ON 26th April, 150 years ago in 1872, William Desmond Taylor was born on the Athy Road, Carlow. He emigrated to the States, and married the actress Ethel May Harrison. When his daughter Daisy was just a few years old Taylor left the family and was never seen again for over 10 years. Taylor had travelled to Hollywood, changed his name, and in a very short time had risen to the top of Hollywood. He was a leading director with Paramount Studios, and directed a total of 59 films. In 1922 Taylor was found murdered in his home, having been shot in the head. A lengthy police investigation followed but to no avail; to this day his death remains an unsolved mystery.
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