Jax Taylor
Birth dateJuly 11, 1979 (age 47)
OccupationTelevision personality, actor, model, business owner
TelevisionVanderpump Rules and The Valley
SpouseBrittany Cartwright (m. 2019; ended 2024)
Birth nameJason Michael Cauchi

Jason Michael Cauchi, (born July 11, 1979) known professionally as Jax Taylor, is an American television personality, model, and actor. He was a series regular on the Bravo reality television series Vanderpump Rules (2013–2020) for eight seasons and its spin-off series The Valley (2024–25).[1]

Early life and education

Taylor was raised Catholic and attended church until he was 19 years old.[2] In 1998, he graduated from Eisenhower High School in Shelby Township, Michigan.[3] He attended Michigan State University and community college, but he dropped out of school to enter the Navy.[4] He was in the Navy for 6 months, 4 days and was trained at a base in Norfolk, Virginia.[4][5][6]

Career

Modeling

From 2002 to 2010, Taylor worked as a model in Europe and lived in Miami.[7] Taylor signed with Ford Models in New York City.[7] He has appeared in several magazines, including Trump Magazine, V Man, GQ Japan, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, 944 Magazine, Esquire, Instinct, CosmoGirl and Out.[8] He has also starred in campaigns for Target, Macy's, JCPenney, Old Navy, Nordstrom, Kohl's, Skechers, Paul Mitchell, AussieBum, 2(x)ist, Taco Bell and Abercrombie & Fitch.[8][9] In 2018, he resumed his modelling career by starring in a Jack Victor campaign.[10] In 2014, Taylor collaborated with Xcalibur Brand to create a shoe and sweater collection.[11][12] In 2014, Taylor also created a fitness application, which was discontinued after a few months.[13][better source needed]

Television

Early in his career, he worked as an uncredited background actor in several television shows such as 2 Broke Girls, The O.C., Arrested Development, Dexter and Will & Grace.[14] In 2009, he was credited as Hot Guy 2 in Dance Club on Desperate Housewives, giving a drink at a club to Nicollette Sheridan's character.[14] He started working at Lisa Vanderpump's restaurants SUR and Villa Blanca, which earned him a spot on the reality television series Vanderpump Rules in 2013, following the lives of the SUR and Villa Blanca servers. Taylor and Brittany Cartwright got their own spin-off television series Vanderpump Rules: Jax & Brittany Take Kentucky, which followed the couple's visit to Cartwright's hometown in Kentucky.[15] The couple have also appeared in three episodes of Vanderpump Rules: Watch with Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor (2022–23) on Peacock.[16] In November 2023, at BravoCon event, Vanderpump Rules' executive producers announced that Taylor will appear as a guest in the eleventh season of Vanderpump Rules.[1]

In a May 2023 interview with the Rolling Stone, Taylor confirmed that he had filmed a new reality show titled House of Villains.[16][17] The series premiered on October 12, 2023, on E!. The show followed ten television villains competing for a $200,000 prize and the title of "America’s Ultimate Supervillain."[18] He was the first contestant to be voted off the competition.[19]

On June 28, 2023, Variety reported that a Vanderpump Rules spin-off starring Taylor, Brittany Cartwright and Kristen Doute was in early development at Bravo.[20] On January 18, 2024, Bravo released a trailer for the reality series called The Valley, which premiered on March 19, 2024.[21] The series stars five couples, including Taylor and Cartwright.[22][23] In May 2024, The Valley was renewed for a second season, with the full cast returning.[24] In July 2025, Taylor announced that he would not returning for the third season in order to focus on his sobriety, mental health, and coparenting.[25]

"Jax's" Studio City bar

In October 2023, Taylor opened up a sports bar "Jax's" in Studio City, California with wife Cartwright and three other business partners. He worked out a deal with the owners of Rocco's tavern and was able to open extremely quickly due to the bones of a bar being in place from a previous venture. People magazine noted that "Cartwright, a Kentucky native, even incorporated her family's famed "Mamaw's Beer Cheese" into the menu (a plot line when the two were on VPR.)"[26]

Personal life

Jax began dating Brittany Cartwright in 2015. The couple got engaged in Malibu, California on June 7, 2018, at the beachside restaurant Neptune’s Net.[27] The couple wed on June 29, 2019, at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.[28] Their son, Cruz, was born in April 2021.[29] In August 2024, Cartwright filed for divorce from Taylor, citing irreconcilable differences.[30]

In September 2024, Taylor announced on Instagram that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD and had checked himself into an inpatient treatment facility.[31]

Filmography

As actor

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Arrested DevelopmentDiner guest #2 Guy in Any GroupUncredited
2006The O.C.Party guestEpisode: "Earth Girls Are Easy"; Uncredited[14]
2009Desperate HousewivesHot Guy 2 in Dance ClubEpisode: "Look Into Their Eyes and You See What They Know"
20112 Broke GirlsGuy Carrying BoxesEpisode: "And the Really Petty Cash"
2012DexterUncredited extraEpisode: "This Is the Way the World Ends"[32]
2016Sharknado: The 4th AwakensGuardsman #2Television film
2022Savage SalvationGood Ol' BoyFilm

As himself

YearTitleNotes
2012–14The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills7 episodes
2013–20, 2024Vanderpump RulesMain cast: seasons 1–8; guest: season 11; 165 episodes
2015–23Watch What Happens Live!6 episodes
2015The Real Housewives of New York CityEpisode: "London Calling"; uncredited
2017Then and Now with Andy CohenEpisodes: "2003" & "1990"
Vanderpump Rules: Jax & Brittany Take Kentucky6 episodes; also executive producer
2019Basically StassiEpisode: "Stassi and Beau Go Toe to Toe with Jax and Brittany"
2020Celebrity Call CenterEpisode: "The Shift With the Gen X Tik Tok"
2022The DoctorsEpisode: "Reality Star Gets Brotox!"[33]
2023Vanderpump Rules: Watch with Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor3 episodes[16]
House of VillainsContestant on season 1; 4 episodes[34]
2024–25The ValleyMain cast; 12 episodes

