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Hal Needham

Acting

Born March 6, 1931 · Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Died October 25, 2013

Also known as Hal Brett Needham

Biography

Hal Brett Needham (March 6, 1931 – October 25, 2013) was an American stuntman, film director, actor and writer. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with actor Burt Reynolds, usually in films involving fast cars, such as Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Hooper (1978), The Cannonball Run (1981) and Stroker Ace (1983). In his later years, Needham moved out of stunt work, and focused his energy on the World land speed record project. In 2001, Needham received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Taurus World Stunt Awards, and in 2012, he was awarded a Governors Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Description above from the Wikipedia article Hal Needham, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Honorary Award · 2013
  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Screenplay · 1985 · nominated
  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Director · 1985 · nominated
  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Director · 1984 · nominated
  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Director · 1983 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

A RAD Documentary

2025as Self

Chinatown

1974Stunt Coordinator

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

1962Stunts

The Bandit

2016as Self (archive footage)

The Wild Wild West

1965as Henchman (uncredited)

The Big Country

1958Stunts

The French Connection

1971Stunts

Zorro

1957as Don (uncredited)

Have Gun, Will Travel

1957as Band member (uncredited)

Blazing Saddles

1974as Outlaw (uncredited)

Rawhide

1959as Brawler (uncredited)

The Great Race

1965as Saloon Brawler (uncredited)

Tales of Wells Fargo

1957as Stage Passenger (uncredited)

Smokey and the Bandit

1977Director, Story, Stunts

Shenandoah

1965Stunts

Mail Order Bride

1964Stunts

How the West Was Won

1962Stunts

Hard Time: Hostage Hotel

1999Director

Sometimes a Great Notion

1971as Man at Racetrack

Ironside

1967as Officer Connell

French Connection II

1975as Doyle Kidnapper (uncredited)

The Longest Yard

1974Second Unit Director, Stunt Coordinator

The War Wagon

1967as Hite

Mannix

1967

Stoney Burke

Charlie's Angels

1976as Spencer

Chisum

1970Stunt Coordinator

The Bridge at Remagen

1969Stunt Coordinator

Major Dundee

1965Stunts

The Spirit of St. Louis

1957Stunts

Gunsmoke

1955as Townsman (uncredited)

The Great Bank Robbery

1969Stunts

Bandolero!

1968Stunt Coordinator

In Harm's Way

1965as Airman in the Blue Lagoon (uncredited)

McLintock!

1963as Carter (uncredited)

Wagon Train

1957as Saloon Tough (uncredited)

Rad

1986Director

Billy Jack Goes to Washington

1977Stunt Coordinator

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean

1972Stunts

Rio Lobo

1970Stunts

Tobruk

1967Stunts

The Virginian

1962as Bounty Hunter

The Culpepper Cattle Co.

1972as Burgess

Our Man Flint

1966Stunts

The Sunchaser

1996Stunts

Hooper

1978Director

Foul Play

1978Stunts

Three the Hard Way

1974Stunt Coordinator

The Bounty Man

1972as Pike

Hardcase

1972Stunt Coordinator