'The Birds' Star Rod Taylor Dead At 84

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)  —  Actor Rod Taylor, a dashing and handsome leading man of the 1950s and '60s, has died.

Taylor was 84.

The actor would have turned 85 on Sunday.

Taylor, born Rodney Stuart Taylor in Australia, was most known for saving Tippi Hedren in Alfred Hitchcock's classic "The Birds."

Hedren told People.com in a statement: "There are so many incredible feelings I have for him. Rod was a great pal to me and a real strength, we were very, very good friends. He was one of the most fun people I have ever met, thoughtful and classy, there was everything good in that man."

His other starring roles included sci-fi classic "The Time Machine," "Sunday in New York" and "Dark of the Sun."

Most recently, Taylor played Winston Churchill in "Inglourious Basterds."

Taylor's death was confirmed by his daughter Felicia, a former CNN correspondent.

The actor is survived by his third wife, Carol. The couple was married for 35 years.

For more about Taylor's life and times, click here.