Podcasts

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023– presentWhen Reality Hits with Jax and BrittanyHostPodcastOne[35]

References

  1. ^ "VPR Producers Reveal Jax Taylor Is Coming Back for a Pivotal Conversation in Season 11". Bravo TV Official Site. 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  2. ^ "A Conversation With Jax Taylor, Reality TV's Most Notorious Bad Boy - MEL Magazine". MEL Magazine. 2017-11-30. Archived 2018-11-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
  3. ^ "Before They Worked at Sur: Jax Taylor". Bravo TV Official Site. 2015-01-04. Archived 2018-08-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  4. ^ "Why Didn't Jax Taylor's Navy Training Help Him During that Near-Death Experience in Big Bear?". Bravo TV Official Site. 2018-03-01. Archived 2018-09-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  5. ^ "The Villain of 'Vanderpump Rules'". Complex. Archived 2018-09-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  6. ^ "'Sharknado 4' Actor Accused of Stolen Valor". This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here. 2019-03-19. Archived 2019-04-28 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  7. ^ Reslen, Eileen (2018-12-17). "'Vanderpump Rules' Star Jax Taylor Opens Up About His Pre-Wedding Weight Loss". Men's Health. Archived 2019-01-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  8. ^ "Jax Taylor". www.modelmayhem.com. Archived 2018-05-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  9. ^ "See the Cast of Vanderpump Rules Before They Were Stars". PEOPLE.com. Archived 2018-08-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  10. ^ "You May Just Run into Jax Taylor on Your Next Trip to This Popular Department Store". Bravo TV Official Site. 2018-08-16. Archived 2018-08-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  11. ^ Rohwedder, Kristie. "Jax + Rob K. = Footwear Match Made In Heaven". Bustle. Archived 2019-01-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  12. ^ Rohwedder, Kristie. "What Would Stassi Say?". Bustle. Archived 2019-01-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  13. ^ Rohwedder, Kristie. "Someone Wears Only a Sock On 'Vanderpump'". Bustle. Archived 2019-01-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  14. ^ Walsh, Laurel (2020-10-18). "'Vanderpump Rules' Fans Keep Finding Jax Taylor In The Background Of These Iconic TV Shows". TheThings. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  15. ^ "Vanderpump Rules Jax and Brittany Take Kentucky". Bravo TV Official Site. 2017-07-25. Archived 2018-08-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  16. ^ Stern, Marlow (2023-05-31). "'Vanderpump Rules' Villain Jax Taylor Is Ready for His Big Comeback". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  17. ^ "Report: Jax Taylor Says He Is Filming New Villains Reality Show". Yahoo Entertainment. 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  18. ^ "Johnny Bananas, Omarosa, Jax Taylor and More to Compete in 'House of Villains' to Be America's Ultimate Supervillain". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  19. ^ "And the First Celebrity Voted Off House of Villains Was...". E! Online. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  20. ^ Aurthur, Kate (2023-06-28). "'Vanderpump Rules' Spinoff in Development at Bravo; Jax Taylor, Kristen Doute Circling Project". Variety. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  21. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (2024-01-18). "'Vanderpump Rules' Spinoff 'The Valley' a Go at Bravo With Alums Jax Taylor, Kristen Doute". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  22. ^ "The Valley". Bravo TV Official Site. 2024-01-17. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  23. ^ Strause, Jackie (2024-03-11). "'The Valley' Trailer Zeroes In on Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright Tension". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  24. ^ Aurthur, Kate (2024-05-09). "Jax Is Back! (Again): Bravo Renews 'The Valley' for Season 2". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  25. ^ Nardino, Meredith & Williams, Amanda (July 16, 2025). "Jax Taylor Is Leaving 'The Valley' Ahead of Season 3: 'An Incredibly Challenging Year' (Exclusive)". Us Weekly. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  26. ^ "Jax Taylor Gives a Preview of His New L.A. Sports Bar 'Jax's Studio City' Ahead of Grand Opening (Exclusive)". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  27. ^ "Vanderpump Rules Stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright Are Engaged –– See the Ring!". PEOPLE.com. June 8, 2018. Archived August 27, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  28. ^ "Vanderpump Rules' Jax Taylor Marries Brittany Cartwright: Inside Their Fairy-Tale Wedding". PEOPLE.com. June 29, 2019. Archived September 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  29. ^ "'Vanderpump Rules' ' Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor Welcome Son Cruz Michael: 'Never Been More in Love'". April 13, 2021.
  30. ^ "Brittany Cartwright Files for Divorce from Jax Taylor". August 27, 2024.
  31. ^ "A little over a month ago..."; "Jax Taylor Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder and PTSD: ‘A Lot to Process’"
  32. ^ "Jax Taylor's Past Includes Hanging with a Murderer?!". Bravo TV Official Site. 2017-09-13. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  33. ^ Grebenyuk, Yana (2021-10-18). "Vanderpump Rules' Jax Taylor 'Investing' in His Face by Getting Botox Live". Us Weekly. Archived 2023-01-28 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  34. ^ "'House of Villains': Jax Taylor Threatens to Go 'Back to Jail' Over Shake Chatterjee Feud and 5 Celebs Make Surprise Cameos". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  35. ^ "When Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2023-06-26.