The Most Audacious Drivers Of All Time
Hollywood's stunt drivers are the unsung heroes, executing fatal stunts that excite individuals all over the world. They don't just offer some thrills for films; their stunts define the boundaries of what is possible when cars are used onscreen.
Hal Needham: The Pioneer
Hal Needham began as a stuntman before turning to directing. He worked on over 300 TV shows and films, some of which included The French Connection and The Dukes of Hazzard. Needham was well-known for pushing the art of stunt work to new heights with reckless car chases and death-defying leaps. He even developed new safety gear and stunt methods for stuntmen, which made high-speed stunts much safer.
Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons
Hal Needham (Cont'd)
Needham went on to direct a series of blockbuster action-comedy films, including Smokey and the Bandit and The Cannonball Run. Throughout his stunt career, Needham was injured many times with broken limbs and a punctured lung. In recognition of his work, Needham received an honorary Oscar in 2012, the first stuntman to receive an Academy nod.
The Bandit Escapes The Cops AGAIN (Burt Reynolds) | Smokey and the Bandit by Action Picks
Rémy Julienne: The French Master
Rémy Julienne was a renowned French stunt driver who worked in over 1,400 films, some of which were the James Bond movies. He was well known for planning complex car chases with precise driving and revolutionized the stunt coordination process. His stunts in The Italian Job remain iconic.
Rémy Julienne (Cont'd)
Julienne's most famous stunt involved in The Italian Job where Mini Coopers raced through the Turin streets. This stunt showed his planning and execution skills. Despite putting his life in danger, Julienne enjoyed a good safety record during his career. But in 1999, while shooting Taxi 2, there was a catastrophic accident that killed a cameraman. Julienne was found guilty of manslaughter, a sad blot on an otherwise flawless career.
The Italian Job |2003| All Pursuit Scenes [Edited], Axecutioner-Movieclips
Evel Knievel: The Daredevil Legend
Who doesn’t know the name Evel Knievel? The American daredevil gained fame for his motorcycle stunts performing jumps over cars, buses, and even the Snake River Canyon. He attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps and, in the process, became a cultural icon. His stunts were television events that generated massive viewerships, and his flashy nature and patriotic garb made him a household name.
Evel Knievel (Cont'd)
Knievel suffered numerous injuries throughout his career—it's estimated that he suffered over 40 broken bones throughout his career, as well as countless concussions. His worst crash occurred when trying a jump at Caesars Palace and resulted in a fractured pelvis and femur. Knievel continued to ride, though, following these accidents, and served as an inspiration to generations of future stunt riders.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Doug Danger: Record-Breaking Jumps
Doug "Danger" Senecal is a motorcycle stunt performer who's set many world records, including a 251-foot jump over 42 cars. He's jumped over tractor-trailers, school buses, and even a jumbo jet. Danger's stunts landed him a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Sturgis Buffalo Chip® 2015 - Doug Danger's 22-CAR Jump, Sturgis Buffalo Chip
Doug Danger (Cont'd)
Throughout his career, Danger has suffered numerous injuries, such as broken bones and a fracture to the skull. He spent over a month in a coma following one of his crashes. Despite the risk, he returned to performing. Danger recently became a motivational speaker, sharing his life story and encouraging others to pursue their dreams.
Maria Senecal, Wikimedia Commons
Bubba Blackwell: The Harley-Davidson King
Bubba Blackwell is famous for breaking Evel Knievel's jump records on a Harley-Davidson XR-750. He cleared 15 buses and 52 stacked cars, proving his exceptional skill and bravery. Blackwell's stunts have been featured on many television programs. He is the only stuntman officially backed by Harley-Davidson.
BUBBA BLACKWELL WORLD RECORD JUMP by Joseph Whittington, GOTEAMPHOTO
Bubba Blackwell (Cont'd)
Blackwell also tried to jump 22 cars in 2001 and crashed, suffering serious injuries. He recovered, then began performing again, still pushing the limits of motorcycle stunts. Blackwell's perseverance and toughness had made him a favorite with crowds, and he still rides at events across the country.
