Tate Taylor was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, and graduated from The University of Mississippi.
In 2004, Taylor made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed short film Chicken Party, which he wrote, directed and starred in. Chicken Party won several film festival awards. In 2008, Taylor directed his first feature, Pretty Ugly People, which he also wrote. As an actor, Taylor has a long history of creating outstanding performances and was seen in the acclaimed Winter's Bone.
In 2012, Taylor partnered with John Norris to form the production company Wyolah Films, which has several film and television projects in development. Get on Up is the company's first film.
Taylor directed the critically acclaimed box-office hit The Help, which was nominated for four Academy Awards®, including Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Viola Davis) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer), with Spencer winning for her role in the film. The film was also honored with the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Based on Kathryn Stockett's book of the same name, the film went on to gross more than $210 million worldwide. The Help was filmed in Taylor's home state of Mississippi and, during the film's production, Taylor and Stockett established a mentoring program to nurture writers and filmmakers.
Anoteher Taylor's production is Netflix series Grace and Frankie, starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Fonda and Tomlin play longtime nemeses whose lives are turned upside down when their husbands fall in love with one another. Taylor directed the pilot and served as executive producer on the series, along with Paula Weinstein and co-creators Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris.
Universal Pictures
