Kelvin Taylor (actor)

Last updated

Kelvin Taylor
Born
Kelvin Lewis Taylor

(1985-01-18) January 18, 1985 (age 39)
NationalityAmerican
New Zealand
Other namesKelz
Occupations
  • Actor
  • dancer
  • model
  • voice actor
Years active2005–present
Known for Born to Dance, Come Dine with Me New Zealand, Spartacus (TV series), Power Rangers Megaforce
Television James Patterson's Murder Is Forever, The Shannara Chronicles, Ash vs Evil Dead
Website kelvintaylor.com

Kelvin Lewis Taylor (born January 18, 1985, in Hampton, Virginia), [1] is an American born New Zealand actor based in Auckland. His film appearances include the documentary "The Golden Hour". [2] The documentary received an International Emmy nomination for the Best Documentary Award at the 41st International Emmy Awards. [3] Taylor appeared on the second week of the first season of Come Dine with Me New Zealand . [4]

Contents

Early life

Taylor was raised in Newport News, Virginia alongside his twin sister, Princess. His ethnic heritage links him to Nigerian Moors; he is of African, British, German, Irish, and French descent. [5] His mother, Rhonda (Taylor) Clark, was a playwright who was orphaned in New Orleans and relocated to New York City. Taylor made his stage debut in 1990 at the age of 5, playing the lead role in a kindergarten production of The Gingerbread Man . [6] When he was 11, his family relocated to Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Career

Taylor began modelling at age 19 for the Shmack Clothing in collaboration with Billionaire Boys Club / BAPE. An altercation would later hinder his modelling career and lead him into undergoing emergency plastic surgery. It was later revealed according to a 2020 article in The New Zealand Herald the attack was racially motivated. [7] After making friendships on social-media website MySpace, [8] a trip to Sydney, Australia and Perth, Western Australia in 2008 lead him into acting after signing up to a roommates short film as a breakdancer for Edith Cowan University. He later appeared in commercials and music videos for the likes of N.E.R.D, Fam-Lay feat. Pharrell Williams. Humble beginnings, he would find a start as a background actor in Spartacus before showing up on New Zealand's Three (TV channel). [9]

Taylor went on to make guest appearances in Ash vs Evil Dead , The Shannara Chronicles and James Patterson's Murder Is Forever. [10] He was cast as Malcolm X in American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story , however the role was cancelled as production opted to use archived footage instead. He was also a student of Meisner Technique instructor Michael Saccenté, acting coach of Karl Urban and Antony Starr ( The Boys ).

As of 2008, Kelvin Taylor resides between Australia, New Zealand and the United States. [11] Having appearing on Adult Swim's FishCenter Live and Post Malone's Goodbyes (Post Malone song) Music Video, he was recently cast in season 2 of Gēmusetto: Death Beat(s) [12]

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNote
2013Hadir and The DeepSayed
2014Born with HappinessDanny
2015 Born to Dance African American Dance Crew Leader
2016Electro City 3DynamiteShort Film
2016ValueMikeShort Film
2018ResetRevolterShort Film
2018CottonmouthJohnny
2018WakeAmerican Soldier
2018 The Breaker Upperers Party Goer (as "Kelvin Taylor)
2020Surge of Power: Surge of DawnBenny
2020World War FourDave Bradley
2020OlderCity Lover
2020Alien AddictionDJ
2021Last StarJaks (Ranger 3)(Post-Production)
2021InternecionemAramon(Post-production)
2021Into The UnknownBrad(Post-production)

