On this day in comedy on August 1, 1957, Comedian, Actor, Painter, Playwright, Brad Stephen “Taylor” Negron was born.
Negron exited the womb in Glendale, California. He was of Puerto Rican descent and showed early signs of talent. His initiation into comedy came at the Comedy Store while he was in high school. Negron became an extra and did game shows to gain exposure. Negron was a hustler. He worked as Lee Strasberg’s assistant briefly in a work-study program and for Lucille Ball during her stint as a guest teacher at a college.
Taylor Negron gained traction. He appeared in some of the major film comedies of his era: Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Easy Money (w/Rodney Dangerfield), Punchline (Tom Hanks), Nothing but Trouble (Chevy Chase), Stuart Little (Michael J. Fox), Angels in the Outfield (Christopher Lloyd), Call Me Claus (Whoopi Goldberg), Bio-Dome (Pauly Shore) and others. He was also in demand for sitcoms, guest starring on Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Will Smith), Curb Your Enthusiasm (Larry David), My Wife and Kids (Damon Wayans), Friends, Seinfeld and That’s So Raven among others. In his last role he worked on The Comedians along with Billy Crystal and Josh Gad.
Negron was a talented artist. Beyond acting and stand-up he was an accomplished writer. He penned the successful production, The Unbearable Lightness of Being Taylor Negron – A Fusion of Story and Song, which was met with rave reviews. Negron wrote other produced plays and published several comedy essays (Dirty Laundry (Phoenix Books) and Love West Hollywood: Reflections of Los Angeles (Alyson Books). He was a contributing blogger and a painter. His artwork was displayed in solo exhibitions in prestigious venues such as Los Angeles’ Laemmle Royal Theater and the Hotel de Ville Lifestyle.
Taylor Negron had long suffered from liver cancer when he succumbed in Los Angeles, California at the age of 57 on January 10, 2015.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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