James Winburn obit

Horror Films Stunt Actor James Winburn Passed Away

 

He was not on the list.

We are so sorry to announce that the famous stunt actor who played in several horror films you surely watched, James Winburn passed away at the age of 85, on November 20, 2022.

May beloved James sleep well. We send our deepest sympathies to his loved ones, family, friends, and fans during this hard period. You can also leave a condolence message below the comment box to honor him; Fans widely ask, “what happened to James Winburn?,” So if you have any related information about his passing, please share it with us.

One of his fans shared the tragic news in a statement posted on Twitter and attached a video of the actor’s photos; he wrote, “The Legend Mr. Jim Winburn, who told me to make Horror films has passed away. These are for you, sir… Rest In Peace…”

James “Jim” Winburn was a stuntman and pal of John Carpenter. He came to fame for staring as Michael Myers in the original Halloween when Dr. Loomis shot him 6 times and forced him to fall off the balcony.

According to his relatives, this artist was so patient and kind, and his smile always brightened the circles. Celebrities’ death news always breaks many hearts, but fans kindly remember memories, and their idols are alive in their hearts even after death.

The unforgettable star is also remembered for playing in Escape from New York (1981), Colors (1988), and TRON (1982).

A stuntman with a prolific resume performing in films for 40 years, Jim Winburn is possibly well known for his stunt work in the films TRON and HALLOWEEN (1978). He has additionally worked on:

 

    The John Carpenter films

    THE FOG

    ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK

    BEYOND EVIL

    VICE SQUAD

    POPCORN’

    And more

Although official sources have not shared information about how James Winburn passed away at this time, some believed he lost his life because of kidney disease.

 

Our team does not confirm any rumors about the news, though you can be sure that we are attempting our best to find related information about the tragedy and provide the latest updates as soon as possible; but do not forget that family privacy should be respected.

Jim additionally worked as David Hasselhoff’s stunt double and driver in the “Knight Rider” TV series.

From acting stunts in classics including The Poseidon Adventure, Pale Rider, and The Towering Inferno to being the driver of K.I.T.T. on “Knight Rider”, Jim Winburn’s stuntman history is rich and various. Listen as Jim discusses five decades in the field and what it takes to make a career in Hollywood by taking the bumps and bruises for the names in lights.

Back in 1977, stuntman Jim Winburn took a job on an indie film set doing a few stunts. That role Jim starred as Michael Myers in the film Halloween (1978), now considered a horror classic and a true trailblazer in the genre. Jim discusses playing one of the best-known psychopaths in movie history and how the role changed his life.

Soon after the heartbreaking news was published, many of James Winburn’s friends and fans expressed their sadness on social media by sharing their tributes.

A Twitter user penned, “rip to James Winburn, 80s stuntman, the Myers who fell out of the window in Halloween ’78. I looked him up and he directed 3 films, which line up like an episode of both

Another said, “Hollywood Legend, Jim Winburn has passed away. Jim was best known 4 his amazing stunt work as Horror Icon Michael Myers in John Carpenter’s Halloween. Jim had planned to be with us 4 our upcoming Winter Wonderland event. Our thoughts are with Jim’s friends & fam at this time.”

A fan wrote, “Rest easy Jim Winburn. If you don’t know, he was Michael Myers on screen. Meeting him back in April was truly an honor. He took time, told stories, and cracked a few jokes too with every fan that came up to his booth. Truly a kind, sweet guy.”

