Donald Ritchie Taylor, known as Don Taylor (Freeport, December 20, 1920 – Los Angeles, December 29, 1998), was an American actor and director. He began his career as a contract actor with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, appearing in supporting roles in successful films such as *Father of the Bride* (1950) and *Stalag 17* (1953). Starting in the mid-1950s, Taylor focused primarily on directing, becoming a prolific professional in both film and television. His most notable works include science fiction and horror classics such as *Escape from the Planet of the Apes* (1971), *The Island of Dr. Moreau* (1977), *Damien: Omen II* (1978), and *The Final Countdown* (1980). His extensive television career includes directing episodes for numerous popular series, including *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*. For his directorial work, he received an Emmy Award nomination.