Brian E. Taylor was born in Gary, Indiana, on February 2, 1963, to Harry P. Taylor III and Naomi Williams. He is the fifth child and fifth son in his family. At age three, Brian staged his own show by dragging the family's furniture onto the front lawn. Watching Golden Age noir films with his parents inspired his lifelong dream of directing, producing, and acting. At five, he started a restaurant in his family's garage to earn candy money, discovering an early passion for business. By seven, after reading the World Book Encyclopedia, he envisioned directing films and was inspired by the role later identified with legendary filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille.
Brian performed and produced skits throughout school in Detroit and Gary, continuing until 1989, when he moved to Cade, Louisiana. Following the General Motors relocation to Mexico under the NAFTA trade agreement, he founded Computer Concepts while continuing work in programming, tax, and accounting, and enrolled in the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) as a computer major. While working as a part-time actor and accountant, he returned to community theater. In 2001, he met Dr. Alex C. Marshall, who encouraged him to pursue acting again, saying, "It is never too late to fulfill your dream." In 2002, Brian traveled to New Orleans, where he was cast alongside Bernie Mac in Mr. 3000.