Stunts

 

    Moses: Fallen. In the City of Angels. (2005)

    Moses: Fallen. In the City of Angels.

        stunt coordinator

        2005

 

The Waterfront (1998)

The Waterfront

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1998

 

Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1991

 

Jill Schoelen in Popcorn (1991)

Popcorn

 

    stunts (as James B. Winburn)

 

    1991

 

Crossing the Line (1990)

Crossing the Line

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn, second unit)

 

    1990

 

Glory (1989)

Glory

 

    stunt player (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1989

 

Out Cold (1989)

Out Cold

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1989

 

Bette Davis and Barbara Carrera in Wicked Stepmother (1989)

Wicked Stepmother

 

    stunts (as James B. Winburn)

 

    1989

 

Robert Duvall and Sean Penn in Colors (1988)

Colors

 

    stunts (as James B. Winburn)

 

    1988

 

Dan Aykroyd, Walter Matthau, and Donna Dixon in The Couch Trip (1988)

The Couch Trip

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1988

 

Cher and Dennis Quaid in Suspect (1987)

Suspect

 

    stunts (as James B. Winburn)

 

    1987

 

Fred Williamson in The Messenger (1986)

The Messenger

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1986

 

Ratboy (1986)

Ratboy

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1986

 

Whoopi Goldberg in Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)

Jumpin' Jack Flash

 

    stunts (as James B. Winburn)

 

    1986

 

The Night Stalker (1986)

The Night Stalker

 

    stunt coordinator

 

    1986

 

A Fine Mess (1986)

A Fine Mess

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1986

 

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

8 Million Ways to Die

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1986

 

Foxtrap (1986)

Foxtrap

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1986

 

Once Bitten (1985)

Once Bitten

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1985

 

Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider (1985)

Pale Rider

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1985

 

Anthony Edwards and Linda Fiorentino in Gotcha! (1985)

Gotcha!

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1985

 

Prime Risk (1985)

Prime Risk

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1985

 

Betsy Russell in Tomboy (1985)

Tomboy

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1985

 

Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson in Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983)

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1983

 

Sela Ward, Richard Dean Anderson, Susan Dey, Andrew Stevens, Doran Clark, Stephanie Dunnam, Charles Frank, and Dennis Weaver in Emerald Point N.A.S. (1983)

Emerald Point N.A.S.

 

    stunt double

 

    TV Series

 

    1983

 

Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Kline, Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, William Hurt, Meg Tilly, JoBeth Williams, and Mary Kay Place in The Big Chill (1983)

The Big Chill

 

    stunt coordinator (uncredited)

 

    1983

 

Flicks (1983)

Flicks

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1983

 

Get Crazy (1983)

Get Crazy

 

    stunts

 

    1983

 

Heart Like a Wheel (1983)

Heart Like a Wheel

 

    stunts

 

    1983

 

Peter O'Toole and Mark Linn-Baker in My Favorite Year (1982)

My Favorite Year

 

    stunt player (as James B. Winburn)

 

    1982

 

Lee Horsley in Matt Houston (1982)

Matt Houston

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1982

 

David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider (1982)

Knight Rider

 

    stunt double

 

    TV Series

 

    1982

 

TRON (1982)

TRON

 

    stunts

 

    1982

 

Mortuary (1982)

Mortuary

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1982

 

The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)

The Sword and the Sorcerer

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1982

 

Vice Squad (1982)

Vice Squad

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1982

 

Chevy Chase, Dabney Coleman, and Patti D'Arbanville in Modern Problems (1981)

Modern Problems

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1981

 

Goliath Awaits (1981)

Goliath Awaits

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    TV Mini Series

 

    1981

 

The Fall Guy (1981)

The Fall Guy

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1981

 

Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981)

Chu Chu and the Philly Flash

 

    stunt player (as James B. Winburn)

 

    1981

 

Graduation Day (1981)

Graduation Day

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1981

 

Adrienne Barbeau, Donald Pleasence, and Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)

Escape from New York

 

    stunts (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1981

 

Seems Like Old Times (1980)

Seems Like Old Times

 

    stunt person

 

    1980

 

Tom Selleck in Magnum, P.I. (1980)

Magnum, P.I.

