Sean Taylor
As a surfer, a sales-rep and a stuntman, Sean Taylor is a lot of things—but a model he is not. Okay, the truth is that Sean has actually done some modeling. However, if Abercrombie & Fitch asked you do drive dune buggies for a photo-shoot or Cosmopolitan Magazine selected you for an “it” list alongside LeBron James, would you say no?
By the way, if you just said “yes,” you’re either lying or being a hater.
That point considered, it might be easy to begrudge Sean Taylor for his gifts. He’s tall and looks like a model. He’s intelligent and surfs like a pro. He is someone who’s always involved in something categorically unique and interesting. So yeah, Taylor has a lot going for him; yet, he keeps his haters in check for one reason: He is so blasted likeable.
It was Taylor’s likeability that landed him his first job in the surf industry. After he graduated from Carlsbad High in 2002 (where he helped the surf team win a National Title) he looked to establish a sponsorship with Cult. However, instead of getting a sponsor for clothing, Taylor won himself a job selling it.
“I didn’t know a thing about sales, but luckily I had a few, good older-wisers helping me out,” Taylor said. “Ultimately, Cult was a great opportunity for me to get some business experience and have more irons in the fire so to speak.”
That being said, Sean Taylor’s life as a surfer, rep and part time model wasn’t enough. He wanted to hustle some more. Nonetheless, instead of getting a real estate license or selling mortgages, Sean decided to pad his earnings through stunt-work (which is a bit nutty -- am I right?)
Starting out, Taylor was put into a name directory where stunt coordinators review candidates based on looks, experience and skill sets. Obviously it helped that his brother, Brandon Johnson, was already well established in the stunt-world. Nevertheless, Taylor’s connection to his brother still only goes so far. I mean, unlike actors, stuntmen have to know what their doing, right?
“To be honest with you, if it’s your first time [as a stuntman], you gotta lie a little bit to get your foot in the door,” he plainly admits. “You gotta show up and make guys think you’re a stuntman. They have to think you know everything about it. But at heart, you’re just a surfer who’s learning the business.”
I can hear it now:
How are your fights?
Flawless boss! Piece of cake.
OK, we want you to vault this staircase and take down the perpetrator…
Yeah, sure boss. No sweat. Done it a million times!
Amazingly, Taylor’s cavalier approach to stunt-work hasn’t left him any worse for wear. To date, he has been a double for numerous productions, most notably CSI-Miami and CSI-New York.
His worst, on-the-job injuries? “Lots of cuts, bruises and a few black eyes,” Taylor said. Not too shabby for a male model.
Presently, the job that keeps Sean the Stuntman busiest is his gig with CSI-New York—where he often hangs with Gary Sinese (Remember “Lieutenant Dan” from Forrest Gump?)
On the show, Taylor doubles for Eddie Cahill, who plays Detective Don Flack. Cahill is a regular; yet, he might be best known for his role as a hockey goalie in Miracle or as Jennifer Aniston’s boyfriend, Tag Jones, on Friends.
Not surprisingly, Taylor and Cahill have become friends away from CSI-New York. Taylor has even taught Cahill, a New York City native, how to surf. (As a side note, when Sean answered his phone during our interview he shouted “EC Money!” It was Cahill on the other end amping on the latest swell.)
Sean Taylor is also a card carrying member of the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG). But it hasn’t gotten him onto the A-list just yet. Says Taylor of his SAG status: “Basically, one of the best things about having that card is that you get a shitload of free movies to watch and then vote on…Mostly films that haven’t even been released.”
Beyond that, Hollywood hasn’t shifted too much of Taylor’s focus away from surfing.
Despite his diverse experiences and continued success on the screen, Sean Taylor’s passion lies in the surf industry. During the day, he’s the SD and OC rep for Arbor snowboards, skateboards and apparel where he credits Greg Bergen, Ken Perkins and Rob Fabregas as being his mentors.
Most recently, Taylor also signed with Rip Curl. And he knows their decision to pick him up wasn’t based on his TV work.
“Rip Curl is not sponsoring me to do stunts,” Taylor said. “And I view the opportunity with them as the perfect way to synergize my personal direction as a surfer with ‘The Search’ their brand has always represented.”
Sound like the perfect line to you? To me, it sounds like a talented guy who knows how to be likeable.
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