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IMDbPro

Hal Needham(1931-2013)

  • Stunts
  • Actor
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Hal Needham
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer1:57
Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)
4 Videos
13 Photos
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. His career has included work on 4500 television episodes and 310 feature films as a stuntman, stunt coordinator, 2nd unit director and ultimately, director.

He wrote and directed some of the most financially successful action comedy films, making his directorial debut with the box office smash, Smokey and the Bandit (1977). The ten features he directed include Hooper (1978) and The Cannonball Run (1981)... A real outlaw race from coast-to-coast, where he drove a fake ambulance that could peg the speedometer at 150 mph, on which the movie, "Cannonball Run", was based. He also set trends in movies - the first director to show outtakes during end credits.

Needham wrecked hundreds of cars, fell from tall buildings, got blown up, was dragged by horses, rescued the cast and crew from a Russian invasion in Czechoslovakia, set a world record for a boat stunt on Gator (1976), jumped a rocket powered pick-up truck across a canal for a GM commercial and was the first human 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 yet more spectacular at the same time.

Needham revolutionized the art of the stuntman - from new devices and techniques, to conceptualizing the organization and execution of complicated action set pieces. To a large degree, he elevated the stuntman and his craft to become important and critical elements in contemporary American Film.

He mentored a new generation of stuntmen and fought for the respect and recognition that stuntmen and stuntwomen deserve for their contribution to moviemaking.

Life also got exciting outside of the movie business. Needham owned a NASCAR race team and was the first team owner to use telemetry technology. His Skoal-Bandit race team was one of the most popular NASCAR teams ever - second only to that of the King, Richard Petty. Needham set Guinness World Records and was the financier and owner of The Budweiser Rocket 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)
BornMarch 6, 1931
DiedOctober 25, 2013(82)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 8 wins & 4 nominations total

Photos13

Bruce Cabot, Don Collier, and Hal Needham in The War Wagon (1967)
Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham in Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Jim Burk, Chuck Hayward, Boyd 'Red' Morgan, Hal Needham, Dean Smith, and Jerry Van Dyke in McLintock! (1963)
Adam West, Michael Keep, and Hal Needham in Tales of Wells Fargo (1957)
Burt Reynolds, Hal Needham, and Jerry Reed in Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Adrienne Barbeau, Jackie Chan, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Jack Elam, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Rick Aviles, Warren Berlinger, Tara Buckman, Bert Convy, Jamie Farr, Michael Hui, Joe Klecko, Hal Needham, Mel Tillis, and Alfie Wise in The Cannonball Run (1981)
"Smokey and the Bandit" Burt Reynolds, director Hal Needham 1977 Universal
Burt Reynolds, Jim Nabors, and Hal Needham at an event for Stroker Ace (1983)
Jeffrey Katzenberg, Hal Needham, and George Stevens Jr. at an event for The Oscars (2013)
Hal Needham
Jeffrey Katzenberg, Hal Needham, D.A. Pennebaker, and George Stevens Jr.
Hal Needham

Known for

Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, and Jackie Gleason in Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Smokey and the Bandit
6.9
  • Stunts(uncredited)
  • 1977
Marilu Henner, Shirley MacLaine, Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Telly Savalas, Sammy Davis Jr., and Jamie Farr in Cannonball Run II (1984)
Cannonball Run II
5.0
  • Porsche 928 Driver with Cowboy Hat(uncredited)
  • 1984
Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson in Stroker Ace (1983)
Stroker Ace
4.9
  • Man Punching Stroker Into Ladies Room(uncredited)
  • 1983
Barry Bostwick and Persis Khambatta in Megaforce (1982)
Megaforce
3.6
  • Technician(uncredited)
  • 1982

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Stunts

  • Street Luge (1996)
    Street Luge
    • stunt design
    • Short
    • 1996
  • The Sunchaser (1996)
    The Sunchaser
    • stunts
    • 1996
  • Dom DeLuise, Suzanne Pleshette, and Jerry Reed in Hot Stuff (1979)
    Hot Stuff
    • stunt coordinator: car chase (uncredited)
    • 1979
  • Foul Play (1978)
    Foul Play
    • stunt performer
    • 1978
  • Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise in The End (1978)
    The End
    • stunt coordinator
    • stunts (uncredited)
    • 1978
  • Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, and Jackie Gleason in Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
    Smokey and the Bandit
    • stunts (uncredited)
    • 1977
  • Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)
    Billy Jack Goes to Washington
    • stunt coordinator
    • 1977
  • Nickelodeon (1976)
    Nickelodeon
    • stunt coordinator
    • stunt double Burt Reynolds
    • stunts (uncredited)
    • 1976
  • A Star Is Born (1976)
    A Star Is Born
    • stunts (uncredited)
    • 1976
  • Burt Reynolds and Lauren Hutton in Gator (1976)
    Gator
    • stunt coordinator
    • stunts (uncredited)
    • 1976
  • Gable and Lombard (1976)
    Gable and Lombard
    • stunts (uncredited)
    • 1976
  • Lucky Lady (1975)
    Lucky Lady
    • stunts (uncredited)
    • 1975
  • Peeper (1975)
    Peeper
    • stunt coordinator
    • 1975
  • Jim Brown, Lee Van Cleef, Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly, and Catherine Spaak in Take a Hard Ride (1975)
    Take a Hard Ride
    • stunts
    • 1975
  • Gene Hackman in French Connection II (1975)
    French Connection II
    • stunt coordinator
    • 1975

