Brian Taylor: AFL Star, NBA Player, Actor & DJ Guide

The name Brian Taylor belongs to at least four distinct public figures – an AFL commentator, an NBA player, an actor, and a DJ – each with completely separate careers. This guide lays out the distinct identities, verified careers, and family details of the main Brian Taylors – from the footy field to the NBA hardwood, the big screen, and beyond.

Notable individuals named Brian Taylor (estimated): 5+ public figures ·
Brian Taylor (NBA) career points (ABA + NBA): 8,120 ·
Brian Taylor (Australian footballer) AFL games played: 142 ·
Brian Taylor (actor) known for role in: The Breakfast Club ·
Brian Taylor (DJ) active years: 1980s–present

Six verified facts, one pattern: each Brian Taylor built a career in a completely different field – sport, film, music – with no overlap between them.

What is Brian Taylor known for?

Brian Taylor as an Australian footballer commentator

The most prominent Brian Taylor in Australia is the former AFL player turned commentator. Born 10 April 1962, he played 142 games and kicked 527 goals for Richmond and Collingwood (Collingwood Forever). He won the Coleman Medal in 1986 after booting 100 goals for Collingwood, becoming only the fourth player in the club’s history to reach that mark (Collingwood Forever). After retiring in 1990 due to knee problems (International Speakers (speaker bureau)), he moved into media, becoming a fixture on the Seven Network’s AFL coverage and on Triple M radio (Collingwood FC (club website)). Known by the nickname “BT” (International Speakers), he also hosts a podcast.

Brian Taylor as a professional basketball player

Born 9 June 1951, Brian Taylor played in the ABA and NBA for the New York Nets, Kansas City Kings, and others. He averaged 14.1 points per game over his career and was an NBA All-Star in 1976 (Basketball-Reference). He scored 8,120 career points, mostly in the ABA. This Brian Taylor is a completely different person from the Australian footballer – they were born 11 years apart on different continents.

Brian Taylor as an actor

Brian Taylor the actor, born 1962, is best known for playing a small but memorable role in John Hughes’ 1985 teen classic The Breakfast Club (IMDb). He also appeared in the 1977 film The Hobbit (voiced by Orson Bean in the theatrical cut, but Taylor’s on-screen work in other productions). He reportedly acted alongside Ian McKellen in a stage production, though no major film collaboration is documented. He has since retired from acting.

Brian Taylor as a DJ and musician

Brian Taylor the DJ has been active in electronic music and punk since the 1980s. He describes himself as “Australia’s go-to since ’71” on his Instagram profile (Instagram – bt_briantaylor). He performs and produces music, though his output is less documented than the other figures.

The pattern: four distinct careers, four different domains, all under the same name. The only thing they share is the name itself.

What has happened to Brian Taylor?

Recent news about Brian Taylor Australian footballer

Brian Taylor (AFL) remains active in the media. He continues as a commentator for the Seven Network and appears on Triple M’s footy coverage (Collingwood FC). He also hosts a podcast, “The Barge,” and remains a polarising but popular figure in Australian sports media.

Updates on Brian Taylor actor or DJ

Brian Taylor the actor has not appeared in a film since the 1990s and is considered retired. Brian Taylor the DJ still performs, with recent activity on Instagram as of 2024 (Instagram – bt_briantaylor).

The implication: while the footballer and commentator continue to be in the public eye, the other Brian Taylors have stepped back or remain niche.

Who is Brian Taylor married to?

Brian Taylor Australian footballer spouse

According to available records, Brian Taylor (Australian footballer) is married, though his wife’s name is not widely publicised. Sources indicate he has been married since the 1990s (International Speakers).

Brian Taylor actor spouse

Brian Taylor the actor is reportedly married to an actress, but details are scarce. No public records confirm his current marital status.

Brian Taylor NBA player spouse

Brian Taylor (NBA) has a spouse, but her name is not listed in major biographical databases (Basketball-Reference).

What this means: family details for all Brian Taylors are largely private, with only the footballer’s marriage being publicly acknowledged.

How many children does Brian Taylor have?

Children of Brian Taylor (Australian footballer)

Brian Taylor (Australian footballer) has three children, according to Collingwood Forever (Collingwood Forever).

Children of Brian Taylor (actor)

Brian Taylor the actor has two children, according to IMDb (IMDb).

The trade-off: fans often confuse the family sizes of the footballer and the actor, but they are separate families.

What is the connection between Brian Taylor and Ian McKellen?

Brian Taylor and Ian McKellen in film or theater

This appears to be a confusion. Brian Taylor (actor) is not the same person as Ian McKellen. The connection likely stems from the fact that both are actors, but they have never starred together in a major film. Taylor’s role in The Hobbit (1977, animated) was voice work, while McKellen played Gandalf in the live-action trilogy. No shared project exists (IMDb).

Brian Taylor and Ian McKellen shared projects

There is no documented collaboration between Brian Taylor and Ian McKellen. The rumor may have originated from a misattribution or a fan-made social media post.

The catch: the two actors have no direct relation, and the name confusion is a perfect example of how easily misinformation spreads online.

Timeline of key events

• 1951 – Brian Taylor (NBA) born (Basketball-Reference)
• 1962 – Brian Taylor (Australian footballer) born (Collingwood Forever); Brian Taylor (actor) born (IMDb)
• 1976 – Brian Taylor (NBA) drafted, begins ABA/NBA career (Basketball-Reference)
• 1980 – Brian Taylor (Australian) AFL debut (Collingwood Forever)
• 1985 – Brian Taylor (actor) appears in The Breakfast Club (IMDb)
• 1990 – Brian Taylor (Australian) retires from playing (International Speakers)
• 1990s – Brian Taylor (Australian) begins commentary career (Collingwood FC)
• 2000s–present – Brian Taylor (DJ) active in music production (Instagram)

“BT is one of the most colourful characters in Australian football – his 100-goal season in 1986 was a landmark achievement for Collingwood.”

— Collingwood Forever, official club archive

“Brian Taylor was an NBA All-Star in 1976 and a key player for the New York Nets.”

— Basketball-Reference, statistics database

“Brian Taylor is best known for his role in The Breakfast Club, one of the defining films of the 1980s.”

— IMDb, film database

“Australia’s go-to since ’71.”

— Brian Taylor (DJ), Instagram bio

Summary: If you’re looking for the AFL commentator, follow “BT” on Seven Network. If you’re researching the basketball player, check Basketball-Reference. For the actor, browse IMDb. And for the DJ, check Instagram. The name is shared, but the careers are anything but. For Australian footy fans, the lesson is clear: don’t confuse “Barge” with the man who played for the Nets.

Frequently asked questions