| Hunter Tylo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Deborah Jo Hunter July 3, 1962 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Other names | Deborah Morehart |
| Years active | 1980-presently |
| Spouse | Tom Morehart (1980-84) divorced Michael Tylo (1987-2005) divorced, 3 children Gersson Archila (2009-) married |
Hunter Tylo (born Deborah Jo Hunter, July 3, 1962) is an American actress, author and former model. She is best known for her role as Dr. Taylor Hayes on The Bold and the Beautiful. She originated the role in 1990, and still continues to play it today.
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Tylo was born Deborah Jo Hunter in Fort Worth, Texas, the daughter of Jo Anne and Morris Jabez Hunter. She is of Cherokee Native American descent on her mother's side. She has an older sister named Elizabeth and a younger brother named Cliff. Tylo has been credited as Deborah Morehart; Morehart was the last name of her first husband.
In 1984, credited as Deborah Morehart, Tylo appeared in the sorority slasher film The Initiation with future Melrose Place actor Daphne Zuniga. Tylo subsequently became well known after playing regular roles in US daytime soap operas.
Her television debut was on All My Children in 1985. She was fired from the role in 1988, on the grounds of having a relationship with another cast member, Michael Tylo[1]. She left the show and married Tylo in 1987. She played Marina Toscano on Days of our Lives from 1989–1990.
Tylo played the role of Dr. Taylor Hayes Forrester as a series regular on The Bold and the Beautiful from 1990 through 2002. She returned to the show in 2004 for a two-episode appearance as a vision. In May 2005, she returned as a series regular. She also acted in the American movie Down and Derby in 2005. Hunter Tylo was the first ever Soap Opera Actress to have an E! True Hollywood Story profile about herself. For her portrayal of Taylor, Tylo has garnered 2 Soap Opera Digest Awards for "Female Hottie", one in 1995 and 1999, and won in 2002 an award in Finland for "Favorite Foreign Actress".
In 1996, Tylo was cast in Melrose Place and opted to leave The Bold and the Beautiful to take the role. However, she was fired by Melrose Place producer Aaron Spelling prior to filming any episodes for the series, when she announced she was pregnant. The character she was to play, Taylor McBride, was recast with Lisa Rinna taking the role. Tylo quickly returned to The Bold and the Beautiful. Tylo sued Spelling on grounds of discrimination for being pregnant and won $4.8 million from a Los Angeles jury. Spelling argued that Tylo's pregnancy rendered her unable to play the character, who was supposed to be a sexy seductress. During the trial Tylo published pictures of herself while pregnant which showed that she retained a slim figure. Prior to trial, during the discovery phase of the litigation, Spelling's lawyers were partially successful in an interlocutory appeal that forced Tylo to answer questions in her deposition about her pregnancy (and her husband's ability to get her pregnant).[2] The case is widely recognized as an important one in establishing the right of actresses to continue to work while pregnant.
Tylo's first marriage was to Tom Moreheart; they had a son, Christopher "Chris" Morehart.
In 1987, she married Michael Tylo, with whom she had daughters Izabella Gabrielle and Katya Ariel Tylo and son Michael Tylo, Jr. The marriage ended in 2005.[3]
In 1998, her infant daughter Katya was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the eye called retinoblastoma. Doctors removed the affected right eye and began chemotherapy. Later in the year a tumor was detected in Katya's other eye; that tumor inexplicably disappeared. Katya recovered and wears a prosthetic right eye.
In 2001, she wrote her autobiography, "Making a Miracle."[4]
On October 18, 2007, Tylo's 19-year old son, Michael Tylo, Jr., drowned in the family pool in Henderson, Nevada.[5] The Clark County coroner concluded that "the cause of death was drowning due to seizure disorder," and the death was ruled accidental.[6]
In May 2008, Tylo filed a restraining order against boyfriend Corey Cofield, claiming that he had acted violently towards her and her children; she asked for the order to be withdrawn in October 2008, telling a judge that Cofield was attending therapy and was much better.[7]
On November 28, 2009, Tylo and her boyfriend Gersson Archila married in a secret ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada.[8]. On her marriage, Tylo stated "“Gersson Archila and I were married November 29, 2009. God has blessed me in the most special of ways...God has redeemed my life and future. My season of sadness has ended. We are a very happy family. I will post some photos for you all soon. I welcome your blessings and well wishes!”[9]