Hal Needham

American stunt performer and film director (1931-2013)

Hal Brett Needham (March 6, 1931 – October 25, 2013) was an American stuntman, movie director, actor, and writer. He is known for directing the 1971 comedy movie Smokey and the Bandit and The Cannonball Run. Needham received the Taurus World Stunt Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.

Needham in July 2011

Needham was born on March 6, 1931 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas and in St. Louis, Missouri.

Needham was married to Dani Crayne from 1981 until they divorced in 1996. Then he was married to Ellyn Wynne Williams from 1996 until his death in 2013. Needham died on October 25, 2013 from cancer in Los Angeles, California, aged 82.[1][2]

References change

  1. Chawkins, Steve (October 25, 2013). "Hal Needham, veteran Hollywood stuntman and director, dies at 82". The Los Angeles Times.
  2. Truitt, Brian. "Iconic stuntman, director Hal Needham dies at 82". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved 26 October 2013.

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