Bob Orrison obit

Bob Orrison - Hollywood stuntmen killed in Rancho Cordova crash

 

He was not on the list.

Bob Orrison was born on July 28, 1928 in Bakersfield, California, USA as Robert P. Orrison. As a stuntman he worked on 41 movies from 1968 to 2005. Bob was the stunt double for Audie Murphy and did stunt work in John Wayne movies. He is known for his stunt work on Rambo III (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990). His stunt work was also done on a regular basis for eleven episodes of Harry O (1974-1975); 144 episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard where he was the stunt driver for the General Lee car (1979-1985); and 72 episodes of the A-Team where he doubled for George Peppard in performing stunts (1983-1986). Orrison also served productions as a stunt coordinator, most notably Deadly Game (1977-1978). He also had seventeen bit actor roles in films and television between the years of 1967 and 2005. Bob was best known for his "background acting" on the original series of Star Trek (1967-1968) He was married to Peggy J. Wyatt and Titiana Orrison. He died on October 11, 2014 when a pickup truck he was driving made a U-turn and was broadsided by a Jeep Cherokee in Rancho Cordova, California, USA. Both Orrison and fellow retired stuntman Gary McLarty, a passenger in the truck, were killed instantly. The two persons in the Jeep Cherokee were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Bob Orrison and Gary McLarty, his best friend, were both Hollywood Hall of Fame stuntmen. Orrison had lived in Rancho Cordova, California, USA since 2007. He was a Korena War Veteran

For decades, Bob Orrison and Gary McLarty worked as two of Hollywood’s most active and respected stuntmen, racing cars, jumping motorcycles and crashing trucks during filming for hundreds of movies and television shows.

On Saturday in Rancho Cordova, their lives came to a shocking end. The two buddies were killed when their pickup truck was hit broadside by a Jeep on Grant Line Road, not far from Orrison’s home. Orrison was 86, McLarty 73.

Rancho Cordova police said the pair were in a Chevrolet truck making a U-turn on Grant Line Road at Raymer Way at about 1 p.m. when they were struck by a white Jeep Cherokee traveling 55 miles per hour. “It was a direct hit,” Sacramento sheriff’s spokesman Lisa Bowman said.

The men were pronounced dead at the scene. Orrison apparently was driving, a McLarty friend, Bob McLaughlin, said. Police said the two occupants of the Jeep were taken to the hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

McLarty’s wife Hillorie had dropped her husband off at Orrison’s home an hour before the crash. Given their backgrounds, the crash makes no sense, she said.

“These are people who spent their adult life doing dangerous things in a calculated way,” she said. “It defies my imagination.”

Orrison, who moved to Rancho Cordova seven years ago with his wife Tatiana, was a former rodeo cowboy and Korean War veteran who served as a movie stunt double for war hero and actor Audie Murphy. His credited and uncredited stunt work includes the original “Star Trek” television series, as well as the movies “Die Hard II,” “Rambo III” and “Days of Thunder.” He was the driver in the movie scene from “Speed” when a bus launched off of an elevated freeway, and was among the stuntmen who drove the car known as the General Lee in “The Dukes of Hazzard” television series.

“He was tough, that’s for sure,” said his sister, Mary Hunt. His wife Tatiana said, “He was very young. He didn’t feel he was old.”

McLarty, of North Hollywood, nicknamed the “Whiz Kid” for his stunt abilities, retired a few years ago after a career that spanned 40 years. He drove the motorcycle up the frat house stairs in the movie “Animal House,” and doubled as “The Fonz” for motorcycle scenes on the “Happy Days” television series.

McLarty made it in Hollywood through physical talent, creative ability, a love of adrenaline rushes and “a genuine love for people,” his wife said. His career highlights included serving as stunt coordinator for the movies “Days of Thunder,” “The Blues Brothers” and “Animal House.” Although retired, McLarty continued working part time, and recently overturned a bus on a film shoot in New York, said his friend McLaughlin.

