Jeannie Epper, a pioneering stuntwoman who appeared in more than 100 films and television series, has died. She was 83 years old.
Epper died Sunday night of natural causes at his home in Simi Valley surrounded by his family, a spokesperson confirmed Monday.
Epper, who has spent a long career smashing through doors, kicking walls and falling off roofs, became a leader in the women's industry when she served as Lynda Carter's stunt double on the 1970s TV series “Wonder Woman.” Changed direction. Epper replaced Kathleen Turner when she was caught in a landslide in Romancing the Stone, for which she won the 1985 Stuntman Award for the most spectacular stunt in a feature film. .
Wearing a blonde wig, Epper took down Linda Evans in that iconic catfight with Joan Collins on the nighttime soap Dynasty. Epper's stunt driving is what audiences see when Shirley MacLaine throws Jack Nicholson out of her Corvette in “Terms of Endearment.''
Epper's prolific credits include stunt work on The Bionic Woman, Charlie's Angels, RoboCop, The Italian Job, Kill Bill: Vol. 2.'' Epper was featured alongside fellow stuntwoman Zoe Bell in the 2004 documentary “Double Dare.''
She is called the “Godmother of Stunt Women” and “Grand Matron of Hollywood Stunt Women,” and continues to work even after retirement. The 74-year-old performed stunts in the 2015 comedy Hot Pursuit, starring Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon.
Director Steven Spielberg, who worked with Epper on “Catch Me If You Can'' and “Minority Report,'' said, “She certainly deserves to be one of the best stunt coordinators.''
She was born Jean Luann Epper in 1941 to John and Frances Epper, both professional stunt performers. In the 1920s, Epper's father immigrated to the United States from Switzerland and founded a riding school in Los Angeles, then became a film stuntman, specializing in horseback stunts and working for actors such as Ronald Reagan and Gary Cooper. .
Jeannie Epper grew up in North Hollywood with five brothers and sisters, all of whom worked as stuntmen. Her three children and her grandchildren also inherited her family business.
Epper was an accomplished rider who began doing stunt work at the age of nine, becoming one of the first professional child stuntmen when he rode a horse naked down a mountain on a 1950s TV show.
“My father said it could be dangerous, but he knew I was a good rider,” she told The Times in 1999. I think he didn't want to worry me too much. There's a fine line between worrying and hurting someone's confidence. ”
This series marked the beginning of Epper's groundbreaking career in a male-dominated industry.
Epper comes from a family of stuntmen, but when she started working for men, it was common for actresses to wear wigs while doing stunts. But thanks to her persistence and changes in her attitude and fashion, Epper changed her business.
“Actresses started saying, 'I don't want a hairy guy to do this to me,'” she told The Times in 1999. It was a man. ”
Later, Epper recalled that as a stunt coordinator, he dealt with men who resented being ordered around by women.
While working on the 1980s police series “Cagney & Lacey,” she not only was unable to land a convincing punch, but also refused to take instructions from women and only other stuntmen on set. described a guest actor who wouldn't allow him to be told what to do.
“He threw enough punches to shoot that scene,” she said. “But he still couldn't throw like a human.”
When honored at the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival in 2019, producer, actor, stuntwoman and founder of the organization Melanie Wise said of Epper: They are in awe of her her. ”
Epper was a founding member of the Stan Women Association. He is an honorary member of the Motion Picture Association and an honorary member of the Stuntmen's Association. of the movie.
Times staff writer Nardine Saad contributed to this report.