Dusty Russell: The Dive Bomber
Dusty Russell was renowned for his "dive bomber" automobile jumps. He performed in over 3,000 shows and starred in the film Steel Arena, which highlighted his life and stunts. Russell's death-defying acts were characterized by high-flying automobile jumps and wrecked automobiles, making him among the most thrilling stunt drivers ever.
Steel Arena (1973) [Action] 💥 Dare to Defy Death 💥 | full movie, CiNENET - Full movies in English
Dusty Russell (Cont'd)
One of Russell's most notable stunts was a 157-foot car jump, a world record when he performed it. He continued to work until retirement, and his legacy continues to be seen in stunt performances today.
Steel Arena (1973) [Action] 💥 Dare to Defy Death 💥 | full movie, CiNENET - Full movies in English
Tanner Foust: The Versatile Performer
Tanner Foust is a seasoned racing driver and stunt driver who has contributed to The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Ford v Ferrari, among others. He also presented the US version of Top Gear. Tanner is a rally racing, drifting, and precision driving expert, and his versatility has made him one of the most sought-after stunt drivers in Hollywood.
Tanner Foust (Cont'd)
Foust has set multiple world records, including a Hot Wheels double loop and a 332-foot jump during Indianapolis 500. His stunt work in television and film has also made him one of the industry's top stuntmen. Aside from his stunt career, Foust has taken home various X Games gold medals and has been a winner in lots of races.
MediaNews Group, Orange County Register, Getty Images
Terry Grant: The Record Breaker
British stunt driver Terry Grant is renowned for his precision driving and several Guinness World Records. He has recorded the highest loop-the-loop in a car, fastest two-wheel mile, and most doughnuts balancing on the top of a car. Grant began driving as a kid; with the help of his father's guidance, he started driving at the age of eight. Over the years, he has competed at high-profile events worldwide, including the Race of Champions and Formula 1 shows.
Jake Archibald from London, England, Wikimedia Commons
Terry Grant (Cont'd)
Even as much as he is renowned for his performances on stage, Grant's stunts include driving two wheels, spinning high speed, and intricate stunts in small spaces. Apart from performing, Grant also instructs his skills through his stunt driving school.
Grant Page: The Australian Daredevil
Grant Page was an Australian stuntman most famously known for his appearances in films such as Mad Max and The Man from Hong Kong. Page was one of the forefathers of the Ozploitation style of film, doing high-risk stunts that stretched safety to its limits and spectacle to its fullest potential—some of Page's more outrageous stunts involved catching himself on fire and performing death-defying jumps.
Fairfax Media Archives, Getty Images
Grant Page (Cont'd)
Throughout his career, Page had endured serious injuries, including fractured femurs, but continued to act and stage stunts. His work had a profound influence on Australian cinema, and his life was remembered in the film Not Quite Hollywood. In 2024, aged 85, Page was diagnosed with a car accident.
Fairfax Media Archives, Getty Images
Debbie Evans: The Motorcycle Maven
Debbie Evans is an iconic stuntwoman known for her motorcycle stunts in films like The Matrix Reloaded and The Fast and the Furious series. Evans was one of the first female stuntwomen to compete in motorcycle trials against men, breaking gender stereotypes in the sport. Evans' stunt career has been highly acclaimed and rewarded, with her being inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2003.
Debbie Evans (Cont'd)
Evans had been on motorcycles since she was six and in trials since the age of nine. Her early lead set her on the path towards a successful stunt performance career and she has appeared in over 200 movies and television productions.
Yakima Canutt: The Original Stuntman
Yakima Canutt was a pre-Hollywood stuntman who developed many of the techniques used today. He worked on early classics like Stagecoach and Ben-Hur, and his innovations, such as the "Running W" stunt and the safety harness, revolutionized the art of stunt work. He was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1966 for his contributions to the field.
Historic Photo Archive, Getty Images
Yakima Canutt (Cont'd)
Canutt's influence did not stop there; he also schooled actors like John Wayne on how to build their on-screen persona. His techniques have been replicated in hundreds of films, and his on-set safety protocols set a standard for the whole industry. His legacy is seen on every edge-of-your-seat action scene in modern cinema.
Lone Star Productions, Wikimedia Commons
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