles he faces because of prejudices against his sexual orientation only make him a more impressive figure. His talent and personal character alike are duly praised by those who know him and are lucky enough to be entertained by his performances.
Follow Us
