A successful child actor , directing in total nine of his films. As the law of diminishing returns applied, Taurog retired in 1968. He later taught at the University of California School of Cinema and remained a board member of the Director's Guild. He became blind towards the end of his life, but for his last years served as director of the Braille Institute in Los Angeles.
Taurog was the uncle of actor/director Jackie Cooper.
Taurog directed Elvis Presley in more movies than any other director (nine, starting with G.I. Blues ).
Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 1094-1098. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.
Directed 2 actors to Oscar nominations: Jackie Cooper (Best Actor, Skippy ) and Spencer Tracy (Best Actor, Boys Town ). Tracy won an Oscar for his performance in Taurogs film.
An unknown person telephoned his home and threatened to kidnap his daughter, Pat (8 years old at the time). The phone number was changed and a guard was placed on duty at the property (February, 1939).
Taurogs Oscar statuette sold for $301, 973, when it was auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Memorabilia on February 28, 2012.
At 32 years and 260 days, he was the youngest person to win a Best Director Oscar until Damien Chazelle won in 2017. Taurog held the record for 86 years.
