Iconic stuntman, director Hal Needham dies at 82
He was not on the list.
Heaven just gained a guy who could jump out of a plane or onto a stagecoach like nobody's business.
Hal Needham, a former military paratrooper who later became one of Hollywood's top stuntmen and a film director, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 82 after a short bout with cancer, according to Variety.
Needham was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Edith May (née Robinson) and Howard Needham. Raised in Arkansas and Missouri, Needham served in the United States Army as a paratrooper during the Korean War, worked as a treetopper (an arborist who performs tree topping services), and was a billboard model for Viceroy Cigarettes while beginning a career in Hollywood as a motion picture stuntman.
The Tennessee native was first a stunt double for Richard Boone on the 1950s Western TV show Have Gun, Will Travel, and parlayed that into big-screen work on How the West Was Won, Little Big Man, Blazing Saddles, Chinatown and other films in the 1960s and '70s.
After enduring countless injuries — in his career, he broke 56 bones, including his back twice — Needham moved into filmmaking. He wrote the screenplay for Smokey and the Bandit, and his friend Burt Reynolds offered him a chance to direct it as a 1977 comedy starring the actor and Sally Field.
Needham directed the 1980 Bandit sequel and the Reynolds movies Hooper (1978), Cannonball Run (1981) and Stroker Ace (1983), plus the Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring Western vehicle The Villain (1979), Megaforce (1982) and Rad (1986).
The former stuntman penned a 2011 memoir about his time in the movies, Stuntman!: My Car-Crashing, Plane-Jumping, Bone-Breaking, Death-Defying Hollywood Life.
In 2012, Needham was honored with a Governors Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and was introduced by Quentin Tarantino. "You know, you're looking at the luckiest man alive," Needham said during his acceptance speech. "And lucky to be alive."
Schwarzenegger paid tribute to him on Twitter Friday: "Hal Needham was a great stunt coordinator, director, and an icon. I'm still grateful he took a chance with me in The Villain. I'll miss him."
Stunts (107 credits)
1996 Street Luge (Short) (stunt design)
1996 The Sunchaser (stunts)
1979 Hot Stuff (stunt coordinator: car chase - uncredited)
1978 Foul Play (stunt performer)
1978/I The End (stunt coordinator) / (stunts - uncredited)
1977 Smokey and the Bandit (stunts - uncredited)
1977 Billy Jack Goes to Washington (stunt coordinator)
1976 Nickelodeon (stunt coordinator) / (stunts)
1976 A Star Is Born (stunts - uncredited)
1976 Gator (stunt coordinator - uncredited) / (stunts - uncredited)
1976 Gable and Lombard (stunts - uncredited)
1975 Lucky Lady (stunts - uncredited)
1975 Peeper (stunt coordinator)
1975 Take a Hard Ride (stunts)
1975 W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (stunt coordinator)
1975 French Connection II (stunt coordinator)
1974 Kodiak (TV Series) (stunt double: Clint Walker)
1974 The Longest Yard (stunt coordinator - uncredited) / (stunts - uncredited)
1974 Three the Hard Way (stunt coordinator)
1974 Chinatown (stunt coordinator - uncredited)
1974 Busting (stunt gaffer)
1974 Blazing Saddles (stunts - uncredited)
1974 McQ (stunt driver - uncredited)
1973 White Lightning (stunt coordinator - uncredited) / (stunt double: Burt Reynolds - uncredited) / (stunts - uncredited)
1973 The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (stunt coordinator - uncredited)
1973 Call to Danger (TV Movie) (stunts - uncredited)
1972 The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (stunts - uncredited)
1972 The Heist (TV Movie) (stunts - uncredited)
1972 Goodnight, My Love (TV Movie) (stunt coordinator)
1972 The Culpepper Cattle Co. (stunt coordinator)
1972 Man on a String (TV Movie) (stunts - uncredited)
1972 Hardcase (TV Movie) (stunt coordinator)
1972 The Night Stalker (TV Movie) (stunts - uncredited)
1971 Sometimes a Great Notion (stunts - uncredited)
1971 Mission: Impossible (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)
