SABC1's soap fans will soon be bidding farewell to the gorgeous Dr Taylor Hayes - and what a tragedy it will be for her devotees...After all, it's been nearly 15 years since Hunter Tylo, who plays the character, first joined the cast of The Bold and The Beautiful.
In 1990, the psychiatrist arrived on the scene, going on to marry hero of the piece, Ridge Forrester. But - between being whisked away by an Arab prince and always being the rival of villainous Brooke - the good doctor put the concerns of her patients before her own happiness. It is this concern that eventually leads to her death...
Loyal fans around the world were shocked by news that Taylor would be killed off, and begged the powers at The Bold, as well as US TV network CBS, to reconsider. But in the end, it was Tylo's decision to call it quits - not the network. She wanted to take care of one of her children who had retinal cancer.
The actress is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful women on TV. She was also named one of US People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1993 and 1998.
Raised in Texas, Tylo considered becoming a vet. But she gave up a scholarship to raise a child, and moved to Dallas as a model. She gained acting experience in theatre, and had her first movie role in telefilm, License To Kill.
From 1985, she was a street waif for three years on All My Children. A role on Days of Our Lives followed, with Tylo as wicked Marina. When she joined The Bold in 1990, Tylo had then appeared on all three major US networks' top daytime dramas.
An accomplished bareback rider, Hunter lives in the San Fernando Valley with her husband, actor Michael Tylo who played Blade on The Young And The Restless, and her
four beloved children.