Taylor Black

Taylor Black
Black at the 2020 premiere of The Banker
Born
Taylor Rene Gildersleeve

(1991-09-13) September 13, 1991 (age 35)
EducationColumbia University
OccupationsActress, producer, director
Years active2005–2021
Spouse
Bradley Livingstone Black
​
​
(m. 2015)​
Children2
Websitetaylorblackofficial.com

Taylor Black (born September 13, 1991) is an American former actress, producer and model. Credited by her birth name, Taylor Gildersleeve, until 2015, she may be best known for her role, while a teenager, as Sydney Harris on the soap opera All My Children (2005—2006), or as the 2009 Miss New York Teen USA. Her last screen role was a guest appearance on a 2021 episode of Magnum P.I., after which she has focused on running Black Tandem, a creative arts company she and her husband founded in Los Angeles.

Early life

Taylor Rene Gildersleeve was born and raised in Mattituck, on the North Fork of Long Island, New York. After graduating from Mattituck High School, she attended Columbia University and graduated with a degree in film studies, concentrating in production.

Career

2005–2012

In 2005, while still in high school, she auditioned for the role of Colby Chandler in All My Children and instead was offered the role of teenager Sydney Harris. Her character's story spanned 38 episodes and ended in June 2007.[failed verification] She also started appearing in a series of commercials, and guest starred in a 2008 episode of Law & Order. She took a hiatus from acting to concentrate on high school and to enter pageantry competition; she was crowned Miss New York Teen USA in March 2009, and went on to compete in the Miss Teen USA 2009 pageant in July.

In 2010, when she started her college studies at Columbia in New York City, she also returned to acting, making brief guest appearances in single episodes of five different series produced in the city, including 30 Rock, One Life To Live, Gossip Girl and NYC22. She also appeared in several episodes of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as Fallon’s "assistant"[citation needed] and was a judge on the panel for Reel Teens 2010, choosing the teen who would feature in that fall's campaign for Aéropostale. In 2012 she played Blake, the co-lead of the Lorne Michaels web series Cool Kid’s Table, where she hosted and spoofed celebrities.[citation needed]

2013–2015: Film and television

In 2013, Black made her feature film debut as an unnamed character in Ass Backwards which was premiered at Sundance, followed by her first named film character, appearing as Summer in Sleeping with the Fishes. Her television work also increased during 2013, including nine episodes in MTV's sketch comedy series Hey Girl, Anna McGraw in the CBS series Unforgettable, Kippy Cook in The CW's Cheerleader Death Squad, and Laura Gorman in MTV’s One Bad Choice. In 2014, she appeared as Beth in the film Affluenza, and starred in the Lifetime's television movie Sugar Daddies. She had the supporting role of Kristin in the film ADDicted. In 2016, she guest starred as Laura Mahoney in David Schwimmer's AMC series, Feed the Beast and Jane in the Hulu series Deadbeat.

2015–present: Black Tandem and mainstream projects

In 2015, Black married the artist Bradley Livingstone Black; they have two children together. Their production company, Black Tandem, operates from Los Angeles. Their short film Helen of Troy (2017) was filmed on location in Paris and in Upstate New York. It enjoyed a successful festival run highlighted by its international premiere at the Bermuda International Film Festival in 2018, and ended in the United States at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood as part of the HollyShorts Film Festival in 2019. Beginning in 2017, Black became the face of the Swiss jewellery line, Nana Fink.

From 2015 to 2018, she mostly appeared in guest roles in single episodes of various television series, including CBS's Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and Fox' Lucifer, and a three episode run on NBC's Midnight, Texas. Over 2019 and 2020, she had recurring roles as Ashley Cunningham in The CW's Dynasty and Emma Mitchell on Sony/Spectrum's L.A.'s Finest and also appeared in Woody Allen's film A Rainy Day in New York as well as the supporting lead role of Susie Steiner in Apple TV+'s streaming film The Banker, her last major film role. Her last appearance was a guest episode of Magnum P.I., in 2021.