McLarty also was a participant in a real Hollywood drama. He testified in court in 2005 that actor Robert Blake attempted to hire him for $10,000 to murder Blake’s wife. McLarty said he declined. Blake’s wife was shot in Blake’s car outside a restaurant in 2001. Blake was found not guilty in criminal court, but a civil court later determined he was liable for her “wrongful death.”

 

Filmography

Stunts

Tom Berenger, Annabeth Gish, and Cybill Shepherd in Detective (2005)

Detective

5.7

TV Movie

stunts (as Robert Orrison)

2005

 

Lance Henriksen, Jennie Garth, and Bradley Cooper in The Last Cowboy (2003)

The Last Cowboy

6.2

TV Movie

stunts

2003

 

Rob Schneider in The Animal (2001)

The Animal

4.8

stunts

2001

 

Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey in The Wedding Planner (2001)

The Wedding Planner

5.3

stunts

2001

 

Nathan Lane and Lee Evans in Mousehunt (1997)

Mousehunt

6.5

stunts

1997

 

David Schwimmer and Chris Cooper in Breast Men (1997)

Breast Men

5.8

TV Movie

stunts (as Bobby Orrison)

1997

 

Two-Bits & Pepper (1995)

Two-Bits & Pepper

4.0

stunts

1995

 

Tom Berenger in The Avenging Angel (1995)

The Avenging Angel

6.0

TV Movie

stunts (as Bobby Orrison)

1995

 

Stargate (1994)

Stargate

7.0

stunt player

1994

 

Keanu Reeves in Speed (1994)

Speed

7.3

stunts

1994

 

Hoffa (1992)

Hoffa

6.6

stunts (as Robert Orrison)

1992

 

Revenge on the Highway (1992)

Revenge on the Highway

4.9

TV Movie

stunt driver

1992

 

Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme in Universal Soldier (1992)

Universal Soldier

6.1

stunt driving double: Dolph Lundgren

stunts (as Robert Orrison, uncredited)

1992

 

Stone Cold (1991)

Stone Cold

6.1

stunts

1991

 

Bruce Willis in Die Hard 2 (1990)

Die Hard 2

7.1

stunts

1990

 

Days of Thunder (1990)

Days of Thunder

6.1

stunts

1990

 

Far Out Man (1990)

Far Out Man

4.9

stunts (as Bobby Orrison)

1990

 

Tango & Cash (1989)

Tango & Cash

6.4

stunts

1989

 

Patrick Swayze and Kelly Lynch in Road House (1989)

Road House

6.7

stunts

1989

 

Sylvester Stallone in Rambo III (1988)

Rambo III

5.8

stunts

1988

 

Demi Moore in The Seventh Sign (1988)

The Seventh Sign

5.8

stunts

1988

 

Carl Weathers and Vanity in Action Jackson (1988)

Action Jackson

5.6

stunts

1988

 

No Man's Land (1987)

No Man's Land

6.1

stunts (as Robert Orrison)

1987

 

George Peppard, Mr. T, Dirk Benedict, and Dwight Schultz in The A-Team (1983)

The A-Team

7.5

TV Series

stunts

stunt performer

stunt double

1983–1986

78 episodes

 

Catherine Bach, Ben Jones, Denver Pyle, John Schneider, and Tom Wopat in The Dukes of Hazzard (1979)

The Dukes of Hazzard

7.1

TV Series

stunt driver (uncredited)

1979–1985

144 episodes

 

Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981)

Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen

4.0

stunts

1981

 

In God We Trust (or Gimme That Prime Time Religion) (1980)

In God We Trust (or Gimme That Prime Time Religion)

5.4

stunts

1980

 

Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, and Jackie Gleason in Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)

Smokey and the Bandit II

5.3

stunts (uncredited)

1980

 

Clint Eastwood in Every Which Way But Loose (1978)

Every Which Way But Loose

6.3

stunt double Clint Eastwood (uncredited)

1978

 

Burt Reynolds in Hooper (1978)

Hooper

6.4

stunt performer

1978

 

Zero to Sixty (1978)

Zero to Sixty

5.0

stunts

1978

 

Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, and Jackie Gleason in Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Smokey and the Bandit

7.0

stunts (uncredited)

1977

 

Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)

