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. Hiscareer has included work on 4500 television episodes and 310 featurefilms as a stuntman, stunt coordinator, 2nd unit director andultimately, director.
He wrote and directed some of the most financially successful actioncomedy films, making his directorial debut with the box office smash,Smokey and the Bandit (1977).The ten features he directed includeHooper (1978) andThe Cannonball Run (1981)... Areal outlaw race from coast-to-coast, where he drove a fake ambulancethat could peg the speedometer at 150 mph, on which the movie,"Cannonball Run", was based. He also set trends in movies - the firstdirector to show outtakes during end credits.
Needham wrecked hundreds of cars, fell from tall buildings, got blownup, was dragged by horses, rescued the cast and crew from a Russianinvasion in Czechoslovakia, set a world record for a boat stunt onGator (1976), jumped a rocket poweredpick-up truck across a canal for a GM commercial and was the firsthuman to test the car airbag.
He invented and introduced to the film industry, the air ram, air bag,the car cannon turnover, the nitrogen ratchet, the jerk-off ratchet,rocket power and The Shotmaker Camera Car to make stunts safer and yetmore spectacular at the same time.
Needham revolutionized the art of the stuntman - from new devices andtechniques, to conceptualizing the organization and execution ofcomplicated action set pieces. To a large degree, he elevated thestuntman and his craft to become important and critical elements incontemporary American Film.
He mentored a new generation of stuntmen and fought for the respect andrecognition that stuntmen and stuntwomen deserve for their contributionto moviemaking.
Life also got exciting outside of the movie business. Needham owned aNASCAR race team and was the first team owner to use telemetrytechnology. His Skoal-Bandit race team was one of the most popularNASCAR teams ever - second only to that of the King,Richard Petty. Needham setGuinness World Records and was the financier and owner of The BudweiserRocket Car. The car is now on display in the Smithsonian's National Air& Space Museum.
His many awards include an Emmy and an Academy Award.
He wrote and directed some of the most financially successful actioncomedy films, making his directorial debut with the box office smash,Smokey and the Bandit (1977).The ten features he directed includeHooper (1978) andThe Cannonball Run (1981)... Areal outlaw race from coast-to-coast, where he drove a fake ambulancethat could peg the speedometer at 150 mph, on which the movie,"Cannonball Run", was based. He also set trends in movies - the firstdirector to show outtakes during end credits.
Needham wrecked hundreds of cars, fell from tall buildings, got blownup, was dragged by horses, rescued the cast and crew from a Russianinvasion in Czechoslovakia, set a world record for a boat stunt onGator (1976), jumped a rocket poweredpick-up truck across a canal for a GM commercial and was the firsthuman to test the car airbag.
He invented and introduced to the film industry, the air ram, air bag,the car cannon turnover, the nitrogen ratchet, the jerk-off ratchet,rocket power and The Shotmaker Camera Car to make stunts safer and yetmore spectacular at the same time.
Needham revolutionized the art of the stuntman - from new devices andtechniques, to conceptualizing the organization and execution ofcomplicated action set pieces. To a large degree, he elevated thestuntman and his craft to become important and critical elements incontemporary American Film.
He mentored a new generation of stuntmen and fought for the respect andrecognition that stuntmen and stuntwomen deserve for their contributionto moviemaking.
Life also got exciting outside of the movie business. Needham owned aNASCAR race team and was the first team owner to use telemetrytechnology. His Skoal-Bandit race team was one of the most popularNASCAR teams ever - second only to that of the King,Richard Petty. Needham setGuinness World Records and was the financier and owner of The BudweiserRocket Car. The car is now on display in the Smithsonian's National Air& Space Museum.
His many awards include an Emmy and an Academy Award.
BornMarch 6, 1931
DiedOctober 25, 2013(82)
- Won 1 Primetime Emmy
- 8 wins & 5 nominations total
Stunts
Actor
Director
- Alternative name
- Harold Needham
- Born
- Died
- SpousesEllyn Wynne WilliamsDecember 31, 1996 - October 25, 2013 (his death)
- Children
- ParentsHoward Needham
- Other works(11/1/2013)Hal Needham was the man behind "Budweiser Rocket", driven by his stunt driver friend Stan Barrett, in December, 1979. Hal claims that they were the first to break the sound-barrier. The US Air Force confirmed that the three-wheel hybrid-car reached a speed of 1190.4 km/h. The car even had Sidewinders without the warheads, and could accelerate from 0 to 800 km/h. in just 10 seconds. Anyway, Needham had his wishes realized. They become a part of history.
- Publicity listings
- Quotes[onBurt Reynolds] Burt's a very private person. And he has the capacity for loyalty and caring. Here's a man who has made it okay and he forgets no one he's ever cared for -- men or women. He certainly has tried to keep me from breaking my neck in all the years I've been doubling him.
- TrademarksHis films feature many stunts (car chases, fights, etc)
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