- Nerves (1971) ... (stunt double: Christopher George - uncredited)
1971 Something Big (stunt coordinator)
1971 The Organization (stunts - uncredited)
1971 The French Connection (stunts - uncredited)
1971 Chrome and Hot Leather (stunts - uncredited)
1971 One More Train to Rob (stunt coordinator)
1971 Escape (TV Movie) (stunt coordinator) / (stunts - uncredited)
1970-1971 The Immortal (TV Series) (stunt coordinator - 11 episodes)
- My Brother's Keeper (1971) ... (stunt coordinator)
- Sanctuary (1971) ... (stunt coordinator)
- To the Gods Alone (1970) ... (stunt coordinator)
- The Return (1970) ... (stunt coordinator)
- Paradise Bay (1970) ... (stunt coordinator)
Show all 11 episodes
1970 Rio Lobo (stunts - uncredited)
1970 Little Big Man (stunt gaffer)
1970 Dirty Dingus Magee (stunts - uncredited)
1970 C.C. & Company (stunts - uncredited)
1970 Dan August (TV Series) (stunt double: Burt Reynolds)
1970 Chisum (stunt coordinator - uncredited)
1970 The Animals (stunts - uncredited)
1969 The Undefeated (stunt coordinator) / (stunts - uncredited)
1969 The Bridge at Remagen (stunt supervisor)
1969 The Great Bank Robbery (stunts - uncredited)
1969 Che! (stunts - uncredited)
1969 100 Rifles (stunt double Burt Reynolds - uncredited) / (stunts - uncredited)
1968 Hellfighters (stunt coordinator) / (stunts - uncredited)
1968 Bandolero! (stunt coordinator)
1968 The Devil's Brigade (stunt supervisor)
1967 Custer (TV Series) (stunt coordinator - 17 episodes)
- Pursued (1967) ... (stunt coordinator - uncredited)
- The Raiders (1967) ... (stunt coordinator - uncredited)
- The Gauntlet (1967) ... (stunt coordinator - uncredited)
- Spirit Woman (1967) ... (stunt coordinator - uncredited)
- Dangerous Prey (1967) ... (stunt coordinator - uncredited)
Show all 17 episodes
1967 The Ballad of Josie (stunts - uncredited)
1967 Mannix (TV Series) (stunts)
1967 The War Wagon (stunts - uncredited)
1967 The Way West (stunts - uncredited)
1967 Camelot (stunts - uncredited)
1967 Hells Angels on Wheels (stunts - uncredited)
1967 Tobruk (stunts - uncredited)
1966 The Big Valley (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)
- A Day of Terror (1966) ... (stunt double: Richard Long - uncredited)
1966 Alvarez Kelly (stunts - uncredited)
Gunsmoke (TV Series) (stunt double - 4 episodes, 1963 - 1966) (stunt man - 1 episode, 1964)
- The Goldtakers (1966) ... (stunt double: Martin Landau - uncredited)
- No Hands (1964) ... (stunt man: Burt Reynolds - uncredited)
- Two of a Kind (1963) ... (stunt double: Michael Higgins - uncredited)
- The Bad One (1963) ... (stunt double: Burt Reynolds - uncredited)
- The Renegades (1963) ... (stunt double: Burt Reynolds - uncredited)
1966 The Rat Patrol (TV Series) (stunt double)
1966 Beau Geste (stunt coordinator)
1966 Star Trek: The Original Series (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)
- Where No Man Has Gone Before (1966) ... (stunt double: Gary Lockwood - uncredited)
1966 Stagecoach (stunts - uncredited)
1966 The Rare Breed (action coordinator - uncredited)
1966 Our Man Flint (stunts - uncredited)
1965 The Wild Wild West (TV Series) (stunts - 2 episodes)
- The Night That Terror Stalked the Town (1965) ... (stunts - uncredited)
- The Night the Wizard Shook the Earth (1965) ... (stunts - uncredited)
1965 The War Lord (stunts - uncredited)
1965 Laredo (TV Series) (stunt double: Peter Brown)
1965 The Great Race (stunts - uncredited)
1965 Shenandoah (stunts - uncredited)
1965 In Harm's Way (stunts - uncredited)
1965 Major Dundee (stunts - uncredited)
1964 Rawhide (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)
- The Race (1964) ... (stunt double: Clint Eastwood - uncredited)
1964 Advance to the Rear (stunts - uncredited)
1964 Mail Order Bride (stunts - uncredited)
1963 The Raiders (stunts - uncredited)
1963 4 for Texas (stunts - uncredited)
1963 Kings of the Sun (stunts - uncredited)
1963 McLintock! (stunts - uncredited)
1963 Wall of Noise (stunts - uncredited)
1963 Donovan's Reef (stunts - uncredited)
1960-1963 Laramie (TV Series) (stunt double - 3 episodes)
- Badge of Glory (1963) ... (stunt double: Russell Johnson - uncredited)
- The Long Riders (1960) ... (stunt double: Dan Duryea - uncredited)
