"This (getting the Marcia Brady role) goes back all the way to doing 'The Real Live Brady Bunch.' The people who cast me - Faith and Jill Soloway, who are sisters - created 'The Real Live Brady Bunch.' In doing so they had to be in touch with Sherwood and Lloyd Schwartz, creators of the sitcom. It was good luck for them," Taylor recalled, not without a trace of fondness.Īfter finishing "Hey Dude," Taylor decided to stay in L.A., landing guest appearances on "Life Goes on," "Saved by the Bell," "Blossom" and the final episode of "Dallas." And I think they sort of think of it as their baby so they don't want to take it off. "It was Nickelodeon's first self-produced sitcom. Taylor completed 65 episodes of "Hey Dude," which airs in syndication on Nickelodeon. Taylor was accepted at New York University and planned to attend, but "Hey Dude" was renewed. And Central was so great with working everything out.
"We had to sit down with the guidance counselor because they ('Hey Dude' producers) wanted me to leave right away. After doing the pilot in November, the show was picked up in March. Taylor was cast for "Hey Dude" during her senior year. And my second audition was for 'Hey Dude' and I ended up getting it." Soon, Taylor said, "a couple of the agents started submitting me for, 'quote, unquote,' more legitimate stuff. Taylor did the "Milk - it does a body good" ad for the National Dairy Board, a Kodak commercial with Bill Cosby, three more Burger King commercials and a McDonald's spot. "We went in and sort of made it a day, with shopping and lunch, and I ended up getting the part, and from then it just snowballed and I ended up getting more commercials." "I hadn't even been into New York that much," Taylor said. And I talked it over with my parents." Taylor's parents, not expecting her to land the commercial, nonetheless thought the audition would be a good experience for her, Taylor remembered. "That summer they were looking for the new Burger King girl. Taylor demurred, citing her busy scholastic and extracurricular schedule, including her participation on the tennis team. At the time, she meant commercial (television ads) work." "Lois (Miller) was the one who, after a show, took me aside and asked me if I was interested in doing this professionally. "I was doing lots of community theater in high school," Taylor said.
Lois Miller, owner of Star Talent Management of Allentown, launched Taylor on her professional career, acting as her personal manager. Thomas and vice president the Civic Little Theatre board, directed her in CLT shows, including "The Wizard of Oz" and "Fiddler on the Roof." JoAnn Wilchek, a fifth-grade teacher at St. A brother, Brian, 21, attends the University of Virginia. Taylor, 23, is a daughter of Joan and Albert "Skip" Taylor III.
To become Marcia Brady in the Paramount Pictures release, Taylor had to survive California calamities: earthquakes, floods, riots, fires, a carjacking - not to mention - callbacks.