Television

YearTitleRoleNote
2011 Spartacus Kraynos14 episodes
2013 Power Rangers Super Megaforce Cyclist1 Episode "Power of Six"
2014Oddball'sJaydenTV mini series
2015 Come Dine with Me New Zealand Himself5 episodes (fifth Place)
2016 Ash vs Evil Dead Orderly2 episodes
2017 American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story Malcolm XTV documentary Series, 1 episode
2017 The Shannara Chronicles Crimson Guard1 Episode
2018 James Patterson's Murder is ForeverDetective (Fisher)1 Episode
2018 Nigel Latta's Mind Over Money 2Himself1 Episode
2018 Vida (TV series) Kissing Couple (Afro-Latino Male)1 Episode
2018Criminal Confessions (TV series)Brian Golsby1 Episode
2018 America's Court with Judge Ross Scott Goggins1 Episode
2018 Funny You Should Ask (2017 game show) as "Kelvin Taylor"1 Episode
2019 FishCenter Live Himself2 episodes
2019Action Figure MilesMaurice1 Episode
2020No Limit ChroniclesBig Ed1 Episode
2020 Gēmusetto: Death Beat(s)Kelvin2 episodes
2021The War At HomeStan Gatland1 Episode

Documentary

YearTitleRoleNote
2012The Golden HourGeorge KerrNominated Best Documentary Award at 2013 International Emmy Award

Music video

YearTitleArtistRole
2007Da Beeper Record Fam-Lay feat Pharrell Williams Night Club Entourage
2008 Everyone Nose N.E.R.D Party Goer
2010 Maori Boy JGeek and the Geeks Breakdancer
2012 Black, White and Blue Ladyhawke Camp MUA
2015Don't Hang Around HereSir TMMA Fighter
2016Kind of Love MAALA Sensual Male
2016Ones CycleYokozuna feat Bailey WileyHimself
2016When I LeaveMaaka & White WallMotorcyclist Boyfriend
2017YESYokozuna feat Heavy & LarzRandaAfrican American Boyfriend
2017The Sweetest MeditationLord Echo feat Mara TKHimself
2018VoltronYokozunaDrakkus (Level 17 Warlock)
2018I'm So 90's (Neo Jack Swing Mix)Lewis CityTwin
2018Gabruu Nu Diljit Dosanjh Dancer Entourage
2018LiftedParker BossleyGraffiti Artist
2018ReDerik Locksmith (rapper) Locksmiths Crew
2018From The Outside Real Friends (band) Photographer
2018Boomin In Your Jeep Crystal Fighters Burning Man Dancer
2018Shanter Claus William Shatner Freestyle Dancer
2018We Will Meet Once Again Andrea Bocelli South African Young Man
2018Checklist Megan Nicole Bachelor
2018Prom QueenLil Kloroxxx Bart Baker Goldie Wilson
2018BURN IT The Fever 333 Alt Teen
2018BlackAss Rakeem Miles ROM the Android
2019World War X Carnifex (band) Nightmare
2019H.O.E.SEearzGoon Fronts
2019Take It Easy feat.Smokepurpp Octavian (rapper) Crew
2019Que lo Que Social Club Misfits BBoy
2019Goodbyes feat. Young Thug Post Malone Donnie's Best Friend
2019Icy Itzy Single Male Patron
2019Blurry Crown The Empire Dream Guy
2019Proofread feat. Wiz Khalifa Famous Dex Single Male Patron
2019Eres Top feat. DJ Snake & Sean Combs Ozuna Punk Alien Leader

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References

  1. "Fck up Nights Akl. A celebration of business failure stories". Meet Up. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  2. "Kelvin Taylor: An American in NZ during Black Lives Matter". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  3. "'5 Broken Cameras' wins Emmy". Y Net News. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  4. "Spy: Has romance bloomed on Come Dine with Me?". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  5. "New Zealand American Actor Kelvin Taylor". Dark Magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  6. "Meet Kelvin Taylor". Voyage LA. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  7. ""Ash vs. Evil Dead" actor from Hampton Roads keeps showbiz dreams alive in New Zealand". Pilot Online. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  8. "New Zealand American actor Kelvin Taylor on his road Down Under to Inspire the Masses & those of African Diaspora". WRDE NBC Coast TV. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  9. "Obituary: The Final Course – Our Ultimate Come Dine With Me NZ Contestant Power Rankings". The Spin Off. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  10. "Going Far and Finding Yourself: Actor Kelvin Taylor's Story". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  11. "Interview with Kelvin Taylor: Actor". Biz.Me. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  12. "Kelvin Taylor Stars in Adult Swim's Gemusetto Mach Picchu Season 2". Dark Magazine Medium. Retrieved November 25, 2020.