Western Action, stunts, by Women. 1887 - 1945.
women born 1887 - 1945.
List 5 of 5 on western stunts.
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List 5 of 5 on western stunts.
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- American B-Western actress. Growing up in her native Reno, Nevada, she made her entree into films with small parts in films shooting on location in the Reno area. She travelled to Hollywood and got work as a trick rider and stuntwoman and eventually as a leading lady in low- budget Westerns for Monogram and Republic. She starred opposite Johnny Mack Brown in several films and married another cowboy star, Lash La Rue. She also had her own radio program in the 1940s, "Reno Rides the Range." She retired to her hometown of Reno and died there at the age of 70.14 westerns, 1946-1950.
Fence Riders (1950). 1950.
Trick rider. Troupe driver manager. Stunts.
1921 - 1991, 70. - Actress
- Stunts
Betty Miles was born on 11 January 1910 in Santa Monica, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Lone Star Law Men (1941), Sonora Stagecoach (1944) and The Return of Daniel Boone (1941). She died on 9 June 1992 in California, USA.- Stunts
- Actress
Definitely not your average 'prairie flower', brunette Evelyn Ruth Finley was known as the most accomplished stunt rider in the western genre. Famous director William A. Wellman was one of many who regarded her as the best in the business. She worked with horses from early childhood and grew up a tomboy on her father's ranch. Her dad had promised 'to put her into pictures', but how she eventually arrived in Hollywood is unclear. Winning a beauty contest as 'Miss Albuquerque' might have helped. The year was 1936 and her first picture was as stunt double to Jean Parker. By 1940, Evelyn was under contract at Monogram where her skills in the saddle quickly promoted her to leading lady opposite the likes of Tex Ritter, Tom Keene, Johnny Mack Brown and Buster Crabbe. As blonde Eve Anderson, she got to star in one of the last serials made at Columbia, Perils of the Wilderness (1956). However, Evelyn preferred the stunt work to acting, often doubling on horseback for glamorous stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Loretta Young. She remained involved in her area of expertise, either actively or as technical adviser, well into the 1980's. When not working in the film industry, she toured as an equestrian performer at different circuses. Evelyn was inducted into the Stuntmen's Hall of Fame.- Actress
- Stunts
Helen Gibson was one of the earliest serial stars. In 1915 she took over the title role in The Hazards of Helen (1914) from Helen Holmes. Known for her athletic abilities and willingness to do dangerous but exciting stunts, she made the transition from serials to features easily. She was the second wife of cowboy star Hoot Gibson. After her starring days ended in the early 1920s, she went on to become one of the industry's best stunt women, while also taking small acting parts, until her retirement in early 1962.- Actress
- Writer
- Director
Though the circumstances of Helen Holmes' birth are somewhat hazy (sources place it in either Chicago or Louisville, KY, in mid-June or early July of 1893), what isn't hazy is that she was, with Pearl White, the queen of the railroad serials of the mid-teens and early '20s. Holmes always played a strong-willed, independent and resourceful heroine, just as capable of running after, jumping on and stopping a runaway train as she was batting her eyes at the male "hero". Although she was convent-educated, her parents were poor and could barely afford her education, so as she got older she became a photographer's model to help pay the family bills.
Her brother's ill health necessitated a family move from cold, damp Chicago to the hot, dry climate of California's Death Valley. It was there that her taste for adventure was given full rein. In that desolate, sparsely populated country she prospected for gold and for a short time lived among a local Indian tribe. Her brother soon died, though, and in 1910 Helen moved to New York and began appearing in local plays. She had become friends with film star Mabel Normand, and after a short correspondence Normand invited her to Hollywood, where she got her friend some modeling and movie work. Holmes soon achieved success, and by 1913 was starring in her own films. She met her husband, director J.P. McGowan, at Kalem Studios while she was acting in, and he was directing, The Hazards of Helen (1914) serial. The two soon formed their own production company, and their films, both serials and features, achieved great success. By 1919, though, Mutual Films, the company that distributed their movies, had gone under. Without Mutual's financial backing the budgets on their films shrank precipitously, and not being able to afford to make railroad serials anymore, Helen was now turned into a newspaperwoman, a switch that did not sit well with her fans. Although she continued to make films and serials, many of them weren't starring roles anymore, and the fact that a good percentage of them were for the cheap independent market meant that relatively few audiences actually saw them.