Actor

  • Cybill Shepherd, Alicia Witt, Christine Baranski, Dedee Pfeiffer, and Alan Rosenberg in Cybill (1995)
    Cybill
    • Hal Needham
    • TV Series
    • 1995
  • Anne-Marie Martin, Harrison Page, and David Rasche in Sledge Hammer! (1986)
    Sledge Hammer!
    • Bartender
    • TV Series
    • 1987
  • Marilu Henner, Shirley MacLaine, Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Telly Savalas, Sammy Davis Jr., and Jamie Farr in Cannonball Run II (1984)
    Cannonball Run II
    • Porsche 928 Driver with Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
    • 1984
  • Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson in Stroker Ace (1983)
    Stroker Ace
    • Man Punching Stroker Into Ladies Room (uncredited)
    • 1983
  • Simon & Simon (1981)
    Simon & Simon
    • Oldtimer #3 in Saloon (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1982
  • Barry Bostwick and Persis Khambatta in Megaforce (1982)
    Megaforce
    • Technician (uncredited)
    • 1982
  • Adrienne Barbeau, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. in The Cannonball Run (1981)
    The Cannonball Run
    • Ambulance EMT (uncredited)
    • 1981
  • Stunts Unlimited (1980)
    Stunts Unlimited
    • H.N. (uncredited)
    • TV Movie
    • 1980
  • Death Car on the Freeway (1979)
    Death Car on the Freeway
    • Mr. Blanchard
    • TV Movie
    • 1979
  • Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize in Fantasy Island (1977)
    Fantasy Island
    • Orville 'Boots' Pierce
    • TV Series
    • 1979
  • Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith in Charlie's Angels (1976)
    Charlie's Angels
    • Julio
    • Spencer
    • TV Series
    • 1976–1977
  • Jackson County Jail (1976)
    Jackson County Jail
    • Chief of Fallsburg Police
    • 1976
  • Jim Brown, Lee Van Cleef, Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly, and Catherine Spaak in Take a Hard Ride (1975)
    Take a Hard Ride
    • Garmes (uncredited)
    • 1975
  • Gene Hackman in French Connection II (1975)
    French Connection II
    • Doyle Kidnapper (uncredited)
    • 1975
  • W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975)
    W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
    • Trooper Carson
    • 1975

Director

  • Hard Time: Hostage Hotel (1999)
    Hard Time: Hostage Hotel
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1999
  • Street Luge (1996)
    Street Luge
    • Director
    • Short
    • 1996
  • Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (1994)
    Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1994
  • Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit (1994)
    Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1994
  • Bandit: Bandit Bandit (1994)
    Bandit: Bandit Bandit
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1994
  • Bandit: Bandit Goes Country (1994)
    Bandit: Bandit Goes Country
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1994
  • Burt Reynolds in B.L. Stryker (1989)
    B.L. Stryker
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 1989
  • Tanya Roberts, Dirk Benedict, and John Fujioka in Body Slam (1986)
    Body Slam
    • Director
    • 1986
  • Rad (1986)
    Rad
    • Director
    • 1986
  • Marilu Henner, Shirley MacLaine, Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Telly Savalas, Sammy Davis Jr., and Jamie Farr in Cannonball Run II (1984)
    Cannonball Run II
    • Director
    • 1984
  • Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson in Stroker Ace (1983)
    Stroker Ace
    • Director
    • 1983
  • Barry Bostwick and Persis Khambatta in Megaforce (1982)
    Megaforce
    • Director
    • 1982
  • Adrienne Barbeau, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. in The Cannonball Run (1981)
    The Cannonball Run
    • Director
    • 1981
  • Stockers
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1981
  • Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)
    Smokey and the Bandit II
    • Director
    • 1980
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos4

25 Years After 'Pulp Fiction', Tarantino Delivers a 'Hollywood' Masterwork
Clip 3:13
25 Years After 'Pulp Fiction', Tarantino Delivers a 'Hollywood' Masterwork
Have Gun Will Travel - H&I Network Promo
Trailer 0:16
Have Gun Will Travel - H&I Network Promo
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:42
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:57
Official Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Harold Needham
  • Born
    • March 6, 1931
    • Memphis, Tennessee, USA
  • Died
    • October 25, 2013
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(cancer)
  • Spouses
      Ellyn Wynne WilliamsDecember 31, 1996 - October 25, 2013 (his death)
  • Children
      David Needham
  • Parents
      Howard 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
    • 1 Print Biography
    • 1 Interview
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Doubled for Burt Reynolds, Christopher George, and Richard Boone.
  • Quotes
    [on Burt 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.
  • Trademarks
      His films feature many stunts (car chases, fights, etc)

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