Hollywood stuntman Bob Yerkes, finest identified for his work in “Star Wars” and “Again to the Future,” has died at age 92.
Yerkes, whose silver display profession spanned over 70 years, was a stunt double for among the greatest stars within the movie business, together with Paul Newman, Robert Duval, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
His dying was introduced by fellow stunt performer Darlene Ava Williams, who shared the information on social media Thursday.
“I’m horribly unhappy to listen to that my mentor and stunt coach Bob Yerkes handed away this morning in Northridge, California,” she wrote on Fb.
“Bobby opened the door to his house and yard to everybody that both wanted a spot to remain or to coach for a job.”
In “Again to the Future,” Yerkes served as a stunt double for Christopher Lloyd within the iconic scene that noticed him slide down a clock tower cable within the hit 1985 cult favourite.
In “Star Wars,” the stuntman flew as intergalactic bounty hunter Boba Fett within the 1983 movie “Return of the Jedi.” The stunt was filmed in his yard.
“Bobby knew my dad and mom earlier than I used to be born and knew me as a child rising up within the circus,” Williams continued in her tribute.
“At one time, lengthy earlier than me, my dad and Bob carried out in a flying trapeze act collectively within the circus. As a child I keep in mind visiting his yard. I keep in mind watching him practice celebrities and stunt folks.”
She added that Yerkes would all the time contemplate her for stunt jobs at any time when they popped up, even earlier than she devoted her profession to being a stunt girl.
“I might not have had a profession in stunts with out Bob Yerkes,” she went on. “I’m so grateful that we bought to rejoice Bob Yerkes induction into the Circus Ring of Fame this 12 months for Coach of the Yr.”
“I’m so glad we bought to additionally rejoice his 92nd birthday with him right here in Sarasota,” she added. “There’ll by no means be one other Bob Yerkes! My coronary heart is damaged. I’m proud and honored to have identified him. He was a real legend!”
Yerkes earned his stripes as considered one of Hollywood’s most profitable stunt doubles throughout his glittering profession.
He was a Corridor of Fame inductee and acquired a lifetime achievement award from the World Acrobatic Society.
Initially a circus performer, Yerkes bought his begin in Hollywood in 1948 when he landed a stunt double position within the movie “Julia Misbehaves.”
Along with his work as a stunt double, Yerkes taught his abilities to many celebrities within the business, together with Brooke Shields and Todd Bridges
Yerkes additionally doubled as Schwarzenegger within the 1985 movie “Commando,” in addition to and Eli Wallach in “Powerful Guys” the next 12 months.
Regardless of being a talented trapeze aerialist and tightrope walker, Yerkes endured a collection of painful accidents throughout his profession, together with breaking each legs throughout the filming of “Breakout” in 1975.
He additionally broke his legs whereas filming “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and “Her Alibi.”
His different credit embody “Angels and Demons,” “Adaptation,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Psycho III,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Poltergeist.”
Most just lately, Yerkes appeared in “Killing Hasselhoff” in 2017 and “Water for Elephants” in 2011.
He leaves behind his son Mark, who can also be a stuntman. Yerkes different son, Gerald, died whereas serving within the Vietnam warfare.