Her marriage to McGowan broke up in 1925. She subsequently married a movie stuntman, and basically retired from the screen in 1926, although she made a few appearances in small parts over the next 20 years.
She kept her hand in the business by becoming a trainer for animals used in the movies, but that lasted until her husband died in 1946. Her health had been deteriorating for several years by that time, and she died of a heart attack in 1950.- Actress
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Aline Goodwin was born on 17 March 1901 in Archer City, Archer County, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for Leatherstocking (1924), Pueblo Terror (1931) and Rainbow Over Broadway (1933). She died on 31 May 1980 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.- Stunts
- Actress
Nellie Walker was born on 14 October 1903. She was an actress. She died on 26 October 1993 in Montague, Texas, USA.13 years western stunts, 36-49.
32 stunts, 1933-1949.
30 westerns.
Sons of the Pioneers (1942). 1942.
1902 - 1980, 78.- Stunts
- Actress
Babe DeFreest was born on 2 September 1907 in Placer County, California, USA. She was an actress. She died on 28 March 1986.- Stunts
- Actress
Helen Thurston was born on 24 June 1909 in Oregon, USA. She was an actress, known for I Married Joan (1952) and Man Without a Gun (1957). She was married to James Fawcett. She died on 23 April 1979 in Costa Mesa, California, USA.- Stunts
- Actress
- Special Effects
A pioneering Hollywood stunt woman, she worked in motion pictures for over 50 years. A world-class athlete, she was a member of the U.S. women's volleyball team, and played in two world championships. At age 50 she was a silver medalist at the Pan-American games in Chicago. She appeared in over 100 films, not only as a stunt person but also as a character actress. Swimming and diving stunts for Dorothy Lamour, stunt double for Vivien Leigh and Donna Reed among others, she received a lifetime achievement award from Women in Film in 1933.27 years western stunts, 47-74.
33 stunts, 1937-1992.
5 westerns.
4 for Texas (1963). 1963
1909 - 1996, 86.- Stunts
- Actress
Lucille House was born on 3 April 1910 in Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for Biography (1987). She died on 21 July 2008 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Stunts
- Actress
Audrey Scott was born on 4 July 1914 in Missouri, USA. She was an actress, known for Riding Habits (1948). She was married to Charles "Red" Barnett. She died on 23 April 1973 in El Paso, Texas, USA.23 years western stunts, 31-54.
49 stunts, 1928-1963.
12 westerns.
The Virginian (1946). 1946. Stunts, riding double.
1914 - 1973, 58.- Stunts
- Actress
Louise Montana was born on 31 August 1916 in the USA. She was an actress. She was married to Montie Montana. She died on 14 August 2005 in Northridge, California, USA.5 stunts, 52-64.
4 westerns, 52-64.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), 1962. Stunts.
1916-2005, 88.- Stunts
- Actress
Alice Van Springsteen was born on 12 July 1918 in Arvada, Colorado, USA. She was an actress, known for In Old Kentucky (1935). She was married to R.G. Springsteen. She died on 13 September 2008 in Point Loma, California, USA.11 years western stunts, 36-47.
1918 - 2008, (90).
15 stunts, 1935-1947.
13 westerns.
Home in Oklahoma (1946). 1946. Stunts.
