Born to a diplomatic family in Washington, D.C., Leigh Taylor-Young began her formal education as an Economics major at Northwestern University. Upon discovering her love for acting, Leigh changed her major to Theater and studied under the renowned teacher, Alvina Krause. In recognition of Leigh’s emerging talent, Krause allowed her to perform as the youngest member of the distinguished Eaglesmere Summer Repertory Theater. Leigh then continued her studies in New York City with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Following her passion for theater, Leigh opened on Broadway in 1966 as the juvenile lead in the comedy, Three Bags Full. She returned to Off-Broadway in 1983 in Catastrophe, one of Samuel Beckett’s last works, and toured with the company in Los Angeles, New York, and Europe.
In 1968, Leigh began her diverse film career by starring opposite Peter Sellers in the now-classic comedy, I Love You, Alice B. Toklas. She then starred with Robert DeNiro in The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight, Charlton Heston in Soylent Green, Albert Finney in Looker, Omar Sharif in The Horsemen, and Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges in Jagged Edge. Recent films include Bliss, Klepto, Slackers, and Spiritual Warriors. Having appeared regularly in such well-known television series as Peyton Place, Dallas, and Picket Fences – for which she won the Emmy award – two daytime series, Passions and Sunset Beach, and with guest spots on Beverly Hills 90210, The Sentinel, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and many other popular television shows, Leigh demonstrates her creative diversity and fine talents by connecting with audiences through theater, film, and television.
Along with her dedication to acting, Leigh has pursued an ever-expanding devotion to peace and loving service. Leigh served as special advisor in Arts & Media for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as well as the keynote speaker for UNEP’s 20th Anniversary. In 1995, Leigh served as goodwill ambassador from the U.N. for ICEBRIDGE: First Arctic Environmental Forum. As a spokesperson for both corporations and charitable organizations, Leigh represented Ted Turner’s Better World Society, MCI Corporation,Hands Across America, and the American Cancer Society, and she hosted a Muscular Dystrophy Telethon for Jerry Lewis.
Leigh served as the voice for the “Search for Serenity” series of audio meditations for “A Course in Miracles.” She wrote, produced, and narrated the “Spirit of Peace” meditation, first presented live to the General Assembly at the United Nations and now available as an audio recording along with Meditations of the Loving Heart. Having an extensive interest in the interrelationship of body, mind, and spiritual healing, Leigh supports and encourages health, fitness, self-awareness, and consciousness-raising.
An ordained minister since 1975, Leigh studied and worked closely with her spiritual teacher, John-Roger, the founder of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA). In her current position as Ambassador for MSIA and Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens, Leigh assists others in awakening spiritually to their inherent goodness and divine co-creatorship. She serves as Vice President of John Morton Ministries, traveling the world with her husband, John Morton, presenting seminars and workshops for greater peace, spiritual awareness, and overall health and well-being. Leigh serves as a Board Member of Insight Seminars and is a significant contributor to the Institute for Individual & World Peace and has been an Advisory Board Member for the EduCare Foundation. With John Morton, she hosts Blessing This Day, a daily live-stream broadcast exploring the blessings present here and now.
Leigh has one son, Patrick O’Neal, a prominent sportscaster based in Los Angeles, California, and two granddaughters, Sophia and Veronica. She lives with her husband, John Morton, in Westlake Village, California.
LTY ACTING RESUME – FILM, THEATER, TELEVISION, & MEDIA
AWARDS
WINNER PRIMETIME EMMY – 1994
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Picket Fences for playing “Rachel Harris”
NOMINEE GOLDEN GLOBE – 1995
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series,
Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for Picket Fences
NOMINEE GOLDEN GLOBE – 1969
Most Promising Newcomer – Female for I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!
NOMINEE GOLDEN LAUREL – 1970
Female Supporting Performance for I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!
NOMINEE GOLDEN LAUREL – 1970
Female New Face for The Big Bounce
NOMINEE OFTA TELEVISION AWARD – 1990
Best Guest Actress in a Syndicated Series for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
WINNER OFTA TELEVISION AWARD – 1997
Best Supporting Actress in a Daytime Serial for Sunset Beach
NOMINEE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS – 1995
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Picket Fences
FILMS
I Love You Alice B. Toklas 1968
The Big Bounce 1969
The Adventurers 1969
The Buttercup Chain 1969
The Games 1969
The Horsemen 1970
The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight 1971
Soylent Green 1972
Looker 1979
Secret Admirer 1985
Jagged Edge 1985
Honeymoon Academy 1988
Accidents 1989
Bliss 1997
Addam’s Family Reunion 1998
Slackers 2002
Klepto 2003
A-List 2004
Spiritual Warriors 2005
Coffee Date 2005
Dirty Laundry 2006
The Wayshower 2011
THEATRE
Three Bags Full 1965
Knives 1980
The Beckett Plays: Catastrophe 1983-1984
Sleeping Dogs 1985
TELEVISION FILMS
Marathon 1980
Napoleon and Josephine 1987
Perry Mason: The Case of The Sinister Spirit – NBC 1987
Who Gets the Friends – CBS 1988
Moment of Truth: Murder or Memory – NBC 1995
An Unfinished Affair – ABC 1996
Stranger in My Home – CBS 1997
TELEVISION SERIES REGULAR
Peyton Place 1967
The Devlin Connection 1979
Hamptons 1982
Dallas 1988
Picket Fences (Emmy Award 1995) 1994
The Sentinel (Recurring) 1996-99
Sunset Beach 1996
Beverly Hills 90210 (Recurring) 1998
The Pretender (Recurring) 1998
Passions (Regular) 2004-2007
TELEVISION SERIES GUEST STAR
American Gigolo 2022
Murder, She Wrote 1995
TELEVISION PILOTS
Houston Knights 1985
Ghostwriter 1989
Silver Fox 1991
MEDIA INTERVIEWS
VIDEOS
John Arc Show
As the Spirit Moves You
That’s Classic with John Cato I
That’s Classic with John Cato II
Sister Ferial Interview at Carmelite Convent in Bethlehem
Q&A Life Interview – Movement Mondays, 2023
Q&A Life Interview – Movement Mondays, 2024
Awakening Spiritually: Interview with Ishwar Puri Ji
AUDIOS:
Cragg Live
Transcend with Nat: Stories from a Creative Life
PUBLICATIONS
New Perspectives Press – Peace Maker
Total Health
Body Mind Spirit – A Dance with Grace
Grand Magazine
Journal of Longevity
LTY HUMANITARIAN WORK
SPOKESPERSON/PRESENTER
Host, Blessing This Day
Presenter/Facilitator, Peace Theological Seminary & College of Philosophy
Presenter/Writer, “Spirit of Peace” Meditation, United Nations
Keynote Speaker, United Nations 20th Anniversary
Goodwill Ambassador, ICEBRIDGE: First Arctic Environmental Forum
Spokesperson, Ted Turner’s Better World Society
Spokesperson, MCI Corporation
Spokesperson, Hands Across America
Spokesperson, American Cancer Society
Spokesperson, Institute for Individual & World Peace
Host, Muscular Dystrophy Telethon
BOARD/ADVISORY SERVICE
Ambassador, Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness
Ambassador, Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens
Board Vice President, John Morton Ministries
Board Member, Insight Seminars
Advisory Board Member, EduCare Foundation
Special Advisor, Arts & Media, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
NARRATOR: AUDIO MEDITATIONS
Search for Serenity through a Course in Miracles
Spirit of Peace
Meditations of the Loving Heart