Jeannie Epper | |
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 Epper in 2007 | |
| Born | Jean Luann Epper (1941-01-27)January 27, 1941 Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 5, 2024(2024-05-05) (aged 83) Simi Valley, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Stuntwoman, actress |
| Years active | 1951–2019 |
| Known for | Wonder Woman Charlie's Angels The Bionic Woman Romancing the Stone |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | John Epper (father) Tony Epper (brother) Gary Epper (brother)[1] |
Jean Luann Epper (January 27, 1941 – May 5, 2024) was an Americanstuntwoman and actress. She performed stunts in over 100 feature films and television series and is perhaps best known asLynda Carter's stunt double on the 1970s television seriesWonder Woman.[2] She was featured in Amanda Micheli's 2004 documentaryDouble Dare, along with New Zealand stuntwoman and actressZoë Bell.Entertainment Weekly noted that many consider her "the greatest stuntwoman who's ever lived."[3]
Her acting roles included appearances inThe Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972),Foxy Brown (1974),Switchblade Sisters (1975),Drum (1976),Supernatural (2006),Beverly Hills Cop III (1994),Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), andQuarantine (2008).
Jean Luann "Jeannie" Epper was born inGlendale, California, on January 27, 1941, to professional stunt performers John and Frances Epper.[4]: 332 [5][6] John had immigrated to the United States from Switzerland during the 1920s; Jeannie later spent part of her childhood atfinishing school in Switzerland, though she "hated" the experience.[6] After establishing a riding academy inLos Angeles, John Epper built a career as a stuntman specializing in horseback stunts.[7] Jeannie Epper began learning stunt work from her father at the age of nine,[8] and she became one of the first professional childstunt doubles.[5] Her family traces its lineage back to "a colonel inNapoleon's army".[3]
Although it was initially challenging for Epper to find work, as men had traditionally done the stunt work for many actresses, the industry began to open up to more women in the 1970s, and Epper made her breakthrough with regular stunt double work forLynda Carter onWonder Woman (1975–1979),Lindsay Wagner onThe Bionic Woman (1976-1978) andKate Jackson onCharlie's Angels (1976).[4]: 332 Epper's subsequent stunt work included the filmRomancing the Stone (1984),[8] for which she received the 1985 Annual Stuntman Award for Most Spectacular Stunt (Feature Film).[5] In the early 21st century, Epper performed stunts inCatch Me If You Can (2002),Minority Report (2002), andKill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004).[4]: 333
Epper was a founding member of the Stuntwomen's Association of Motion Pictures in 1968,[5] and in 1999 she served as its president.[9] She was an honorary member of theStuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures.[5][10]
In May 2007, Epper received a lifetime achievement award from theTaurus World Stunt Awards, becoming the first woman selected for the honor.[3][8] She continued to work as a stunt performer into her seventies, with later work including the filmHot Pursuit (2015). It is estimated that Epper has completed up to 150 stunts for film and television over the course of her career.[4]: 333 Her final acting role was on an episode ofThe Rookie in 2019.[6]
Beginning when she was sixteen, Epper was married four times; her first three marriages, to Wes Fuller, Richard Spaethe, and Lee Sanders, ended in divorce.[6] Her fourth marriage, Tim Kimack, lasted until her death.[6] She had three children, one of whom predeceased her.[11] All of her children also followed her into stunt work.[11]
In 2000, she donated akidney to family friendKen Howard,[12] with whose wife Linda she had worked in the stunt community.[13]
After a period of declining health, Epper died from complications of an infection at her home inSimi Valley, California, on May 5, 2024, at the age of 83.[6] She was cremated atHollywood Forever Cemetery.
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