Florence Gertrude Heffernan was the wife of American character actor Dub Taylor. She was born on August 27, 1906, in Rye, Westchester County, New York, USA, to Thomas Francis Heffernan and Mary Veronica.
Florence married Dub Taylor in 1931, and they were blessed with two children Faydean Taylor Thorp and a son, Buck Taylor, an American actor.
Despite her low economic status, Florence Gertrude Heffernan ensured that her children went to school; for instance, her son Buck Taylor attended and graduated from North Hollywood High School.
Her Educational Background
Florence Gertrude Heffernan valued education, ensuring her children went to school. However, it is uncertain if she attended school and what are her highest education qualifications. It is unclear if she went to college or stopped studying after high school.
Her Husband
Dub Taylor worked in the film industry from 1938 to 1994 and appeared in over a hundred movies. Florence’s husband made his film debut in 1938 when he was featured in You Can’t Take It with You. He was also featured in the series Ranch Party where he showcased his xylophone skills.
A year after making his film debut, Florence Gertrude’s husband appeared in The Taming of the West, where he created the character of Cannonball, a role he assumed in many films afterwards. The movies include The Lone Prairie, The Son of Davy Crockett, The Return of Daniel Boone and The Wildcat of Tucson.
Years later, Dub Taylor dropped the name Cannonball as he thought it barred him from getting roles in films requiring larger budgets. His movie credits where he did not use the name Cannonball include Riding High, Lure of the Wilderness, Dragnet, Tall Man Riding, I Died a Thousand Times and Tension at Table Rock, among others.
Florence Gertrude Heffernan’s husband also played some roles in the Gunsmoke series, a show whose son Buck Taylor also featured as Deputy Newly.
Florence Gertrude’s Husband’s Death
Dub Taylor was not in perfect health in his last days of life. He died from a heart attack on October 3, 1994, in Los Angeles, aged 87. Unlike his wife, who had died seven years prior, Dub’s body was cremated and the ashes scattered near Westlake Village, California, in the United States of America.
Florence’s Son
Florence Gertrude Heffernan’s son is best known for portraying Deputy Newly O’Brian in the CBS series Gunsmoke, a role for which he won a Trustee Award and was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Besides Gunsmoke, Buck made other appearances, including The Mist as Ambrose Cornell.
Buck Taylor appeared in the television movie The Soul Collector as Charlie. His other movie credits include Rough Riders, The Sacketts, Johnny Shiloh, Trading Point and Hard Time as Captain Adam Gunther. Florence Gertrude’s son is still active in the film industry, and more projects featuring him are set to come.
Death
Florence Gertrude Heffernan died on October 10, 1987, aged 81, in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was interred at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo County, California, United States.
