The Top Stuntmen of All Time

Although many modern stunts are now done in the safety of an editing room or with the use of computer special effects, throughout much of cinema and television history there was no such luxury. Given this, it is amazing that many of the early silent film stars relied on slapstick and physical comedy for laughs. The danger that stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton put themselves through in every film makes them rank as some of the best. As action films became more adrenaline fueled and audiences became more risk-thirsty, stunt drivers and stuntmen and women began to take ever more risks.

Buster Keaton is rightly regarded as one of the greatest stuntmen of all time. It is even more impressive given that he often had to complete a scene after doing a dangerous stunt, because of the inability to cut between shots. One of Keaton’s most famous and iconic stunts comes from his movie ‘Steamboat Bill, Jr.’ in which the façade of Keaton’s house falls over on top of him, leaving Keaton unharmed as he is standing underneath a conveniently open window. The danger of this becomes evident when you realise that the façade actually hits his arm on the way past, and that this was filmed as it appears, with no trickery or stuntmen.

Dar Robinson is considered to be one of the greatest Hollywood stunt doubles of the 1970s and 1980s. Not only was Robinson famous for jumping from great heights, jumping 311 feet from a helicopter onto an airbag, he was also a pioneer in the field. Robinson invented decelerator wires, which allowed a cameraman to film a stuntman’s descent from above, without showing the airbag at the bottom of the fall. Robinson was killed in 1986 when a motorcycle stunt went wrong and he fell off a cliff.

Victor Armstrong is one of the world’s most prolific stunt doubles, having worked in James Bond, Indiana Jones, and the Superman franchises. His work included the famous jump from a horse onto a German Tank in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, as well as other dramatic scenes. Armstrong continues to work, although not to the same extent, and lives in England with his wife and three children.

Some of the greatest stuntmen in history have all risked their lives and their bodies so that we, the audience can be entertained. If things go wrong, it can be more than just Autoglass replacement needed, but medical care. So next time you’re watching an action film, look out for the stunt man in the credits.

Bgiles - About Author:
Bruce Giles Autoglass replacementwrites for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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