Yakima Canutt
Arguably the greatest stuntman who ever lived. His
list of films on IMDB is incredible. Hundreds and hundreds of films,
as stuntman, double. second unit director, etc. Here
is his Wiki writeup.
His most famous stunts were:
+ The Crupper Mount -- a leapfrog over the back of the horse, copied
by everyone
+ The Stagecoach Stunt, leaping to the the lead horse from the seat of
the coach, and then falling, and grabbing the back of the coach as it passed
over him. Developed by Yakima in dozens of "oaters", it reached
its summit in the movie Stagecoach.
+ The Chariot Race from Ben Hur.
He was actually the unit director for this unforgetable scene.
Here's a Youtube tribute called Yak's
Last Ride. It says it all!!
Yakima should have been a Star but he had a sorta whiney voice and a New
Jersey accent that made people laugh. (Well, it makes ME laugh,
anyway.)
Finally, not a Western, but probably the greatest series of stunts from the
greatest Action Movie of all times -- Raiders of the Lost Ark.. The
"Stagecoach Stunt" is 'way down in this YouTube
clip, but it's fun to watch. Remember that this stunt was filmed at
about 5 mph while Yakima did all of his stunts at full speed ahead!!