Philanthropy

While in high school, Black's charitable work included the Make a Wish Foundation, Teens Against Cancer and volunteering for Cardinal McCloskey Services.[date missing][author missing][dead link] As an adult, she has worked with the Children's Hospital Los Angeles[citation needed] and has been a patron of Ganna Walska Lotusland botanical gardens[citation needed] in Montecito, California.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2013Sleeping with the FishesSummer
2014AffluenzaBeth
2014Sugar DaddiesKara Jones
2017ADDictedKristin
2018The Big TakeEdie
2019A Rainy Day in New YorkDana
2020The BankerSusie Steiner

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005–2006All My ChildrenSydney HarrisRecurring role, 38 episodes
2008Law & OrderLauren Claiborneseason 19, episode 6
201030 RockArcheriaseason 4, episode 10
2010One Life to LiveLeah Vallaria2 episodes
2010Gossip GirlTiffaniseason 4, episode 1
2012NYC 22Sashaseason 1, episode 8
2012Person of InterestGabiseason 2, episode 3
2013–2014Hey GirlChristinaRecurring role
2014UnforgettableAnna McGrawseason 3, episode 2
2015Cheerleader Death SquadKippy CookUnsold television pilot
2015One Bad ChoiceLaura Gormanseason 1, episode 6
2016DeadbeatJaneseason 3, episode 4
2016Feed the BeastLaura Mahoneyseason 1, episode 4
2017Criminal Minds: Beyond BordersLauren Barrettseason 2, episode 4
2017Midnight, TexasGinaseason 1, episodes 2-4
2018LuciferMisty Canyonsseason 3, episode 11
2019DynastyAshley CunninghamRecurring role (seasons 2–3)
2020L.A.'s FinestEmma MitchellRecurring role (season 2)
2021Magnum P.I.Erin Batesseason 3, episode 10

As a producer

Year Title Notes
2016Les FalaisesFilmed in Normandy, France
2017Helen of TroyFilmed in France and New York

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2009Miss Teen USAMiss New York Teen USA PageantContestantWon

References

  1. 1 2 Gildersleeve, Taylor (May 3, 2009). "New York - Taylor Gildersleeve" (Interview). IMG Universe. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020. Birthday: September 13
  2. 1 2 Gildersleeve, Taylor (2006-11-02) [2006-08-02]. "Nice to Meet You Taylor Gildersleeve". Soap Opera Digest (Interview). Retrieved 2026-10-01. The mature 15-year-old actress…
  3. 1 2 Gore, Scotty (2010-01-20). "Ex-Children Star Finds a New Life to Live". soapoperanetwork.com. Retrieved 2026-10-01. The 18-year-old actress…
  4. 1 2 Chinese, Vera (2016-04-27). "North Fork actress to appear in new AMC David Schwimmer series and more". northforker.com. Retrieved 2026-10-01. … actress and Mattituck native Taylor Gildersleeve…
  5. ↑ Barylski, Nicole (2016-05-03). "Local Actress Films Scenes for Helen of Troy On the North Fork". hamptons.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  6. ↑ "Taylor Gildersleeve". Celebrities. TV Guide. 2007-01-04. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  7. ↑ "Miss New York Teen USA". missnewyorkusa.com. 2009-03-13. Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  8. ↑ "One Life To Live: Taylor Black Cast as Leah". soaps.sheknows.com. 2010-01-21. Archived from the original on 2018-01-21. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  9. ↑ Kroll, Dan (January 25, 2010). "OLTL Casts Former AMC Player as Leah". soapcentral.com.[dead link]
  10. ↑ Pereira, Frank (May 3, 2017). "Taylor Gildersleeve – Titleholder's Career Soars". misscontinents.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  11. ↑ Lauren (2010-04-01). "Aéropostale's "Reel Teens" Modeling Contest!". Seventeen. Archived from the original on 2025-01-23. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  12. ↑ Stockly, Ed (January 9, 2015). "Saturday's TV Highlights and Weekend Talk: 'The Other Woman'". Arts & Entertainment. The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  13. ↑ Cooper, Matt (2015-01-02). "TV This Week, Jan. 4-10: 'Glee' and more". Arts & Entertainment. The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2015-01-04. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  14. ↑ Smith, Nicole (January 13, 2015). "Taylor Gildersleeve of Mattituck Stars in Lifetime's 'Sugar Daddies'". Northforker.
  15. ↑ "Taylor Gildersleeve of Mattituck Stars in Lifetime's 'Sugar Daddies'". The Suffolk Times. January 13, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Instagram". Instagram.com. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  17. ↑ Foreman, Troy L. (September 6, 2017). "Interview: Taylor Black". The PC Principle.
  18. ↑ "Nana Fink Switzerland". Nana Fink Jewelry. July 7, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Hottest Woman 8/16/17 - Taylor Black (Midnight, Texas / Lucifer!)". kingoftheflatscreen.com. August 16, 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  20. ↑ Petski, Denise (November 22, 2019). "L.A.'s Finest: Adam Rose & Taylor Black to Recur on Spectrum Original Series". Deadline.
  21. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (October 17, 2018). "Adam Ray To Star In 'Bellmen'; 'The Banker' Adds Taylor Black". Deadline.
  22. ↑ "Taylor Gildersleeve Biography". magweb.com. Retrieved November 22, 2019.