Meshach Taylor Passes Away!

Ever watched the CBS sitcom Designing Women?

Meshach Taylor was one of the standout characters on the show.

He is best known for his Emmy-nominated turn as Anthony Bouvier on the CBS hit sitcom Designing Women (1986-1993), and for his portrayal of Hollywood Montrose, a flamboyant window dresser in the box office hit and cult classic romantic comedy film Mannequin.

He played Sheldon Baylor on the CBS sitcom Dave's World (1993-1997), and appeared as Tony on the short-lived NBC sitcom Buffalo Bill opposite Dabney Coleman.

Taylor was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of a college professor and a sociology professor.[2] He graduated from Florida A&M University in 1993. He married Bianca Ferguson in 1983 and has four children, daughters, Tamar Taylor, Esme Taylor, Yasmine Taylor, and son Tariq Taylor, and four grandchildren.

CNN reports that Taylor had fought a terminal illness and faded markedly in recent days. His wife, children, grandchildren and mother surrounded him as he passed away, Dede Binder said.

"It is with love and gratitude that we sorrowfully announce that our darling, amazingly brilliant and dynamic, Meshach, the incredible father, husband, son and friend has begun his grand transition," the family said in a statement.

Dixie Carter, Annie Potts, Meshach Taylor, Jean Smart and Delta Burke.

Taylor made his screen debut in the 1978 movie "Damien: Omen II." He has appeared regularly in television dramas since, including the series "In the Heat of the Night," "Hannah Montana," and "All of Us," according to his profile on the International Movie Database.

Most recently, he appeared in two episodes of Criminal Minds. The last one ran in January this year.
During the run of "Designing Women," Taylor's co-star Dixie Carter described him as "a good man who is confident and strong. He's absolutely grounded," according to a profile in People.

"The eldest of three children of two former college professors, Taylor, a precocious child, first learned acting technique as a survival skill. 'The kids called me the Professor, and I got beat up a lot,' he says. 'So I dummied up until I got into the 11th grade,'" the profile read.

"Even when he didn't have any money, he always had style. He was on the cutting edge of men's colognes, and he was always buying yachting magazines and GQ," actor Joe Mantegna told the magazine.

We here at Journal de la Reyna send our condolences to the family of Meshach Taylor.