- Duel at Alta Mesa (1960) ... (stunt double: Ron Hayes - uncredited)
1957-1963 Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series) (stunt double - 225 episodes)
- Face of a Shadow (1963) ... (stunt double: Richard Boone - uncredited)
- The Black Bull (1963) ... (stunt double: Richard Boone - uncredited)
- Two Plus One (1963) ... (stunt double: Richard Boone - uncredited)
- The Lady of the Fifth Moon (1963) ... (stunt double: Richard Boone - uncredited)
- The Eve of St. Elmo (1963) ... (stunt double: Richard Boone - uncredited)
Show all 225 episodes
1962 How the West Was Won (stunts - uncredited)
1962 Shootout at Big Sag (stunts - uncredited)
1962 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (stunts - uncredited)
1961 A Thunder of Drums (stunts - uncredited)
Whispering Smith (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode, 1961) (fight double - 1 episode, 1961)
- Trademark (1961) ... (stunt double: Donald Buka - uncredited)
- Double Edge (1961) ... (fight double: Myron Healy - uncredited)
1960 Coronado 9 (TV Series) (stunts)
1960 Hong Kong (TV Series) (stunts)
1960 Black Saddle (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)
- The Indian Tree (1960) ... (stunt double: Peter Breck - uncredited)
1959 Pork Chop Hill (stunts - uncredited)
1959 Thunder in the Sun (stunts - uncredited)
1959 Paratroop Command (stunts - uncredited)
1958 The Big Country (stunts - uncredited)
1958 Zorro (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)
- The Well of Death (1958) ... (stunt double: Kent Taylor - uncredited)
1958 Mike Hammer (TV Series) (stunts - uncredited)
1957 The Spirit of St. Louis (stunts - uncredited)
Hide Hide Actor (73 credits)
1987 Sledge Hammer! (TV Series)
Bartender
- Play It Again Sledge (1987) ... Bartender
1984 Cannonball Run II
Porsche 928 Driver with Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
1983 Stroker Ace
Man Punching Stroker Into Ladies Room (uncredited)
1982 Simon & Simon (TV Series)
Oldtimer #3 in Saloon
- Rough Rider Rides Again (1982) ... Oldtimer #3 in Saloon (uncredited)
1982 Megaforce
Technician (uncredited)
1981 The Cannonball Run
Ambulance EMT (uncredited)
1980 Stunts Unlimited (TV Movie)
H.N. (uncredited)
1979 Death Car on the Freeway (TV Movie)
Mr. Blanchard
1979 Fantasy Island (TV Series)
Orville 'Boots' Pierce
- Photographs/Royal Flush (1979) ... Orville 'Boots' Pierce
1976-1977 Charlie's Angels (TV Series)
Julio / Spencer
- Angels in the Wings (1977) ... Julio
- The Killing Kind (1976) ... Spencer
1976 Jackson County Jail
Chief of Fallsburg Police
1975 Take a Hard Ride
Garmes (uncredited)
1975 W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
Trooper Carson
1975 French Connection II
Doyle Kidnapper (uncredited)
1970-1975 Mannix (TV Series)
Kordic Soldier / Henchman #2 / Cop / ...
- Man in a Trap (1975) ... Kordic Soldier (uncredited)
- Mask for a Charade (1974) ... Henchman #2 (uncredited)
- The Inside Man (1972) ... Cop (uncredited)
- Wine from These Grapes (1971) ... Arnie
- War of Nerves (1970) ... Henchman (uncredited)
1974 Blazing Saddles
Outlaw (uncredited)
1974 McQ
Santiago Henchman (uncredited)
1973 Egan (TV Movie)
Policeman
1972 The Bounty Man (TV Movie)
Pike
1972 Mission: Impossible (TV Series)
Mork
- Break! (1972) ... Mork (uncredited)
1972 The Culpepper Cattle Co.
Burgess
1971-1972 Alias Smith and Jones (TV Series)
Duke / Devil's Hole Gang Leader
- The McCreedy Bust: Going, Going, Gone (1972) ... Duke (uncredited)
- Wrong Train to Brimstone (1971) ... Devil's Hole Gang Leader (uncredited)
1971 Sometimes a Great Notion
Man at Racetrack
1971 One More Train to Rob
Bert Gant
1962-1970 Gunsmoke (TV Series)
Gang Member / Renegade #3 / Trooper / ...
- Morgan (1970) ... Gang Member (uncredited)
- Hawk (1969) ... Renegade #3
- The Goldtakers (1966) ... Trooper (uncredited)
- Deputy Festus (1965) ... Cowboy in Long Branch (uncredited)
- Double Entry (1965) ... Charlie (uncredited)
1969 The Undefeated
Yankee Corporal at River Crossing (uncredited)
1968 The Devil's Brigade
The Sergeant
1962-1968 The Virginian (TV Series)
Rider / Jaimie McIntosh / Bounty Hunter / ...
