Born Taylor Edwin Hackford on the 31st December 1944, in Santa Barbara, California USA, Taylor is a film director, writer and producer, best known to the world for directing such films as “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982), “White Nights” (1985), and “Ray” (2004), among many other differing creations. Taylor’s career started in the early ‘70s.
Have you ever wondered how rich Taylor Hackford is, as of mid- 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Hackford’s net worth is as high as $30 million, an amount earned through his successful career in the entertainment industry. Apart from films, Taylor has also directed a number of music videos, such as “Against All Odds”, performed by Phil Collins, and Lionel Richie’s “Say You, Say Me”, among many others, which have also improved his wealth.
Taylor Hackford Net Worth $30 Million
Taylor was born to Mary and Joseph Hackford. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Southern California, from which he graduated with a law degree in 1968. Taylor then joined the Peace Corps, and was sent to Bolivia, where in his spare time he began experimenting with Super 8 film. After he returned to the States, Taylor found a job at KCET-TV, opting out of a law career. During his KCET years, Taylor worked as a producer as well, putting his name on such productions as “Homewood” (1970) – a special by Leon Russell – and a documentary about poet Charles Bukowski, “Bukowski” (1973), which was directed by Richard Davies.
Before the ‘70s ended, Taylor ventured out on his own, and in 1978 directed the short film “Teenage Father”, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Two years later he teamed up with scriptwriter Edward Di Lorenzo to film “The Idolmaker”, a biopic about Bob Marcucci, a rock promoter and producer; the film received high praise and Taylor’s name resounded around Hollywood. In 1982 he directed the romantic drama “An Officer and a Gentleman”, starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger and David Keith, while in 1985 he directed the Academy Award- winning drama “White Nights”, with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines and Jerzy Skolimowski in the lead roles. Before the ‘80s ended, Taylor also worked on the documentary “A Tribute to Rick Nelson” (1986), and romantic drama “Everybody’s All-American” (1988).
Taylor continued successfully into the ‘90s, serving as director for several high-profile films, such as “Blood In, Blood Out” (1993), based on the true story about the life of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, then the mystery drama “Dolores Claiborne” (1995), based on the book by Stephen King, and starring Kathy Bates, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Christopher Plummer. In 1997 he directed the highly acclaimed mystery thriller “The Devil’s Advocate”, which starred Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, and Charlize Theron; the success of these films increased Taylor’s net worth to a large degree.
Having earned a name as a director, Taylor could now only go further, and that he did; in 2004 he directed the biopic about famous musician Ray Charles, “Ray” (2004), with Jamie Foxx in the lead role, supported by the likes of Regina King and Kerry Washington, among many other stars. The film earned Taylor an Academy Award- nomination in the category Best Achievement in Directing, while he won the Black Reel Award in category Best Film, Drama, and a Grammy Award.
After “Ray”, Taylor stepped down from directing for several years, returning in 2010 with the drama “Love Ranch”, starring Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci and Sergio Peris-Mencheta. In recent years, Taylor directed the comedy “The Comedian” (2016) with Robert De Niro as the lead actor, and is currently working on the biopic about country western icons George Jones and Tammy Wynette, entitled “George and Tammy”, which will be released in 2018.
Apart from directing, Taylor also produced all films he directed, and put his name on several other creations, such as “The Long Walk Home” (1990), and “When We Were Kings” (1996), among others, which also increased his wealth.
To speak further of Taylor’s accomplishment in the entertainment industry, he served as the President of the Directors Guild of America from 2009 until 2013.
Regarding his personal life, Taylor has been married to actress Helen Mirren since 1997. He also has two marriages behind him; firstly to Georgie Lowres from 1967 until 1972; the couple has one child together. Then in 1977, he married film director and producer Lynne Litman, with whom he also has one child. The couple divorced in 1987.
