Leslie Taylor was born in Portland Oregon. She is the youngest of three girls and the granddaughter of Lyle Heater, creator of the Lyle guitar. She began her professional career at the age of 7 with the Portland Civic Theater Company and went on to earn her degree in Theater Arts from Portland State University. She credits her Irish roots with giving her just enough blarney to make her a fierce defender of underdogs everywhere, even in nutty Los Angeles.