Days of our Lives Favorite Josh Taylor Celebrates His Birthday

Roman Brady was busy earlier this year helping hunt down Orpheus on Days of our Lives, and now actor Josh Taylor certainly has a reason to celebrate!

Happy Birthday, Josh Taylor

That’s because he was born on September 25, 1943, in Princeton, Illinois, which means that this talented performer is turning 80 years old today! Having earned his Juris Doctor degree, Taylor was on his way to work on the Alaska Pipeline when he was waylaid by the offer to manage the West Village Bratskeller, a restaurant that catered to celebrities and VIPs.

After serving actors, producers, and other Hollywood types for over a year, Taylor decided to forgo trying to establish himself as a lawyer and instead set his sights on becoming an actor.

He quickly scored his first role — a “contemporary cowboy” — on Barnaby Jones, and this was followed by small parts on The Six Million Dollar Man and The Hardy Boys.

In 1977, Taylor accepted an offer to join the cast of the NBC daytime soap Days of our Lives, and he debuted as construction foreman Chris Kositchek. Although the role on DAYS would last a full decade, Taylor still took any and all opportunities that came his way.

He briefly starred in his own CBS police drama — titled Riker — and he landed the plum role of Michael Hogan on the NBC sitcom Valerie, a vehicle designed for legendary TV actress Valerie Harper.

However, trouble behind the scenes led to a complete reshuffle of the series, and it was retooled first as Valerie’s Family and later The Hogan Family. The part of Michael was substantially built up, and since his airtime at DAYS had dwindled significantly over 10 years, Taylor quit his “day” job to concentrate fully on his comedy show.

After The Hogan Family was canceled in 1991, Taylor was hired at the FOX network’s teen serial Beverly Hills 90210 as Jack McKay, the father of the popular Dylan McKay character played by the late Luke Perry. As Jack, Taylor would make appearances for the entire run of the series. In 1997, Taylor returned to DAYS, but this time, it was in the role of Roman Brady. Taylor reprised his role as Chris last year in the second chapter of Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem.

Soap Hub would like to wish Josh Taylor a very happy birthday and many more to come.