Ronald "Tiny Ron" Taylor (November 21, 1947 - November 28, 2019) was
an American film actor and former basketball player, known for his
work in feature films such as The Rocketeer (1991) and Ace Ventura:
Pet Detective (1994), and in television series such as Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and as Al, the very tall police
detective whose face is always above shot in the Police Squad! and The
Naked Gun franchise. His roles tended to exploit his 7 ft (2.13 m)
frame.Taylor was born in Torrance, California. He attended North
Torrance High School and graduated from the University of Southern
California.Taylor was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second
round of the 1969 NBA Draft, but never played in the NBA, instead he
started playing in the American Basketball Association. He played for
four teams from 1969 to 1972: the New York Nets and Washington Caps
(1969â€"70); the Virginia Squires (1970â€"71); and the Pittsburgh
Condors (1971â€"72). He played 75 of his 77 career games in his first
season, 72 of them for the Nets. He scored 371 total points (4.8 ppg),
294 total rebounds (3.8 rpg), and 68 assists (0.9 apg). He also played
some basketball in Austria before deciding to be an actor.When Taylor
applied to the Screen Actors Guild, he learned that the name "Ron
Taylor" was already in use by another actor. His acting teacher
suggested he use "Tiny Ron", figuring that in a niche category
populated by actors with such screen names as "André the Giant," the
name "Tiny Ron" would stand out.
an American film actor and former basketball player, known for his
work in feature films such as The Rocketeer (1991) and Ace Ventura:
Pet Detective (1994), and in television series such as Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and as Al, the very tall police
detective whose face is always above shot in the Police Squad! and The
Naked Gun franchise. His roles tended to exploit his 7 ft (2.13 m)
frame.Taylor was born in Torrance, California. He attended North
Torrance High School and graduated from the University of Southern
California.Taylor was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second
round of the 1969 NBA Draft, but never played in the NBA, instead he
started playing in the American Basketball Association. He played for
four teams from 1969 to 1972: the New York Nets and Washington Caps
(1969â€"70); the Virginia Squires (1970â€"71); and the Pittsburgh
Condors (1971â€"72). He played 75 of his 77 career games in his first
season, 72 of them for the Nets. He scored 371 total points (4.8 ppg),
294 total rebounds (3.8 rpg), and 68 assists (0.9 apg). He also played
some basketball in Austria before deciding to be an actor.When Taylor
applied to the Screen Actors Guild, he learned that the name "Ron
Taylor" was already in use by another actor. His acting teacher
suggested he use "Tiny Ron", figuring that in a niche category
populated by actors with such screen names as "André the Giant," the
name "Tiny Ron" would stand out.
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