Biography for
Robert Tessier (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

2 June 1934, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA

Date of Death

11 October 1990, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA (cancer)

Nickname

Cueball

Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)

Mini Biography

Muscular, shaven headed actor & stuntman of Algonquin Indian descent who specialized in tough, villainous roles throughout US cinema of the 1970s and 1980s. Tessier had served time in the US Armed Forces seeing action in Korea as a paratrooper and earning both a Silver Star and a Purple Heart, and in addition was an accomplished motorcycle rider and circus stunt performer.

His movie breakthrough came at the age of 33, in the low budget Tom Laughlin biker movie The Born Losers (1967). With his menacing looks, Tessier was never short of on screen work, often turning up in several movies a year playing gang leaders, bikers & other murderous thugs. He appeared alongside 'Burt Reynolds' on three occasions in The Longest Yard (1974), Hooper (1978), and The Cannonball Run (1981). Alternately, he was equally busy on television appearing in popular shows including "Starsky and Hutch" (1975), "Magnum, P.I." (1980), "The Fall Guy" (1981) & "The A-Team" (1983). Undoubtedly, Tessier's most well remembered role was that of grinning, head butting street fighter "Jim Henry" in the Charles Bronson film Hard Times (1975).

Tessier formed "Stunts Unlimited" with fellow noted stunt performers Hal Needham, Glenn R. Wilder and Ronnie Rondell Jr.. He passed away from cancer aged 56 in October, 1990.

IMDb Mini Biography By: firehouse44@hotmail.com

Trivia

Formed Stunts Unlimited with Hal Needham.

Known for his shaved head and menacing villain roles, Tessier was an Algonquian Indian.

Performed as a stunt cyclist in the circus.

Played Mr. Clean on television commercials.

Won a Purple Heart and a Silver Star as a paratrooper in the Korean War.

He was an accomplished furnituremaker, and built several pieces for his co-stars.

Father of Ben Ivarson with Diana Ivarson.

Appeared in a handful of TV commercials for Midas Mufflers in the 80's.

Appeared as the mechanic assistant of Lee Van Cleef in several Canadian TV commercials for Midas Muffler during the early '80s.