Cowgirl Hall of Fame, 1998.- Stunts
- Actress
Trick rider and stunt woman Polly Burson was born Pauline Shelton on December 24, 1919 in Ontario, Oregon. Born into a rodeo family, Polly spent her early years on her grandfather's ranch and started riding calves at the age of seven. Moreover, Burson rode relay and flat races as well as was a trick rider since she was a teenager (she even managed to ride ride at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1941). Following an outstanding career on the rodeo circuit, Polly moved to California to break into the film business. Although it took Burson three years to break into said business, her career as a stunt woman was off and running from the mid-1940's and onward. Among the notable actresses that Polly doubled for throughout her five decade career as a stunt woman are Betty Hutton, Julie Adams, Sophia Loren, Shelley Winters, Yvonne De Carlo, Barbara Stanwyck, Dorothy Malone, Betty Grable, Lucille Ball, and Kim Darby.
Burson was the recipient of a Golden Boot Award for her substantial and impressive contributions to the Western genre in 1991; said award was present to her by longtime friend and fellow stuntman Henry Wills. In addition, Polly was also inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall of Fame, and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas in November, 2002. Burson was married and divorced three times. She died at age 86 on April 4, 2006 in Ventura, California.15 years western stunts, 54-69.
53 stunts, 1945-1987.
33 westerns.
Bend of the River (1952).
1919 - 2006, 86.- Actress
- Stunts
- Soundtrack
Rose Bascom was born on 25 January 1922 in Mount Olive, Mississippi, USA. She was an actress, known for Smoky River Serenade (1947) and The Lawless Rider (1954). She was married to Weldon Bascom. She died on 23 September 1993 in St. George, Utah, USA.- Stunts
- Actress
Stuntwoman May Boss was born on October 7, 1924 in New York. May was a trick rider in the rodeo circuit prior to entering the film industry in the early 1950's heyday of Hollywood Westerns. Among the notable actresses that Boss doubled for are Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth, Sandra Dee, Doris Day, Leslie Caron, and Dorothy Malone. Her career as a stuntwoman spanned five decades. Sadly, May's health declined after suffering a stroke in 2008. The mother of stuntman Clay Boss, Boss died at age 90 on September 16, 2015 in Mission Viejo, California.47 years western stunts, 52-99.
85 stunts, 1952-2003
25 westerns.
Fort Dobbs (1958). 1958
1924 - 2015, 90.- Stunts
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Stuntwoman and actress Donna Hall was born on May 21, 1928 in Los Angeles, California. Hall came from a rodeo family and grew up around movie sets with her jockey and stuntman father 'Shorty' Hall. Donna decided she wanted to be a stuntwoman during her first job at the age of eight when she was recommended for a horse riding gig on "Little Miss Adventure." Hall went on to be the riding double for Virginia Weidler on the film The Women (1939). Donna's career as a stuntwoman began in earnest in the late 1940's following graduation from Burbank High School in 1946. Moreover, Hall worked with livestock supplier Clarence "Fat" Jones and was mentored by fellow stuntwoman Polly Burson, who showed Hall the ropes on how to do transfers to trains, wagons, and stagecoaches as well as saddle falls and jumps between teams. Among the notable actresses that Donna doubled for are Doris Day, Barbara Stanwyck, Gail Davis, Judy Garland, Jane Fonda, Joan Collins, Debbie Reynolds, Shirley Temple, and Ginger Rogers. In addition, Hall also taught hundred of actors and actresses how to ride horses. Outside of her work in films and TV shows, Donna performed trick riding at rodeos in both Detroit, Michigan and Boston, Massachusetts; in front of crowds of 110,000 people in the L.A. Coliseum; and at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. Hall was one of the founding members of the Stuntwomen's Association of Motion Pictures. Donna was the recipient of a Golden Boot Award for her outstanding contributions to the Western genre in 2000. Hall died at age 74 on August 7, 2002 in Burbank, California.- Stunts
- Actress
Martha Crawford was born on 15 December 1928 in Dresden, Tennessee, USA. She is an actress, known for December Bride (1954).- Actress
- Stunts
Betty Endicott was born on 10 March 1931 in Sacramento, California, USA. She was an actress. She was married to Ron Hayes. She died on 8 November 2007 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Stunts
Jackie Hamblin Rife has been involved with movies for most of her life. Southern Utah's famous lady has worked on a number of movies, which were made in or around Kanab, Utah. Her personal experience in the movie industry makes her the resident expert and movie historian for the Kane County area.
