‘Smokey and the Bandit’ director, stuntman Hal Needham dies
FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2012 file photo, Hal Needham arrives at the 4th Annual Governors Awards at Hollywood and Highland Center's Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. Needham, a top Hollywood stuntman who turned to directing rousing action films including "Smokey and the Bandit" and "The Cannonball Run," died Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, his business managers told the Los Angeles Times. He was 82. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES >> Hal Needham, a top Hollywood stuntman who turned to directing rousing action films including “Smokey and the Bandit” and “The Cannonball Run,” has died. He was 82.
His business managers tell the Los Angeles Times that Needham died Friday in Los Angeles.
A former paratrooper, Needham appeared in thousands of TV episodes and hundreds of movies, performing and designing stunts and new equipment to execute them.
Needham jumped from planes, was dragged by horses and wrecked cars — breaking 56 bones in the process.
His best-known directing efforts involved 1970s Burt Reynolds action comedies, including “Smokey,” ”Cannonball Run” and “Stroker Ace.” He also directed Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Villain.”
In a Twitter posting, Schwarzenegger calls Needham an icon.
Needham received an honorary Oscar last year.