Fun with Dick and Jane

6.4

stunts (uncredited)

1977

 

Bound for Glory (1976)

Bound for Glory

7.2

stunts (as Robert Orrison)

1976

 

The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976)

The Return of a Man Called Horse

6.1

stunts (uncredited)

1976

 

Mitchell (1975)

Mitchell

2.8

stunts (uncredited)

1975

 

Don Johnson and Tiger in A Boy and His Dog (1975)

A Boy and His Dog

6.4

stunts

1975

 

David Janssen in Harry O (1973)

Harry O

7.5

TV Series

stunt driver (uncredited)

1974–1975

11 episodes

 

Three the Hard Way (1974)

Three the Hard Way

6.2

stunts (uncredited)

1974

 

Mean Streets (1973)

Mean Streets

7.2

stunt fighter (uncredited)

1973

 

Class of '44 (1973)

Class of '44

5.4

stunts (uncredited)

1973

 

Molly and Lawless John (1972)

Molly and Lawless John

5.3

stunt rider (uncredited)

1972

 

John Wayne in Chisum (1970)

Chisum

6.8

stunts (uncredited)

1970

 

John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Jan-Michael Vincent, Antonio Aguilar, Bruce Cabot, Roman Gabriel, Big John Hamilton, Ben Johnson, Lee Meriwether, Melissa Newman, and Merlin Olsen in The Undefeated (1969)

The Undefeated

6.6

stunts (uncredited)

1969

 

Kim Novak, Mako, Zero Mostel, and Clint Walker in The Great Bank Robbery (1969)

The Great Bank Robbery

5.6

stunts (uncredited)

1969

 

Che! (1969)

Che!

4.8

stunts (uncredited)

1969

 

The Wild Bunch (1969)

The Wild Bunch

7.9

stunts (uncredited)

1969

 

5 Card Stud (1968)

5 Card Stud

6.4

stunts (uncredited)

1968

 

Bandolero! (1968)

Bandolero!

6.5

stunts (uncredited)

1968

 

Marlon Brando and Anjanette Comer in The Appaloosa (1966)

The Appaloosa

6.2

stunts (uncredited)

1966

 

Actor

Tom Berenger, Annabeth Gish, and Cybill Shepherd in Detective (2005)

Detective

5.7

TV Movie

Sam Tempone (as Robert Orrison)

2005

 

Two-Bits & Pepper (1995)

Two-Bits & Pepper

4.0

Cowboy #3

1995

 

Zachery Ty Bryan and Gary Maloncon in Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter (1995)

Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter

4.0

Joe Perkins (as Robert Orrison)

1995

 

George Peppard, Mr. T, Dirk Benedict, and Dwight Schultz in The A-Team (1983)

The A-Team

7.5

TV Series

Bus Driver

1986

1 episode

 

Tom Horn (1980)

Tom Horn

6.8

Matt

1980

 

Sunburn (1979)

Sunburn

5.0

Milan

1979

 

Burt Reynolds in Hooper (1978)

Hooper

6.4

Indian (uncredited)

1978

 

Zero to Sixty (1978)

Zero to Sixty

5.0

1978

 

Convoy (1978)

Convoy

6.3

Bookman (as Robert Orrison)

1978

 

Mitchell (1975)

Mitchell

2.8

Mistretta Hood #1

1975

 

Mike Connors in Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Smith

Kalish

1971–1974

2 episodes

 

The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972)

The Culpepper Cattle Co.

6.9

Rutter

1972

 

Pete Duel and Ben Murphy in Alias Smith and Jones (1971)

Alias Smith and Jones

7.6

TV Series

Bob (uncredited)

1971

1 episode

 

Christopher George in The Immortal (1969)

The Immortal

7.6

TV Series

Thug #1 (uncredited)

1970

1 episode

 

Walter Koenig, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, and Nichelle Nichols in Star Trek (1966)

Star Trek

8.4

TV Series

2nd Cowboy

Policeman #2

Patrol Villager (uncredited) ...

1967–1968

5 episodes

 

The Road West (1966)

The Road West

7.0

TV Series

Indian (uncredited)

1967

1 episode