Joyce Taylor (born Joyce Crowder; September 14, 1937)[1] is an American actress. She starred in feature films and television primarily during the 1950s and 1960s.
Born in Taylorville, Illinois, she based her stage name on her hometown. A coal miner's daughter, she attended public schools in Taylorville and was the top baton twirler at Taylorville High School. Her performance in a school talent show led to a recording contract.[2]
Taylor sang in amateur shows at age 10 and turned professional at age 15, signing with Mercury Records (billed as Joyce Bradley). When she was 16, she was singing at Chez Paree nightclub in Chicago and other similar venues.
She was under contract to Howard Hughes-owned RKO Pictures in the 1950s, but he only allowed her to act in one movie (a small part in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt in 1956).[3] When her seven-year contract ended, she became a regular on the science-fiction adventure TV series Men into Space (1959–1960)[4] as well as acted in many other TV shows and several feature films.
Taylor married stockbroker Edward Bellinson.[5]