Jimmy Nickerson obit

Stunt Man Jimmy Nickerson Has Died

 He was not on the list.

Jimmy Nickerson, a veteran Hollywood stuntman who performed and/or coordinated stunts on more than 70 films and TV shows spanning 30-plus years, has died. He was 68. He died May 4, but no other details were available.

A 1985 inductee into the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame, Nickerson’s long list of stunt credits includes Rocky, Rocky II, Raging Bull, Lethal Weapon, Gladiator, Waterworld, Fight Club, True Lies, Last Action Hero, Batman & Robin, Con Air, Volcano, Crimson Tide, Dante’s Peak, Star Trek: First Contact, Fantasy Island, M*A*S*H and Dynasty.

Born on September 18, 1949, in Pittsburgh, Nickerson was 7 when his family moved to San Fernando, CA. There he began riding horses and was on the pro rodeo circuit by 15. He also found success as amateur lightweight boxer, racking up an 18-1 record by age 18. Those skills were serve him well as he began his stunt career on such TV Westerns as Lancer, Gunsmoke, Bonanza and The Big Valley.

After working on fight scenes for the first two Rocky films and Raging Bull, Nickerson was Hollywood’s go-to boxing coordinator. He later was the subject of a 1991 Sports Illustrated profile titled “Tough Guys Do Dance,” which focused on his work choreographing fight sequences. But stunt work was his calling, and he returned to it.

Nickerson was one of the last surviving key players in one of the worst car crashes in movie history. It happened in 1980 on the set of The Cannonball Run, when he was the driver of an Aston Martin that crashed head-on into another car in the desert outside Las Vegas. The stunt called for him to weave through a line of speeding oncoming cars, but the Aston Martin had bald tires, defective steering and a faulty clutch. When he tried to get it running on the day of the stunt, another car had to push it to get it started, and even then he couldn’t get it going faster than 8 mph.

Director Hal Needham had a mechanic work on the car for a while, and stunt coordinator Bobby Bass then took it out for a test run. He said it was fine, but it wasn’t, and it didn’t even have seat belts. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

When it came time to film the stunt, Nickerson still didn’t think it was ready. He wanted more repairs but was told that the parts from Los Angeles had not arrived and that he’d have to “make do.”

Nickerson’s passengers that day were Cliff Wenger, a special effects man who would be operating a smoke machine while hiding on the floor in the backseat, and Heidi von Beltz, Bass’ 24-year-old girlfriend, who was doubling for Farrah Fawcett. As the Aston Martin sped toward the oncoming line of cars, the last thing she remembered hearing was someone yelling to Nickerson on the walkie-talkie: “Faster! Faster!”

The Aston Martin swerved past the first oncoming car but crashed head-on into the second, slamming von Beltz into the windshield and breaking her neck. She survived, paralyzed from the next down, and would later win a $4.5 million wrongful injury judgment. Nickerson suffered a serious head injury, a shattered hip and compound fractures of the left arm.

Wenger was thrown from the car but suffered no serious injuries. James Halty, the driver of the van that hit them, was wearing a seatbelt and harness and suffered a few cracked ribs. Of all those directly involved in the crash that day, he was the last survivor. Wenger died in January at age 91. Von Beltz died in 2015, Bass committed suicide in 2001, and Needham died in 2013.

In the wake of the accident, the industry adopted new safety guidelines that made seat belts mandatory on all stunt cars.

Nickerson, who also directed three features in the 2000s including boxing pic From Mexico with Love, is survived by his wife of 24 years, Deborah; his daughters Kimberly Reddick and Natalie Nickerson; and one grandson.

Nickerson died on 4 May 2018.

 

Stunts

Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau in Made (2001)

Made

6.3

stunt coordinator (as Jim Nickerson)

2001

 

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in Fight Club (1999)

Fight Club

8.8

stunt player

1999

 

Jon Favreau in Rocky Marciano (1999)

Rocky Marciano

6.5

TV Movie

fight coordinator

1999

 

Wesley Snipes in Blade (1998)

Blade

7.1

stunts

1998

 

Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton in Desperate Measures (1998)

Desperate Measures

6.1

stunts

1998

 

Jon Voight and Keenen Ivory Wayans in Most Wanted (1997)

Most Wanted

5.6

stunts (as Jim Nickerson)

1997

 

Steven Seagal and Marg Helgenberger in Fire Down Below (1997)

Fire Down Below

5.1

stunts

1997

 

George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alicia Silverstone, Uma Thurman, and Chris O'Donnell in Batman & Robin (1997)

Batman & Robin

3.8

stunts

1997

 

Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, and Ving Rhames in Con Air (1997)

Con Air

6.9

stunts

1997

 

