Dennis Taylor (born 19 January 1949) is a Northern Irish retired professional snooker player and current commentator.

Taylor had previously been runner-up at the 1979 World Snooker Championship, where he lost the final 16–24 to Terry Griffiths.

Born on 19 January 1949 in Coalisland, Northern Ireland, Dennis James Taylor was the son of a lorry driver, and had six siblings.

[5] That season he made his debut in the World Snooker Championship at the 1973 event, losing 8–9 to Cliff Thorburn in the first round.

[25][26] The final is considered by many to be the greatest snooker match in history[27] and was broadcast to a peak audience of 18 million viewers in the United Kingdom.

[36] Taylor made the highest break of his career, a 141,[37][38] at the 1987 Carling Challenge, which he won, defeating Joe Johnson in the final.

[39] At the 1990 World Cup, Taylor, Higgins, and Tommy Murphy formed a Northern Irish team.

[40] After failing to win the tournament, Higgins threatened Taylor, telling him "if you ever come back to Northern Ireland I’ll have you shot".

[9] Alongside other players managed by Barry Hearn (known as the Matchroom mob) and Chas & Dave, Taylor featured on the music single called "Snooker Loopy".

[45] Taylor was known for the distinctive glasses he wore during matches, which had large frames and an unusual 'upside-down' structure that enabled a player to look through the lenses even when down on a shot.

[52] On 27 April 2022, it was announced by fellow co-commentator John Virgo that they had been axed by the BBC and that the 2022-23 snooker season would be their last as commentators for the broadcaster.

[54] Taylor made regular guest appearances on snooker television game show Big Break.

[56][57] In February 1990, Taylor opened the Royal Mail sorting office in Blackburn, Lancashire before playing a single-frame challenge match.