UPDATE 3:28 A.M. ET, 6/29/2014

LA Times reporter Ryan Parker has confirmed the death of veteran actor Meshach Taylor.

BREAKING: CONFIRMED: Meshach Taylor, best known for his roles in “Mannequin” and “Designing Women” has died, family tells me. He was 67. — Ryan Parker (@TheRyanParker) June 29, 2014

According to the LA Times, Taylor’s son Tariq confirmed that “he was in hospice care at his family’s home in Altadena, surrounded by family when he died at 10:47 p.m.”

Our thoughts are with the Taylor family at this difficult time.

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Veteran actor, Meshach Taylor, 67, known primarily for his role as “Anthony Bouvier” on the hit show Designing Women, is terminally ill and his family asked for everyone’s prayers in a Facebook post:

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Read the family’s Facebook post below:

It is with love and gratitude that we sorrowfully announce that our darling, amazingly brilliant and dynamic, Meshach, the incredible father, husband, son and friend has begun his grand transition. Our friends who know and love us, please offer your prayers for his peace and blazing light as he ascends to the heavens. Those who need to call the family please do. Those who desire to post memories, we are open and graciously accepting all gestures of peace. Love, the Taylor Family Tariq Taylor Yasmine Taylor Tamar Lashae Taylor Esme Taylor

Taylor Discussing Designing Women

Though Taylor was falsely reported dead by media outlets, his son, Tariq Taylor, reiterated that his father has not died but he is on his deathbed.

For all the people that have given premature condolences: don’t feel bad. I am happy to feel the love. My Dad has not passed just yet, but he has begun to actively transition. Thanks again everyone for your kind words during this tough time.

Read more about Taylor’s career from IMDB:

The Boston-born actor who was raised in New Orleans and Indianapolis took an early interest in acting back in high school and first studied drama at Ohio’s Wilmington College before transferring to Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Florida. Gaining experience back at an Indianapolis radio station as a State House political correspondent and in repertory theater, he eventually became a member of both Chicago’s Goodman Theatre and the Organic Theatre group. One of his stage performances, “Sizwe Banzi Is Dead,” earned him Chicago theater’s Joseph Jefferson Award. Taylor transported himself to Los Angeles in the 78 and found minor work in a few of the popular horror films of the day: Damien: Omen II (1978), The Howling (1981) and The Beast Within (1982), and started to make the typical rounds on popular TV shows including “Barney Miller,” “Lou Grant” and “M*A*S*H.” After a regular part on the promising, but short-lived Buffalo Bill(1983), he nabbed the Emmy-nominated role of Anthony Bouvier, the jailbird-turned-assistant to Delta Burke, Annie Potts, Jean Smart and Dixie Carter. As the show progressed his character proved his keep and was eventually made a full partner of the ladies’ designer firm. Following this success Taylor moved straight into four seasons with the sitcom Dave’s World (1993) as a poker-playing buddy/neighbor to Harry Anderson. His film and TV load has been fairly lightweight overall with routine turns in such comedy fare as Mannequin (1987) and Class Act (1992), an Olsen twins mini-movie, and as a regular panelist on a revamped version of To Tell the Truth (2000). One of his brighter moments (literally) was playing the role of Lumiere in Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

Taylor received an Emmy Award for his role as Jim in the WTTV production of “Huckleberry Finn.” He recently made a guest appearance in episode 13 of “Criminal Minds” back in January of this year.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Taylor’s family.

Please stay with NewsOne as we update this story…

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