Hal brett needham march 6, 1931 october 25, 20 was an american stuntman, film director, actor and writer. Hal needham, the stuntman who awed hollywood for years before directing his pal burt reynolds in such films as smokey and the bandit and the cannonball run, has died. Hal needham is a director, stuntman and author of the great new book, stuntman, which has more stories than you could ever possibly believe. Hes one of those says it like he sees it kind of guys. Heres everything you need to know about this tragic and deeply weird. When youre on fire you dont dare breathe because if you do, youll suck those flames right down your throat. Apr 29, 2011 hollywood stuntman hal needham plays not my job youve probably seen hal needham hundreds of times. Dec 16, 2010 when it comes to the most influential, iconic and pioneering stuntmen of all time, the nearly indestructible hal needham is itone of the greatest to ever walk onto a movie set. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Hal needham s wildest adventure recalled by stuntman billy burton duration. His career has included work on 4500 television episodes and 310 feature films as a stuntman, stunt coordinator, 2nd unit director and ultimately, director. Smokey and the bandit, the cannonball run and hooper.
The legendary stuntman who inspired brad pitts character. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. Hal leads you from his impoverished childhood as the stepson of a hardworking arkansas sharecropper, and son of a depression era hardworking, noncomplaining mother. My carcrashing, planejumping, bonebreaking, deathdefying hollywood life by hal needham 2011, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Hal needham, left, with the actors burt reynolds, center, and jerry reed on the set of smokey and the bandit in 1977. Hollywoods highestpaid stuntman of the 1960s and 70s and director of smokey and the bandit tells extraordinary stories from his highspeed life. Yep thats me, hal needham, on the cover doing a fire stunt. As the highest paid stuntman in the world, hal needham broke 56 bones, his back twice, punctured a lung and knocked out a few teeth. He directed 10 features, including the classics smokey and the bandit, hooper, and the cannonball run. The duo is inspired by stuntman hal needham and actor burt reynolds, who had a long, wild friendship throughout their careers. Hal needhams wildest adventure recalled by stuntman billy burton duration. I ran and bought the first book i could find with him. Instead of licensing a hollywood movie, they sought to captilize on the making of a movie by creating a set based on then legendary stuntman hal needham.
New quentin tarantino film loosely based on hal needham and. The obituary was featured in legacy on october 25, 20. Jun 21, 2011 hollywood stuntman turnedwriterdirector hal needham has performed on 4500 tv shows and in 310 feature films, launching his body and automobiles, trucks, and speedboats stunning distances into. Burt reynolds recalls early stunt work, longtime friend hal. If youre an action movie buff who remembers the burt reynolds chase films of the 1970s, youll get a kick out of this book. Hal needhams career has included work on 4,500 television episodes and 310 feature films. Stuntman tells the live of hal needham from when he was a young guy living in missouri with his parents and several siblings and how they moved from out of their small country house to the big city of st.
Needham, a true innovator of his craft whos not shy about touting his accomplishments, is a colorful exception. His career has included work on 4500 television episodes and 310 feature films as a stuntman, stunt. The early part of the book where he first gets into doing stunt. He eventually became the highestpaid stuntman in the world, helped launch the elite stunts unlimited organization and later owned the successful skoal bandit nascar race team.
The stuntman who inspired brad pitts once upon a time in. About the author hal needhams career has included work on 4,500 television episodes and 310 feature films. If the exclamation point doesnt set the tone enough, the subtitle should seal the deal for hal needhams stuntman. He and driver harry gant sat down with ryan mcgee to tell some tales. This book might not inspire you to take needham size risks, but it does demonstrate an enviable zest for. My carcrashing, planejumping, bonebreaking, deathdefying hollywood life by hal needham available from rakuten kobo. Hal needham is a legendary stuntman and director, he directed many burt reynolds hits, smokey and the bandit, hooper and cannonball run. Winning an honorary oscar last year was legendary stuntman hal needham, the son of arkansas sharecroppers with eight years of education, a paratrooper who tested parachutes by making over 400. My carcrashing, planejumping, bonebreaking, deathdefying hollywood life is full of stories that will have you laughing, smiling, and saying wow out loud to yourself.
New quentin tarantino film loosely based on hal needham. Hal needham, left, with the actors burt reynolds, center, and jerry. He wrote and directed some of the most financially. Time and perspective have given me an added appreciation for the singular oeuvre of hal needham 193120 within reason. Jan 20, 2011 hollywoods highestpaid stuntman of the 1960s and 70s and director of smokey and the bandit tells extraordinary stories from his highspeed life.
