Kelvin Taylor (actor)

Kelvin Lewis Taylor (born January 18, 1985, in Hampton, Virginia),[1] is an American-born New Zealand actor based in Auckland. His film appearances include the documentary "The Golden Hour".[2] The documentary received an International Emmy nomination for the Best Documentary Award at the 41st International Emmy Awards.[3] Taylor appeared on the second week of the first season of Come Dine with Me New Zealand.[4]

Kelvin Taylor
Taylor by Alex Wallace
Born
Kelvin Lewis Taylor

(1985-01-18) January 18, 1985
NationalityAmerican
New Zealand
Other namesKelz
Occupation
  • Actor
  • dancer
  • model
  • voice actor
Years active2005–present
Known forBorn to Dance, Come Dine with Me New Zealand, Spartacus (TV series), Power Rangers Megaforce
TelevisionJames Patterson's Murder Is Forever, The Shannara Chronicles, Ash vs Evil Dead
Websitekelvintaylor.com

Early life

Taylor was raised in Newport News, Virginia along with a fraternal twin sister, Princess Taylor. His ethnic heritage links him to Nigerian Moors; he is of African, British, German, Irish, and French descent.[5] He considers himself a product of human trafficking. His mother, Rhonda (Taylor) Clark, was a playwright who was orphaned in New Orleans and relocated to New York City. His biological father Kelvin Lewis Pittman was a former narcotics dealer turned user. Due to his father's substance abuse, he was raised in a single-parent home in the Section 8 projects of Stuart Gardens. Taylor's family was one of the millions of African American families displaced by Exclusionary zoning. Taylor made his stage debut in 1990 at the age of 5, playing the lead role in a kindergarten production of The Gingerbread Man.[6] When he was 11, his family relocated to Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Kelvin Taylor - 2020 Pre-Golden Globe Nominee Lounge

Career
Kelvin Taylor with Anna Hutchison and Kimberley Crossman at the 2017 New Zealand film and television awards in Auckland, New Zealand

Taylor began modeling at age 19 for the Shmack Clothing in collaboration with Billionaire Boys Club / BAPE. An altercation would later hinder his modeling career and lead him into undergoing emergency plastic surgery. It was later revealed according to a 2020 article in The New Zealand Herald the attack was racially motivated.[7] A trip to Perth, Western Australia in 2008 lead him into acting after signing up to a roommates short film as a breakdancer for Edith Cowan University. He later would appeared in several national, international commercials and several music videos for the likes of N.E.R.D, Fam-Lay feat. Pharrell Williams. Humble beginnings, he would find a start as a background actor in Spartacus before showing up on New Zealand's Three (TV channel).[8]

Taylor went on to make guest appearances in Ash vs Evil Dead, The Shannara Chronicles and James Patterson's Murder Is Forever.[9] He was cast as Malcolm X in American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, however the role was cancelled as production opted to use archived footage instead. He was also a student of Meisner Technique instructor Michael Saccenté, acting coach of Karl Urban and Antony Starr (The Boys (2019 TV series)).

As of 2008, Kelvin Taylor resides between Australia, New Zealand and the United States.[10] Having appearing on Adult Swim's FishCenter Live[11]and Post Malone's Goodbyes (Post Malone song) Music Video, he was recently cast in Season 2 of Gēmusetto: Death Beat(s)[12]

Filmography

Films
Year Title[13] Role Note
2013 Hadir and The Deep Sayed
2014 Born with Happiness Danny
2015 Born to Dance African American Dance Crew Leader
2016 Electro City 3 Dynamite Short Film
2016 Value Mike Short Film
2018 Reset Revolter Short Film
2018 Cottonmouth Johnny
2018 Wake American Soldier
2018 The Breaker Upperers Party Goer (as "Kelvin Taylor)
2020 Surge of Power: Surge of Dawn Benny
2020 World War Four Dave Bradley
2020 Older City Lover
2020 Alien Addiction DJ
2021 Last Star Jaks (Ranger 3) (Post-Production)
2021 Internecionem Aramon (Post-production)
2021 Into The Unknown Brad (Post-production)