Volcano (1997)

Volcano

5.5

stunts

1997

 

Joan Collins, Finola Hughes, Jennifer Banko, Natalia Cigliuti, Kimberley Davies, J. Trevor Edmond, Jarrod Emick, Greg Evigan, J.H. Wyman, Dylan Neal, Brittney Powell, Gianni Russo, Jocelyn Seagrave, Michelle Stafford, and Lucky Vanous in Pacific Palisades (1997)

Pacific Palisades

6.4

TV Series

stunt coordinator

1997

 

Matt McColm and Annabel Schofield in Body Armor (1997)

Body Armor

4.2

stunts (as James Nickerson)

1997

 

Menno's Mind (1997)

Menno's Mind

4.4

stunts

1997

 

Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton in Dante's Peak (1997)

Dante's Peak

6.0

stunts (as Jim Nickerson)

1997

 

Alice Krige, Brent Spiner, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Star Trek: First Contact

7.6

stunts

1996

 

D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)

D3: The Mighty Ducks

5.5

stunts

1996

 

Halle Berry in The Rich Man's Wife (1996)

The Rich Man's Wife

5.3

stunts

1996

 

Melanie Griffith, Michael Madsen, Nick Nolte, Chazz Palminteri, and Chris Penn in Mulholland Falls (1996)

Mulholland Falls

6.3

stunts

1996

 

Kurt Russell in Executive Decision (1996)

Executive Decision

6.5

stunts

1996

 

Chris Farley and David Spade in Black Sheep (1996)

Black Sheep

6.2

stunts

1996

 

Jade (1995)

Jade

5.3

stunts

1995

 

Kevin Costner in Waterworld (1995)

Waterworld

6.3

stunts

1995

 

Steven Seagal in Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

5.6

stunts

1995

 

Julianne Moore and Hugh Grant in Nine Months (1995)

Nine Months

5.5

stunts

1995

 

Tony Lo Bianco, James Sikking, Michael Jai White, Kristen Wilson, and Paul Winfield in Tyson (1995)

Tyson

6.2

TV Movie

stunt coordinator

1995

 

Village of the Damned (1995)

Village of the Damned

5.6

stunts

1995

 

Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman in Crimson Tide (1995)

Crimson Tide

7.3

stunts (as Jim Nickerson)

1995

 

Jason Scott Lee, Bombay, Lowell, Shadow, Casey, Buck, and Teddy in The Jungle Book (1994)

The Jungle Book

6.1

stunts

1994

 

The Puppet Masters (1994)

The Puppet Masters

5.9

stunts

1994

 

Nastassja Kinski and Charlie Sheen in Terminal Velocity (1994)

Terminal Velocity

5.5

stunt performer

1994

 

Pauly Shore in In the Army Now (1994)

In the Army Now

5.0

stunts

1994

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger in True Lies (1994)

True Lies

7.3

stunts

1994

 

Joe Mantegna, Joe Pantoliano, John Alexander, Brian Haley, Adam Robert Worton, and Jacob Joseph Worton in Baby's Day Out (1994)

Baby's Day Out

6.2

stunts

1994

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Austin O'Brien in Last Action Hero (1993)

Last Action Hero

6.5

stunts (as James Nickerson)

1993

 

Peter Cunningham, Vincent Klyn, Thom Mathews, Thunderwolf, and Benny Urquidez in Bloodmatch (1991)

Bloodmatch

4.0

fight choreographer

stunt coordinator

1991

 

Tom Selleck and Paulina Porizkova in Her Alibi (1989)

Her Alibi

5.8

stunts

1989

 

Fist Fighter (1988)

Fist Fighter

4.7

fight choreographer

1988

 

Jeff Bridges in Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

Tucker: The Man and His Dream

6.9

stunts

1988

 

The Killing Game (1988)

The Killing Game

4.1

Video

stunts

1988

 

Code Name Zebra (1987)

Code Name Zebra

4.2

stunt player

1987

 

John Ritter and Jim Belushi in Real Men (1987)

Real Men

6.0

stunt player

1987

 

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon (1987)

Lethal Weapon

7.6

stunts (as Jim Nickerson)

1987

 

Virginia Madsen, Cynthia Gibb, Daphne Zuniga, and Clayton Rohner in Modern Girls (1986)

Modern Girls

5.8

stunt coordinator

stunt driver

1986

 

Anthony Michael Hall and Jenny Wright in Out of Bounds (1986)

Out of Bounds

5.4

stunts

1986

 

Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, and James Hong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

Big Trouble in Little China

7.2

stunts (as James Nickerson)

1986

 

Rosanna Arquette, Jeff Bridges, and Alexandra Paul in 8 Million Ways to Die (1986)

8 Million Ways to Die

5.7

stunts

1986

 

Under Siege (1986)

Under Siege

6.9

TV Movie

stunts (as Jim Nickerson)

1986

 

William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

To Live and Die in L.A.

