MESHACH TAYLOR who starred in TV’s “Designing Women” and the “Mannequin” movies has died at 67.
Taylor who played the lovable assistant Anthony Bouvier, who worked at the Sugarbaker interior design firm in the sitcom “Designing Women” which aired on CBS for seven seasons from September 1986 until May 1993. It starred Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Annie Potts, Jean Smart and Taylor, whose characters work at the design firm in Atlanta.
Taylor passed last night at his family’s home in Altadena, where he was receiving hospice care.
His family posted a cryptic sad note on his Facebook page, saying, “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.”
Taylor also memorably played the flamboyant window dresser Hollywood Montrose in the 1987 box office hit “Mannequin” with Kim Cattrall and its 1991 sequel “Mannequin 2: On the Move”.
Taylor also hosted his own series on HGTV, “The Urban Gardener”; co-hosted a show on “Retirement Living TV” with Florence Henderson; and was a regular celebrity panelist on the classic game show “To Tell the Truth”.
His last TV appearance was on an ep of “Criminal Minds”.
Adios.