Television
Year Title[13] Role Note
2011 Spartacus Kraynos 14 episodes
2013 Power Rangers Super Megaforce Cyclist 1 Episode "Power of Six"[14]
2014 Oddball's Jayden TV mini series
2015 Come Dine with Me New Zealand Himself 5 Episodes (fifth Place)
2016 Ash vs Evil Dead Orderly 2 Episodes
2017 American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story Malcolm X TV Documentary Series, 1 episode
2017 The Shannara Chronicles Crimson Guard 1 Episode
2018 James Patterson's Murder is Forever Detective (Fisher) 1 Episode
2018 Nigel Latta's Mind Over Money 2 Himself 1 Episode
2018 Vida (TV series) Kissing Couple (Afro-Latino Male) 1 Episode
2018 Criminal Confessions (TV series) Brian Golsby 1 Episode
2018 America's Court with Judge Ross Scott Goggins 1 Episode
2018 Funny You Should Ask (2017 game show) as “Kelvin Taylor” 1 Episode
2019 FishCenter Live Himself 2 Episodes
2019 Action Figure Miles Maurice 1 Episode
2020 No Limit Chronicles Big Ed 1 Episode
2020 Gēmusetto: Death Beat(s) Kelvin 2 Episodes
2021 The War At Home Stan Gatland 1 Episode

Documentary
Year Title[13] Role Note
2012 The Golden Hour George Kerr Nominated Best Documentary Award at 2013 International Emmy Award

Music video
Year Title Artist Role
2007 Da Beeper Record Fam-Lay feat Pharrell Williams Night Club Entourage
2008 Everyone Nose N.E.R.D Party Goer
2010 Maori Boy JGeek and the Geeks Breakdancer
2012 Black, White and Blue[15] Ladyhawke Camp MUA
2015 Don't Hang Around Here Sir T MMA Fighter
2016 Kind of Love MAALA Sensual Male
2016 Ones Cycle Yokozuna feat Bailey Wiley Himself
2016 When I Leave Maaka & White Wall Motorcyclist Boyfriend
2017 YES[16] Yokozuna feat Heavy & LarzRanda African American Boyfriend
2017 The Sweetest Meditation Lord Echo feat Mara TK Himself
2018 Voltron Yokozuna Drakkus (Level 17 Warlock)
2018 I'm So 90's (Neo Jack Swing Mix) Lewis City Twin
2018 Gabruu Nu Diljit Dosanjh Dancer Entourage
2018 Lifted Parker Bossley Graffiti Artist
2018 ReDerik Locksmith (rapper) Locksmiths Crew
2018 From The Outside Real Friends (band) Photographer
2018 Boomin In Your Jeep Crystal Fighters Burning Man Dancer
2018 Shanter Claus William Shatner Freestyle Dancer
2018 We Will Meet Once Again Andrea Bocelli South African Young Man
2018 Checklist Megan Nicole Bachelor
2018 Prom Queen Lil Kloroxxx Bart Baker Goldie Wilson
2018 BURN IT The Fever 333 Alt Teen
2018 BlackAss Rakeem Miles ROM the Android
2019 World War X Carnifex (band) Nightmare
2019 H.O.E.S Eearz Goon Fronts
2019 Take It Easy feat.Smokepurpp Octavian (rapper) Crew
2019 Que lo Que Social Club Misfits BBoy
2019 Goodbyes feat. Young Thug Post Malone Donnie's Bestfriend
2019 Icy Itzy Single Male Patron
2019 Blurry Crown The Empire Dream Guy
2019 Proofread feat. Wiz Khalifa Famous Dex Single Male Patron
2019 Eres Top feat. DJ Snake & Sean Combs Ozuna Punk Alien Leader

References
  1. "Fck up Nights Akl. A celebration of business failure stories". Meet Up. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  2. "Kelvin Taylor: An American in NZ during Black Lives Matter". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  3. "'5 Broken Cameras' wins Emmy". Y Net News. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  4. "Spy: Has romance bloomed on Come Dine with Me?". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  5. "New Zealand American Actor Kelvin Taylor". Dark Magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  6. "Meet Kelvin Taylor". Voyage LA. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  7. ""Ash vs. Evil Dead" actor from Hampton Roads keeps showbiz dreams alive in New Zealand". Pilot Online. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  8. "Obituary: The Final Course – Our Ultimate Come Dine With Me NZ Contestant Power Rankings". The Spin Off. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  9. "Going Far and Finding Yourself: Actor Kelvin Taylor's Story". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  10. "Interview with Kelvin Taylor: Actor". Biz.Me. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  11. "Kelvin Taylor - Post Malone Trivia on FishCenter". Vimeo. October 21, 2019.
  12. "Kelvin Taylor Stars in Adult Swim's Gemusetto Mach Picchu Season 2". Dark Magazine Medium. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  13. "Kelvin Taylor Profile". IMDB. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  14. "Holiday Specials in Super Megaforce?". The Power Scoop Blog. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  15. "Ladyhawke – Black White & Blue". LadyhawkeVEVO. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  16. "Yoko-Zuna – Yes (feat. Heavy & Randa) [Official Music Video]". Yoko-Zuna NZ. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
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