7.3

stunt player

1985

 

Anthony Franciosa and Christopher Norris in Finder of Lost Loves (1984)

Finder of Lost Loves

6.7

TV Series

stunt coordinator (as James Nickerson)

1985

1 episode

 

Into the Night (1985)

Into the Night

6.4

stunts

1985

 

1985 Stuntman Awards (1985)

1985 Stuntman Awards

TV Special

stunt performer

1985

 

Lee Horsley in Matt Houston (1982)

Matt Houston

6.5

TV Series

stunt double: Lee Horsey (uncredited)

1985

1 episode

 

Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize in Fantasy Island (1977)

Fantasy Island

6.6

TV Series

stunt coordinator (as Jim Nickerson)

1983–1984

5 episodes

 

Stacy Keach in The New Mike Hammer (1984)

The New Mike Hammer

6.8

TV Series

stunts

1984–1989

 

Tough Enough (1983)

Tough Enough

5.5

stunt coordinator

1983

 

Scared Silly (1982)

Scared Silly

6.6

TV Movie

stunt coordinator (as Jim Nickerson)

1982

 

Hart to Hart (1979)

Hart to Hart

6.7

TV Series

stunt coordinator (as Jim Nickerson)

1982

3 episodes

 

Adrienne Barbeau, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. in The Cannonball Run (1981)

The Cannonball Run

6.2

stunts (uncredited)

1981

 

Dynasty (1981)

Dynasty

6.4

TV Series

stunt coordinator

Stunt double: Bo Hopkins

Stunt double: John Forsythe

1981

13 episodes

 

Dennis Quaid, Barbara Bach, Shelley Long, John Matuszak, and Ringo Starr in Caveman (1981)

Caveman

5.8

stunts (as Jim Nickerson)

1981

 

Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980)

Raging Bull

8.1

stunt coordinator (as Jim Nickerson)

1980

 

The Long Riders (1980)

The Long Riders

6.9

stunts

1980

 

Rocky II (1979)

Rocky II

7.3

stunt coordinator

1979

 

Lynn-Holly Johnson and Robby Benson in Ice Castles (1978)

Ice Castles

6.6

stunts (as Jim Nickerson)

1978

 

Sylvester Stallone in Paradise Alley (1978)

Paradise Alley

5.7

stunts

1978

 

Nancy Allen, Eddie Deezen, Theresa Saldana, and Wendie Jo Sperber in I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

6.8

stunt driver (as Jim Nickerson)

1978

 

The Deep (1977)

The Deep

6.2

stunt coordinator

stunt double: Nick Nolte (as Jim Nickerson, uncredited)

1977

 

MacArthur (1977)

MacArthur

6.5

stunts (uncredited)

1977

 

Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire in Rocky (1976)

Rocky

8.1

stunt co-ordinator (as Jim Nickerson)

1976

 

Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976)

Harry and Walter Go to New York

5.4

stunt double

1976

 

Anne Bancroft, Charles Durning, George C. Scott, William Atherton, Burgess Meredith, Jean Rasey, Roy Thinnes, and Gig Young in The Hindenburg (1975)

The Hindenburg

6.3

stunts (uncredited)

1975

 

Rollerball (1975)

Rollerball

6.5

stunts (as Jim Nickerson)

1975

 

Candice Bergen, James Coburn, and Gene Hackman in Bite the Bullet (1975)

Bite the Bullet

6.6

stunts (uncredited)

1975

 

Alan Arkin and James Caan in Freebie and the Bean (1974)

Freebie and the Bean

6.6

stunts (uncredited)

1974

 

Charlton Heston, Victoria Principal, Geneviève Bujold, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene, George Kennedy, Marjoe Gortner, Lloyd Nolan, Richard Roundtree, and Barry Sullivan in Earthquake (1974)

Earthquake

5.9

stunts (uncredited)

1974

 

James Caan in The Gambler (1974)

The Gambler

7.1

stunts (uncredited)

1974

 

James Caan and Sally Kellerman in Slither (1973)

Slither

6.2

stunt coordinator

1973

 

Hammer (1972)

Hammer

5.5

stunts (uncredited)

1972

 

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

Alias Smith and Jones

7.6

TV Series

stunts

1971–1973

 

Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Sally Kellerman, and Jo Ann Pflug in M*A*S*H (1970)

M*A*S*H

7.4

stunts (uncredited)

1970

 

Actor

From Mexico with Love (2009)

