Carol Kikumura was married to Australian actor Rod Taylor for 35 years until he passed away in January 2015 due to a heart attack. The two first met in the early 1960s on the set of Taylor’s TV series Hong Kong, where Kikumura worked as an extra. They briefly dated but lost touch for 10 years before reuniting in the early 1970s and eventually married in 1980 after dating for 9 years.
Kikumura also made a name for herself in the entertainment industry by appearing in the American TV series Hawaiian Eye (1959-1963), where she played the role of a waitress. Although she was well-known for being Taylor’s wife, she had her own successful career on TV.
After Taylor’s death, she withdrew from the spotlight, leading to many inquiries about her current whereabouts and activities.
Carol Kikumura Was Born To Japanese Parents In San Francisco
Carol Kikumura, 82, originally named Gaiami Yaemi Kikumura, was born on May 17, 1942, in San Francisco, California, to Japanese parents. She has maintained a veil of mystery around her personal life and family, successfully keeping such details out of the public eye.
In contrast, her late husband, Rod Taylor, is quite the opposite in terms of that. Born on January 11, 1930, in Lidcombe, Sydney, Australia, he was the sole child of William Sturt Taylor—a steel construction contractor and commercial artist—and Mona Taylor, a prolific writer credited with over 100 short stories.
Regarding her educational background, there are no records that reveal the schools Kikumura attended or the extent of her academic achievements. Nevertheless, Taylor once remarked that her high level of education was among the attributes that drew him to her. Taylor was a student at Parramatta High School, after which he furthered his studies at East Sydney Technical and Fine Arts College (presently known as The University of New South Wales), where he pursued art courses.
Kikumura And Taylor Met In The Early 1960s On Set Of Hong Kong
Before her encounter with Rod Taylor, Kikumura had established herself as an actress and dancer. During the early 1960s, she found work as an extra on the television series Hong Kong. It was there that she crossed paths with the Australian actor. At that time, he may not have been married to his second wife, Mary Hilem, yet.
The two enjoyed a blossoming romance and shared many happy moments together. However, their relationship came to a pause when Kikumura relocated to Las Vegas to open a needlepoint shop. Despite the distance, they did not forget each other.
A decade later, in 1971, Kikumura caught a glimpse of Taylor on his new TV series, The Bearcats, which prompted her to reach out. She called CBS and left a message for him. He received her message and returned her call.
This rekindled connection led Kikumura to fly from Las Vegas to Hollywood, where she reunited with Taylor. They revisited the same restaurant where they had their first date. During this nostalgic encounter, Taylor realized Kikumura was the woman of his dreams, and they resumed their relationship.
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She Married Rod Taylor In 1980 As His Third Wife
On October 15, 1980, Carol Kikumura tied the knot with Rod Taylor, who had been married twice before.
His first marriage was to a model named Peggy Williams in 1951, but it only lasted for three years due to allegations of domestic violence. Later, Taylor revealed that the real reason behind their divorce was that they were both too young.
In 1963, at the age of 33, Taylor married another model named Mary Hilem, who was 27. The wedding was held at Westwood Community Methodist Church. Sadly, their relationship began to sour in December 1964, just a year after their wedding, and they separated twice before reconciling. However, they eventually got divorced in 1969, ending their six-year marriage.
During their time together, Taylor and Hilem had a daughter named Felicia Rodrica Sturt Taylor, who was born on August 28, 1964. Felicia went on to work as an anchor correspondent for CNN International’s World Business Today and co-hosted a special digital/social media feature for CNN called Leading Women. She also worked for CNBC and served as a London correspondent for the Financial Times. Unfortunately, she passed away on September 8, 2023, at the age of 59.
Kikumura Remained Married To Taylor Until His Demis In 2015
The former dancer and TV actress, Kikumura, shared a long and enduring marriage with her husband, Rod Taylor. Their union spanned 35 years, until 2015, when death tragically separated them. On January 7, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California, Taylor passed away at home, just days before his 85th birthday, succumbing to a heart attack.
Throughout their three and a half decades together, Kikumura and Taylor did not have any children of their own. However, he had a daughter named Felicia from his previous marriage to Mary Hilem, as mentioned.
Where Is She Today?
It has been 10 years since the passing of Carol Kikumura’s husband, Rod Taylor, and there has been no news about her. She has retreated from the public eye.
As of now, her whereabouts and activities remain uncertain. This lack of information is consistent with her private and reserved nature, as she does not openly share details about her personal life.
