Rod Taylor dies in Los Angeles at 84

Movie legend Rod Taylor, who starred in The Time Machine and Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller The Birds, has died aged 84, according to reports in the US.

The Australian actor, who lived in the US, is said to have died from natural causes at his home in Los Angeles after a dinner party.

Rod Taylor came to prominence in the 1960s, starring alongside Hollywood greats like Jane Fonda and Richard Burton.

In 2009, Rod Taylor made a cameo as ex-UK PM Winston Churchill in Quentin Tarantino’s film Inglourious Basterds.

He got his first leading role in the 1960 adaptation of HG Wells’ science-fiction classic The Time Machine and went on to star in several hit films in the 1960s and 1970s.

Rod Taylor also voiced one of the Dalmatian dogs in Disney’s animated hit 101 Dalmatians.

He was due to turn 85 on Sunday.

Rod Taylor is survived by spouse Carol Kikumura and daughter Felicia Rodrica Sturt Taylor, a TV presenter.