Ronald "Tiny Ron" Taylor (November 21, 1947 – November 28, 2019^[1]) was an American film actor and former basketball player, known for his work in feature films such as The Rocketeer (1991) and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), and in television series such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and as Al, the very tall police detective whose face is always out of frame in the Police Squad! and The Naked Gun franchise. His roles tended to exploit his 7 ft (2.13 m) frame.

Early life

Taylor was born in Torrance, California. He attended North Torrance High School and graduated from the University of Southern California.^[2]

Sports career

Ron Taylor

Personal information
Born	(1947-11-21)November 21, 1947 Torrance, California
Died	November 28, 2019(2019-11-28) (aged 72) Santa Clarita, California
Nationality	American
Listed height	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school	North Torrance (Torrance, California)
College	USC (1966–1969)
NBA draft	1969: 2nd round, 3rd overall pick
Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics
Playing career	1969–1972
Position	Center
Number	5, 22
Career history
1969	Washington Caps
1969–1970	New York Nets
1970–1971	Virginia Squires
1971–1972	Pittsburgh Condors
Career statistics
Points	371 (4.8 ppg)
Rebounds	294 (3.8 rpg)
Assists	68 (0.9 apg)
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Taylor was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the 1969 NBA draft, but never played in the NBA. Instead, he started playing in the American Basketball Association. He played for four teams from 1969 to 1972: the New York Nets and Washington Caps (1969–70); the Virginia Squires (1970–71); and the Pittsburgh Condors (1971–72). He played 75 of his 77 career games in his first season, 72 of them for the Nets. He scored 371 total points (4.8 ppg), 294 total rebounds (3.7 rpg), and 68 assists (0.9 apg). He also played some basketball in Austria before deciding to be an actor.^[3][4]

Acting career

When Taylor applied to the Screen Actors Guild, he learned that the name "Ron Taylor" was already in use by another actor. His acting teacher suggested he use "Tiny Ron", figuring that in a niche category populated by actors with such screen names as "André the Giant," the name "Tiny Ron" would stand out. He died in Santa Clarita from cancer on November 28, 2019, a week after his 72nd birthday.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

• Police Squad! (1982, TV Series) – Al (uncredited)
• Seven Hours to Judgment (1988) – Ira Martin
• The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) – Al
• Road House (1989) – Mountain
• The Rocketeer (1991) – Lothar (a.k.a. Frankenstien) / Good Old Boy / Voice of Jerry Butkis
• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) – Roc
• Last Man Standing (1996) – Jacko the Giant
• Star Trek: Voyager (1998 - 2 episodes)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999 – 7 episodes) – Maihar'du
• Zigs (2001) – Terry
• Six: The Mark Unleashed (2004) – Eddie
• Sasquatch Mountain (2006) – Sasquatch
• Holyman Undercover (2010) – Himself
• Brother White (2012) – Himself
• The Book of Esther (2013) – Nasir
• Dancer and the Dame (2015) – Martin