Jackie provided tours and historical accounts of movies made near Kanab, which is known as Utah's Little Hollywood. The veteran stunt-woman has seen and done it all in the world of movies. She has appeared in a host of movies, but you may not always recognize her face. She has provided the energy and efforts for many scenes in movies but she is not always seen in her role as a stunt-woman and stunt-double as she filled in for the star of well known movies.
Jackie has ridden horses in westerns, jumped frozen lakes and taken numerous physical risks during movies. She hung out with the big stars of the motion picture industry and has plenty of stories to tell about her personal experiences within the movie business. If you want to know the who-what-when or why of movies made in Kane County, Jackie is the one to ask.
Her favorite movie experience was during the making of The Yellow Tomahawk.- Stunts
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Carol Daniels was born on 7 October 1935 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress, known for The Blues Brothers (1980), Anaconda (1997) and Star Trek (1966).12 + years of western stunts, 59-71.
1959, The Matchmaker (1959).
1971, The Devil and Miss Sarah (1971).
106 stunts, 1956-2006.
51 westerns, 1959-1971.
The Healing Woman (1959), 1959. Stunts.
1935 -.- Stunts
- Actress
Patty Elder was born on 5 November 1936 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. She was an actress, known for What's Up, Doc? (1972), Two-Minute Warning (1976) and Mannix (1967). She died on 2 December 1984 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.18 stunts, 1963-1982.
1936 - 1984, (48).
The Rare Breed (1966), 1966.
Ulzana's Raid (1972), 1972.
3 westerns.- Stunts
- Actress
- Producer
Julie Ann Johnson was born on 24 May 1939 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Smokin' Aces (2006), Crank (2006) and Mystery Men (1999).- Stunts
- Actress
Jeannie Epper was born on 27 January 1941 in Simi Valley, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Romancing the Stone (1984), Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) and Quarantine (2008). She was married to Tim. She died on 5 May 2024 in Simi Valley, California, USA.- Stunts
- Actress
Stephanie Epper was born on 9 December 1943 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for The Blues Brothers (1980), Beverly Hills Cop (1984) and Total Recall (1990). She died on 7 September 2013 in Sperry, Oklahoma, USA.43 stunts, 1956-1991.
50 westerns, 1955-1985.
The Rare Breed (1966), 1966. Stunts.
The Foundlings (1956), 1956. Stunts.
1943 -.- Stunts
- Actress
3 stunts, 1932, 1934, 1951.
2 westerns.
Robbers' Roost (1932), 1932. Stunts.
Westward the Women (1951), 1951. Stunts.- Additional Crew
- Actress
Martha Manor was born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She is known for Falcon Crest (1981), Bonanza (1959) and Blondie (1957).- Actress
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
5 stunts, 45-50.
4 westerns, 45-57.
3 miscellaneous credits.
1946, Singin' in the Corn (1946).
1948, The Man from Colorado (1948).- Actress
- Stunts
Ann Roberts is known for Swing, Cowboy, Swing (1946), Puddin' Head (1941) and Rocky King, Detective (1950).- Stunts
- Actress
Sharon Lucas was born on 2 June 1928 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA. She was an actress, known for The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966), The Cisco Kid (1950) and Honey West (1965). She died on 24 January 2006 in Grass Valley, California, USA.- Stunts
- Actress
Shirley Lucas was an actress, known for The Cisco Kid (1950). She died on 23 August 2021 in the USA.- Stunts
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Jean Coulter was born on 13 March 1944 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress, known for The Blues Brothers (1980), Jaws 2 (1978) and Better Off Dead (1985).- Transportation Department
- Additional Crew
- Camera and Electrical Department
21 miscellaneous credits.
59 westerns, 76-14.
tt1605913. 1976, stunts.
Boss wrangler, head wrangler, chief horse wrangler, animal trainer.