That was the slogan for the hal needham stunt doll, probably the most macho doll ever made. My carcrashing, planejumping, bonebreaking, deathdefying hollywood life. Plaidstallions 1977 gabriel toys hal needham stunt set. And while the character cliff booth, and his friendship with actor rick dalton played by leonardo dicaprio is said to be largely based on the duo of stuntman hal needham and actor burt reynolds, i cant help but wonder if tarantino heard the tale of lebell and lee and based this particular scene around their encounter, particularly because. Hal brett needham march 6, 1931 october 25, 20 was an american stuntman, film. Jul 27, 2019 quentin tarantinos once upon a time in hollywood opened in theaters across the world this week, inspired in large by the life of stuntman hal needham.
Stuntman my carcrashing, planejumping, bonebreaking. Long before he was cast in quentin tarantinos once upon a time in hollywood, burt reynolds spent a solid amount of time on western tv sets with his. In the book, needham claims he made the trip in 32. Hal needham reveals tricks of trade hal needham worked as a hollywood stuntman for over 40 years. He was the inspiration for brad pitts character in. Growing up as a poor sharecroppers son in arkansas, the undereducated author parlayed stints as a tree climber and paratrooper into a career as a stuntman at a time when there was a high demand for men willing to fling.
What makes the book special is needham s nononsense telling of his stories. Quentin tarantinos once upon a time in hollywood opened in theaters across the world this week, inspired in large by the life of stuntman hal needham. There was a lot to like about this book its written like you were sitting next to him and talking in his living room. Hollywoods highestpaid stuntman of the 1960s and 70s and director of smokey and the bandit tells extraordinary stories from his highspeed. Oct 07, 2016 i actually own the book and i can tell you that it is worth every penny. Some whove gotten to sit in the directors chair have previously been actors, producers, cinematographers, screenwriters, choreographers, songwriters, and even costume designers. I was hollywoods highest paid stuntman so i should know. I wrecked hundreds of cars, fell from tall buildings, got blown up, was dragged by horses, and along the way broke 56 bones, my back twice, punctured a lung and knocked out a few teeth. When youre on fire you dont dare breathe because if you d. Oct 02, 2015 burt reynolds started as a stuntman and met lifelong friend and frequent collaborator the late hal needham on 1959 series riverboat. The action figure that really reacts hal needham is one of hollywoods most famous stuntmen. Buy stuntman my carcrashing, planejumping, bonebreaking, deathdefying hollywood life 1 by needham, hal isbn.
The narrative is simple in its outline and writing, mainly just an ongoing stream of memories. Jul 25, 2011 stuntman, director and team owner hal needham has enough stories to fill his delightful new book. How the legendary stuntman who inspired brad pitts character in once upon a time in hollywood broke 56 bones on set including his back twice flew cars between gaps in bridges and jumped 30ft. Oct 25, 20 hal needham, the stuntman who awed hollywood for years before directing his pal burt reynolds in such films as smokey and the bandit and the cannonball run, has died. He details some of his most deathdefying feats and why he cant stand. Jan 01, 2011 this book is a fun ride through needham s career as a stuntman and director. Hal needham s career has included work on 4,500 television episodes and 310 feature films.
The hardcover of the stuntman my carcrashing, planejumping, bone breaking, deathdefying hollywood life by hal needham at barnes. Hal needhams life included crosscountry street races, fights with john wayne, and jumping off a 30foot ledge onto a moving stagecoach. A hollywood stuntman for more than four decades, he worked. Jul 25, 2019 hal needham s life included crosscountry street races, fights with john wayne, and jumping off a 30foot ledge onto a moving stagecoach.
The legendary stuntman who inspired brad pitts character in. Stuntman, director and team owner hal needham has enough stories to fill his delightful new book. Hollywood stuntman hal needham one of the most famous practitioners of his dangerous craft died of cancer on oct. But hal needham is perhaps best known for directing classic actionpacked automotive adventures starring burt reynolds. Hal needham spent most of the 1950s and 60s falling off horses, wrecking stagecoach wagons and falling from really, really high places. I actually own the book and i can tell you that it is worth every penny. The stuntman who really did beat bruce lee martial arts.
My carcrashing, planejumping, bonebreaking, deathdefying hollywood life 1 by hal needham isbn. Driving stunts videos hal needhams driving stuntshal. Burt reynolds recalls early stunt work, longtime friend. A brief history of spahn ranch and george spahn film. This is the biography of the father of the modern stuntman, hal needham. It is the autobiography of hal needham, a hollywood stunt double for stars like john wayne, richard boone and reynolds, who would become hails great friend and install needham as a semipermanent housemate. He set trends in movies the first director to show outtakes during end credits and nascar the first team owner to use telemetry technology. Jan 26, 2011 hal needhams career has included work on 4,500 television episodes and 310 feature films.