From Mexico with Love

5.2

El Angelito

2009

 

Ian Kelsey and Caroline Quentin in Blue Murder (2003)

Blue Murder

7.3

TV Series

Alan Hickson (as James Nickerson)

2006

1 episode

 

Saskia Reeves and Julian Wadham in Island at War (2004)

Island at War

7.6

TV Mini Series

Major (as James Nickerson)

2004

1 episode

 

The Forsyte Saga (2002)

The Forsyte Saga

8.1

TV Series

Casino Manager

2002–2003

 

Chris Barrie, Tim Bentinck, Susie Blake, Francesca Hunt, Cliff Parisi, Samantha Power, and Bryan Pringle in A Prince Among Men (1997)

A Prince Among Men

6.0

TV Series

Estate Agent

1997

1 episode

 

Dan Aykroyd, Jack Lemmon, and James Garner in My Fellow Americans (1996)

My Fellow Americans

6.5

NSA Hitman #3

1996

 

Nigel Le Vaillant in Dangerfield (1995)

Dangerfield

6.1

TV Series

Army Officer (as James Nickerson)

1995

1 episode

 

Prize Fighter (1993)

Prize Fighter

6.3

Video Game

Nuke 'The Duke' Johnson

1993

 

George Clooney, Al Fann, Lee Horsley, and Kate McNeil in Bodies of Evidence (1992)

Bodies of Evidence

6.2

TV Series

Curt McKnight

1992

1 episode

 

Lee Horsley in Paradise (1988)

Paradise

7.9

TV Series

The Wagon Driver (as Jim Nickerson)

1991

1 episode

 

Jeff Imada and Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)

They Live

7.2

Security Guard #2 (as Jim Nickerson)

1988

 

Fist Fighter (1988)

Fist Fighter

4.7

King Bellinakov

1988

 

Wesley Snipes, Klaus Maria Brandauer, and Adrian Pasdar in Streets of Gold (1986)

Streets of Gold

5.9

(uncredited)

1986

 

Dempsey (1983)

Dempsey

6.2

TV Movie

Gene Tunney

1983

 

Tough Enough (1983)

Tough Enough

5.5

Jackhammer Malamud

1983

 

Dynasty (1981)

Dynasty

6.4

TV Series

Carrington's Driver

Carrington's Bodyguard (uncredited)

1981–1982

2 episodes

 

Movie Movie (1978)

Movie Movie

6.4

Freddie Fox (segment "Dynamite Hands") (as James Nickerson)

1978

 

Nancy Allen, Eddie Deezen, Theresa Saldana, and Wendie Jo Sperber in I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

6.8

(uncredited)

1978

 

Richard Thomas, Will Geer, Judy Norton, Ellen Corby, Kami Cotler, David W. Harper, Michael Learned, Mary Beth McDonough, Eric Scott, Ralph Waite, and Jon Walmsley in The Waltons (1972)

The Waltons

7.6

TV Series

Iron Mike McCoy (as Jim Nickerson)

1975

1 episode

 

Charles Bronson and Robert Tessier in Hard Times (1975)

Hard Times

7.2

Barge Fighter (as Jim Nickerson)

1975

 

Charlton Heston, Victoria Principal, Geneviève Bujold, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene, George Kennedy, Marjoe Gortner, Lloyd Nolan, Richard Roundtree, and Barry Sullivan in Earthquake (1974)

Earthquake

5.9

Seismology Graduate Student (uncredited)

1974

 

Raquel Welch in Kansas City Bomber (1972)

Kansas City Bomber

5.5

Fan (as Jim Nickerson)

1972

 

Lancer (1968)

Lancer

7.1

TV Series

Dunn (as Jim Nickerson)

1970

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

Michael Carbonaro in The Carbonaro Effect (2014)

The Carbonaro Effect

7.5

TV Series

production secretary

2015

1 episode

 

Gina Gershon, Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci, and Sergio Peris-Mencheta in Love Ranch (2010)

Love Ranch

5.6

boxing coordinator

2010

 

Olivier Gruner in Nemesis (1992)

Nemesis

5.4

fight trainer

1992

 

Cuba Gooding Jr. and James Marshall in Gladiator (1992)

Gladiator

6.5

boxing coordinator (as Jim Nickerson)

1992

 

Sasha Mitchell and Michel Qissi in Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991)

Kickboxer 2: The Road Back

4.5

fight choreographer (as Jim Nickerson)

1991

 

Wesley Snipes, Klaus Maria Brandauer, and Adrian Pasdar in Streets of Gold (1986)

Streets of Gold

5.9

fight choreographer

1986

 

James Caan and Sally Kellerman in Slither (1973)

Slither

6.2

action sequence coordinator

1973