Date of Birth: March 6, 1931
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: October 25, 2013
Biography
Hal Needham was an American stuntman, director, and writer, renowned for his work in Hollywood both in front of and behind the camera. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Needham started his career as a stuntman, performing dangerous feats in numerous films and television shows. He quickly gained a reputation for his fearless approach to stunts and his innovative techniques. Needham transitioned into directing and found significant success with his directorial debut, “Smokey and the Bandit” (1977), which became a massive box office hit. Throughout his career, he collaborated frequently with actor Burt Reynolds, directing several popular action-comedy films such as “Hooper” (1978) and “The Cannonball Run” (1981). In addition to his work in film, Needham was a pioneer in the stunt industry, creating the first airbag for stunts and founding Stunts Unlimited, an organization dedicated to the safety and advancement of stunt professionals. He received an honorary Academy Award in 2012 for his contributions to the industry.
5 Interesting Facts about Hal Needham
1. Hal Needham was one of the highest-paid stuntmen in Hollywood before becoming a director.
2. He directed the first film to use outtakes during the end credits, a trend that became popular in action-comedies.
3. Needham served as a paratrooper during the Korean War.
4. He was the first person to jump from a moving plane into a moving car, a stunt he performed in “The Gypsy Moths” (1969).
5. Hal Needham was inducted into the Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame in 1973.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hal Needham
1. “I’m a stuntman turned director, and the thing I like best about that is being able to say ‘Action!’ and ‘Cut!’”
2. “I did 4,500 stunts in my career without serious injury.”
3. “Stuntmen are the invisible men of movies, the unsung heroes who make the stars look good.”
4. “I wanted to make movies that were fun. Movies where people could laugh and have a good time.”
5. “If I hadn’t become a stuntman, I probably would have ended up in jail.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Hal Needham’s net worth was estimated to be around $2 million.
Children
Hal Needham had one son, David Needham, from his first marriage to Sharon Needham.
Relevant Links
1. [Hal Needham – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0624093/
2. [Hal Needham – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Needham
3. [Hal Needham’s Honorary Oscar Speech – YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gph4eGk8p6Q
4. [Stunts Unlimited](http://www.stuntsunlimited.com/
5. [Smokey and the Bandit – Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/smokey_and_the_bandit