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1980

 

The Gong Show Movie (1980)

The Gong Show Movie

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1980

 

Beyond Evil (1980)

Beyond Evil

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1980

 

The Stunt Man (1980)

The Stunt Man

 

    stunts (as James B. Winborn)

 

    1980

 

The Fog (1980)

The Fog

 

    stunt driver (as James Windburn)

 

    1980

 

Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (1980)

Tenspeed and Brown Shoe

 

    stunt double

 

    TV Series

 

    1980

 

Claude Akins, Brian Kerwin, and Mills Watson in The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979)

The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1979

 

Stone (1979)

Stone

 

    stunt double

 

    TV Series

 

    1979

 

Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers in Hart to Hart (1979)

Hart to Hart

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1979

 

Gil Gerard and Erin Gray in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1979

 

George Hamilton in Love at First Bite (1979)

Love at First Bite

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1979

 

Angels' Brigade (1979)

Angels' Brigade

 

    stunt coordinator (as James B. Winburn)

 

    1979

 

Movie Movie (1978)

Movie Movie

 

    stunt double

 

    1978

 

The Fifth Floor (1978)

The Fifth Floor

 

    stunts

 

    1978

 

Halloween (1978)

Halloween

 

    stunts (as Jim Windburn)

 

    1978

 

Greg Evigan in B.J. and the Bear (1978)

B.J. and the Bear

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1978

 

Carol Bagdasarian, John David Carson, Herb Edelman, Arte Johnson, and Louis Nye in Charge of the Model T's (1977)

Charge of the Model T's

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1977

 

Bare Knuckles (1977)

Bare Knuckles

 

    stunt coordinator (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1977

 

Brothers (1977)

Brothers

 

    stunt coordinator (uncredited)

 

    1977

 

Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize in Fantasy Island (1977)

Fantasy Island

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1977

 

The Sentinel (1977)

The Sentinel

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1977

 

Midway (1976)

Midway

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1976

 

Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks (1976)

Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks

 

    stunt coordinator (uncredited)

 

    1976

 

The Bionic Woman (1976)

The Bionic Woman

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1976

 

Eddie Albert, Robert Wagner, and Sharon Gless in Switch (1975)

Switch

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1975

 

Fred Astaire, William Holden, Paul Newman, Richard Chamberlain, Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway, O.J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner, Susan Blakely, and Jennifer Jones in The Towering Inferno (1974)

The Towering Inferno

 

    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

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1974

 

Angie Dickinson in Police Woman (1974)

Police Woman

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1974

 

Lee Majors in The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

The Six Million Dollar Man

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1974

 

Telly Savalas in Kojak (1973)

Kojak

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1973

 

Robert Forster, David Birney, and Richard E. Kalk in Police Story (1973)

Police Story

 

    stunts

 

    TV Series

 

    1973

 

Fred Williamson and Gloria Hendry in Black Caesar (1973)

Black Caesar

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1973

 

Pete 'n' Tillie (1972)

Pete 'n' Tillie

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1972

 

Ernest Borgnine, Gene Hackman, Leslie Nielsen, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson, Carol Lynley, Pamela Sue Martin, Arthur O'Connell, and Eric Shea in The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

The Poseidon Adventure

 

    stunts (uncredited)

 

    1972

 

Dennis Weaver in McCloud (1970)

McCloud

 

    stunt double

 

    TV Series

 

    1970

 

Actor

 

Meat

 

    Pre-production

 

    Island of Witches (2014)

    Island of Witches

        Jim Tollen

        2014

 

Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer in Hunter (1984)

Hunter

 

    Garth Mead

 

    TV Series

 

    1988

 

James Woods and Brian Dennehy in Best Seller (1987)

Best Seller

 

    Supervisor

 

    1987

 

Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless in Cagney & Lacey (1981)

Cagney & Lacey

 

    Strangler

 

    TV Series

 

    1984

 

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

Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen

 

    Cop at Beach (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1981

 

The Gong Show Movie (1980)

The Gong Show Movie

 

    Man in Cast (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1980

 

The Choirboys (1977)

The Choirboys

 

    Policeman (as Jim Winburn)

 

    1977

 

Blazing Stewardesses (1975)

Blazing Stewardesses

 

    Plane Passenger