American stunt performer and film director (1931–2013)
Hal Needham
Needham in 2011
Born
Hal Brett Needham
(1931-03-06)March 6, 1931
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Died
October 25, 2013(2013-10-25) (aged 82)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
Stuntman
film director
actor
writer
NASCAR team owner
Years active
1956–1996
Spouses
Arlene R. Wheeler
(m. 1960; div. 1977)
Dani Crayne
(m. 1981; div. 1996)
Ellyn Wynne Williams
(m. 1996)
Hal Brett Needham (March 6, 1931 – October 25, 2013) was an American stuntman, film director, actor, writer, and NASCAR team owner. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with actor Burt Reynolds, usually in films involving fast cars, such as Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Hooper (1978), The Cannonball Run (1981) and Stroker Ace (1983).
In his later years, Needham moved out of stunt work, and focused his energy on the world land speed record project. In 2001, Needham received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Taurus World Stunt Awards, and in 2012, he was awarded a Governors Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Hal Brett Needham (March 6, 1931 – October 25, 2013) was an American stuntman, film director, actor, writer, and NASCAR team owner. He is best known for...
Williams and Mike Henry. The film marks the directorial debut of stuntman, HalNeedham. The film follows Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds) and Cledus "Snowman"...
The Cannonball Run is a 1981 action-comedy film directed by HalNeedham, produced by Hong Kong's Golden Harvest films, and distributed by 20th Century-Fox...
married name, Connie Needham, from season 4 onwards. David Needham's father is stuntman and film director/producer HalNeedham. Connie and David divorced...
action film directed by former stuntman HalNeedham and written by James Whittaker, Albert S. Ruddy, HalNeedham and André Morgan based on a story by Robert...
Stroker Ace is a 1983 American action comedy sport film directed by HalNeedham and starring Burt Reynolds as the eponymous Stroker Ace, a NASCAR driver...
career with a car-chase film, Smokey and the Bandit (1977), directed by HalNeedham, and co-starring Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, and Sally Field. He followed...
Jilly Dub Taylor as a sheriff Harry Gant as a mob henchman Director HalNeedham appears uncredited as a Porsche 928 driver in a cowboy hat, whose car...
Wallach (2010) James Earl Jones / Dick Smith (2011) D. A. Pennebaker / HalNeedham / George Stevens Jr. (2012) Angela Lansbury / Steve Martin / Piero Tosi...
a NASCAR Winston Cup Series team. It was owned by Hollywood stuntman HalNeedham and actor Burt Reynolds. The team made its debut in 1981, fielding the...
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, screenwriter, and centenarian...
Rocket". The vehicle, like its predecessor, was owned by film director HalNeedham, driven by Stan Barrett and designed and built by William Fredrick (Died...
Hooper (1978), helmed by stunt-man-turned-director HalNeedham and starring Burt Reynolds. Needham decided to include outtakes in the film's end credit...
Wallach (2010) James Earl Jones / Dick Smith (2011) D. A. Pennebaker / HalNeedham / George Stevens Jr. (2012) Angela Lansbury / Steve Martin / Piero Tosi...
Wallach (2010) James Earl Jones / Dick Smith (2011) D. A. Pennebaker / HalNeedham / George Stevens Jr. (2012) Angela Lansbury / Steve Martin / Piero Tosi...
Annie HalNeedham Megaforce 1983 (4th) Peter Sasdy The Lonely Lady Joe Alves Jaws 3-D Brian De Palma Scarface John Herzfeld Two of a Kind HalNeedham Stroker...
Wallach (2010) James Earl Jones / Dick Smith (2011) D. A. Pennebaker / HalNeedham / George Stevens Jr. (2012) Angela Lansbury / Steve Martin / Piero Tosi...
released a 4K restoration of the 1980s cult-classic Rad by director HalNeedham. It starred Schwartzman's mother, Talia Shire, and was executive produced...
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