- The Handy Man (1968) ... Rider
- Long Ride to Wind River (1966) ... Jaimie McIntosh
- Jennifer (1965) ... Bounty Hunter
- 50 Days to Moose Jaw (1962) ... Brawler (uncredited)
- Riff-Raff (1962) ... The Man
1968 Ironside (TV Series)
Officer Connell
- To Kill a Cop (1968) ... Officer Connell
1967 Custer (TV Series)
Sentry
- The Gauntlet (1967) ... Sentry (uncredited)
1967 Cimarron Strip (TV Series)
Yewcic
- The Battleground (1967) ... Yewcic
1967 The War Wagon
Hite
1965 The Wild Wild West (TV Series)
Assailant / Henchman
- The Night That Terror Stalked the Town (1965) ... Assailant (uncredited)
- The Night the Wizard Shook the Earth (1965) ... Henchman (uncredited)
1965 Laredo (TV Series)
Cole
- A Matter of Policy (1965) ... Cole
1965 The Big Valley (TV Series)
Brawler
- Palms of Glory (1965) ... Brawler (uncredited)
1965 The Great Race
Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
1965 In Harm's Way
Airman in the Blue Lagoon (uncredited)
1962-1964 Rawhide (TV Series)
Brawler / Tom / Corporal Williams
- Damon's Road: Part I (1964) ... Brawler (uncredited)
- The Race (1964) ... Tom (uncredited)
- The Deserters' Patrol (1962) ... Corporal Williams
1964 Daniel Boone (TV Series)
Brawling Settler
- The Family Fluellen (1964) ... Brawling Settler (uncredited)
1957-1964 Wagon Train (TV Series)
Digger / Saloon Tough / Warrior / ...
- The Race Town Story (1964) ... Digger
- The Santiago Quesada Story (1964) ... Saloon Tough (uncredited)
- Wagon to Fort Anderson (1961) ... Warrior (uncredited)
- The Zeke Thomas Story (1957) ... Wagon Train Member (uncredited)
1964 Advance to the Rear
Rebel Soldier (uncredited)
1963-1964 The Richard Boone Show (TV Series)
- Run, Pony, Run (1964)
- Where's the Million Dollars? (1963)
- Captain Al Sanchez (1963)
1963-1964 The Great Adventure (TV Series)
Recruiting Officer / Mace
- Rodger Young (1964) ... Recruiting Officer
- The Outlaw and the Nun (1963) ... Mace
1963 4 for Texas
Thomas Worker (uncredited)
1963 McLintock!
Carter (uncredited)
1963 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series)
Dean Bell
- 88 Bars (1963) ... Dean Bell (uncredited)
1959-1963 Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series)
Henchman / Cowhand / Jimmy Traynor / ...
- The Black Bull (1963) ... Henchman (uncredited)
- Sweet Lady of the Moon (1963) ... Jimmy Traynor (uncredited)
- The Walking Years (1963) ... Wiggen - Wagonmaster
- Caravan (1963) ... Apache
- Be Not Forgetful of Strangers (1962) ... Harry Beldon
1963 Laramie (TV Series)
Collins
- The Renegade Brand (1963) ... Collins
1963 Combat! (TV Series)
Brawler
- Off Limits (1963) ... Brawler (uncredited)
1963 Stoney Burke (TV Series)
Stan Fremont / Rusty
- Web of Fear (1963) ... Stan Fremont
- Death Rides a Pale Horse (1963) ... Rusty (uncredited)
1962 Shootout at Big Sag
Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
1961-1962 Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series)
2nd Cowhand / Indian Brave / Stage Passenger / ...
