Tony Epper obit

Tony Epper, Veteran Stunt Performer and Actor

Epper's father and two brothers also worked in the entertainment industry as actors and stunt performers.

 

 He was not on the list.

Tony Epper, an actor, stuntman and stunt coordinator, died July 20, 2012, at his Idaho home. He was 73.

According to news reports, he had been battling cancer for some time.

Born in Los Angeles on October 1, 1938, Epper was part of a stunts-oriented family. His father, John Epper, was also an actor and stunt performer, as were two brothers, Andy and Gary.

Tony Epper broke into the entertainment business in the early 1950s with uncredited appearances in such films as Carbine Williams, The Story of Will Rogers and Ma and Pa Kettle at Home.

Over the years he performed stunts on many other feature films, many of them high-profile blockbusters. They included Lethal Weapon 2, Thelma and Louise, Patriot Games, Dracula, The River Wild, Waterworld, Money Train, Jingle All the Way, Volcano and Con Air.

His film credits as an actor included The Scalphunters, Valdez Is Coming, The Cowboys, Cutter’s Way, The Beastmaster, The Hitcher, Christmas Vacation and Dick Tracy.

Epper also worked extensively in television. His lengthy TV resume included such series as Bachelor Father, I Spy, The Green Hornet, Daniel Boone, Batman, Gunsmoke, Kung Fu, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Rockford Files, Charlie’s Angels, B.J. and the Bear, Highway to Heaven, Hardcastle and McCormick, The A-Team, Airwolf, Simon & Simon, MacGyver, A Man Called Sloane, Lonesome Dove, Homer and Eddie, The Devlin Connection and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Epper is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, two stepdaughters, a sister and other Epper family members who also work in Hollywood.

Filmography

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1951      Elopement          Reagan Boy         Uncredited

1952      Carbine Williams              Wesley Williams               Uncredited

1954      Ma and Pa Kettle at Home            Donny Kettle      Uncredited

1964      Mail Order Bride               Cowboy                Uncredited

1968      The Scalphunters             Scalphunter       

1969      The Gay Deceivers           Vince    

1969      Paint Your Wagon            Miner    Uncredited

1971      Valdez Is Coming              Bodyguard         

1972      The Cowboys     Rustler #5           

1972      The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid      Lumberjack         Uncredited

1972      Ulzana's Raid      Trooper #5         

1977      Bad Georgia Road            Jessie   

1979      Buck Rogers in the 25th Century                Drunk   

1981      Cutter's Way      Guard #2             

1982      The Beastmaster              Jun Leader         

1984      The Wild Life      Redneck Drunk #1           

1985      Runaway Train Hitman

1986      The Hitcher         Trooper Conners             

1986      Hamburger: The Motion Picture                Biker Gang Leader           

1986      Bad Guys             Biker in Bar         Uncredited

1987      Outrageous Fortune       Russell

1987      Shy People          Jake      

1988      Alien from L.A. Terminating Hood           

1989      Homer and Eddie             Gas Station Attendant   

1989      National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation                 Bozo #1               

1990      Dick Tracy            Steve the Tramp              

1990      Don't Tell Her It's Me      Gas Station Thug             

1990      Kid          Truck    

1991      Suburban Commando    Teeth   

1992      Freejack               Hungry Diner    

1993      Nowhere to Run               Fire Thug Al       

1993      Joshua Tree        Transport Guard #1        

1993      Excessive Force Delivery Man    

1996      Sunchaser           Hay Hauler         

1996      Johns     Santa Claus         (final film role)