- Portrait of Teresa (1962) ... 2nd Cowhand
- Tanoa (1961) ... Indian Brave
- Stage from Yuma (1961) ... Stage Passenger (uncredited)
- The Barefoot Bandit (1961) ... Townsman (uncredited)
- The Has-Been (1961) ... Outlaw
1962 Frontier Circus (TV Series)
Ralph Wexler
- The Balloon Girl (1962) ... Ralph Wexler
1961 Bus Stop (TV Series)
Murrow
- Afternoon of a Cowboy (1961) ... Murrow
1961 Whispering Smith (TV Series)
Mine Guard / Barney Henesy
- The Idol (1961) ... Mine Guard (uncredited)
- Stake-Out (1961) ... Barney Henesy (uncredited)
1960-1961 The Rebel (TV Series)
Indian
- The Uncourageous (1961) ... Indian
- The Scalp Hunter (1960) ... Indian
1961 Death Valley Days (TV Series)
Pvt. Snavely
- The Red Petticoat (1961) ... Pvt. Snavely
1961 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV Series)
Mr. Woods
- The Good Mule and the Bad Mule (1961) ... Mr. Woods (uncredited)
1959-1961 Riverboat (TV Series)
2nd Ruffian / River Pirate
- Listen to the Nightingale (1961) ... 2nd Ruffian
- The Unwilling (1959) ... River Pirate (uncredited)
1960 Dante (TV Series)
Bill Armstrong
- Opening Night (1960) ... Bill Armstrong
1960 Coronado 9 (TV Series)
Joe
- Doomtown (1960) ... Joe
1960 Tate (TV Series)
Sedon Henchman
- Before Sunup (1960) ... Sedon Henchman (uncredited)
1960 Guns of the Timberland
Townsman (uncredited)
1959 Playhouse 90 (TV Series)
Soldier
- The Tunnel (1959) ... Soldier
1959 Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV Series)
Barfly / Townsman
- The Matchmaker (1959) ... Barfly (uncredited)
- The Healing Woman (1959) ... Townsman (uncredited)
1958-1959 Yancy Derringer (TV Series)
Guard / Judge Randall's guard / Soldier
- Two Tickets to Promontory (1959) ... Guard (uncredited)
- Gone But Not Forgotten (1959) ... Judge Randall's guard (uncredited)
- Memo to a Firing Squad (1958) ... Soldier (uncredited)
1957-1959 Zorro (TV Series)
Lancer / Townsman / Henchman / ...
- Invitation to Death (1959) ... Townsman (uncredited)
- The Eagle's Flight (1958) ... Henchman (uncredited)
- The Deadly Bolas (1958) ... Tavern Patron (uncredited)
- Garcia Stands Accused (1958) ... Lancer (uncredited)
- Shadow of Doubt (1958) ... Barfly (uncredited)
1959 The Restless Gun (TV Series)
Ambusher #1
- Code for a Killer (1959) ... Ambusher #1 (uncredited)
1959 Paratroop Command
German #6 (uncredited)
1959 The Rifleman (TV Series)
Townsman
- The Indian (1959) ... Townsman (uncredited)
1959 The Untouchables (TV Series)
Club Patron
- Pilot (1959) ... Club Patron (uncredited)
1957-1958 The Californians (TV Series)
Townsman / Vigilante
- Prince of Thieves (1958) ... Townsman (uncredited)
- The Regulators (1957) ... Townsman (uncredited)
- The Noose (1957) ... Vigilante
1958 The Fiend Who Walked the West
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Director (20 credits)
1999 Hard Time: Hostage Hotel (TV Movie)
1996 Street Luge (Short)
1994 Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (TV Movie)
1994 Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit (TV Movie)
1994 Bandit: Bandit Bandit (TV Movie)
1994 Bandit: Bandit Goes Country (TV Movie)
1989 B.L. Stryker (TV Series) (1 episode)
- The King of Jazz (1989)
1986 Body Slam
1986 Rad
1984 Cannonball Run II
1983 Stroker Ace
1982 Megaforce
1981 The Cannonball Run
1981 Stockers (TV Movie)
1980 Smokey and the Bandit II
1980 Stunts Unlimited (TV Movie)
1979 Death Car on the Freeway (TV Movie) (directed by)
1979 The Villain
1978 Hooper
1977 Smokey and the Bandit
Writer (10 credits)
1994 Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (TV Movie) (characters)
1994 Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit (TV Movie) (characters)
1994 Bandit: Bandit Bandit (TV Movie) (characters)
1994 Bandit: Bandit Goes Country (TV Movie) (characters) / (story)
1984 Cannonball Run II (written by)
1983 Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (characters)
1983 Stroker Ace (screenplay)
1982 Megaforce (screenplay)
1980 Smokey and the Bandit II (characters created by)
1977 Smokey and the Bandit (story)
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director (6 credits)
1980 Rough Cut (second unit director - uncredited)
1976 Gator (second unit director)
1975 Take a Hard Ride (second unit director)
1974 The Longest Yard (second unit director: car chase sequence)
1973 White Lightning (second unit director)
1970 Little Big Man (second unit director - uncredited)
Producer (3 credits)
1994 Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (TV Movie) (executive producer)
1994 Bandit: Bandit Bandit (TV Movie) (executive producer)
1994 Bandit: Bandit Goes Country (TV Movie) (executive producer)
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