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| Ted White (far right) with stuntmen Leroy Johnson and Cliff Lyons in the 1959 film The Horse Soldiers |
Like him or hate him – and if you hate this man, then you suck – Ted White is an industry icon, working alongside the most influential/legendary names in movie history. He amassed one of the most impressive resumes for a stuntman in his era and he worked when stuntmen did a lot of very dangerous stunts without any union backing for safety regulations.
Ted continued to take stunt jobs well into his 60s and then started to slow down in small roles in films. He later quietly retired, not really knowing of the huge following he had with us Friday the 13th fans. Sadly, he allowed two decades to race by before embracing us and becoming a common face in the convention circuit.
Sadly, he won't be around forever, so I strongly suggest to meet this class act if he is at a convention in your town.
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| Ted White and his Winchester in 1984's Starman |
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| Ted White (top row, center-ish) in 1973's Soylent Green |
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| Mid 60s Ted White postcard |
From the audio & video interviews that I have seen of Mr. White, he is a rare dying breed: a really "nice" tough guy type whom seems overly kind & gracious for his time & fan-base. It is a damn shame that most entire North American males, in my business travels, seem to be total ice-hearted douchebags or overly "bully" types.
ReplyDeleteI TRULY do wish to meet him one day. ;-)
He is from an era of stunt work where it wasn't uncommon to be severely hurt and killed. he was one of the first to start the stunt union, because of all of the injuries and deaths. I believe Rory Jensen and Bud (forget his last name - Town That Dreaded Sundown fame) were the first three... I think?
DeleteAh yes good ole' Bud Davis I believe you mean (The Phantom Killer/stunts in the late Charles B. Pierce's Town That Dreaded Sundown which I own on blu ray, by the way). He is a Stuntman's Hall of Fame for film & television legend too.
DeleteHe worked right on up until Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds shot in 2009. He was also the stunt coordinator on that film as well too. Normally Tarantino uses Buddy Joe Hooker but I guess either Tarantino was a huge "Town" fanatic as I presumed or Mr. Hooker was unavailable, I cannot presume which one.
And yeah re-reading over Mr. Whites' credits & interviews audio/video wise online, you get the sense that he is a true class act & of a dying breed of true Southern gentleman. I would love to e-mail him sometimes, as a mild part of my Asperger's for the love of film & television mediums is a deep-seeded respect for Stuntmen/Women as they take many falls even with the larger safety pre-caucautions out there to take.
This man actually deserves a full online or sell through his website documentary made about him while still alive I feel. He is much more deserving of it then an overrated person from the franchise such as Savini, who's been trying to raise funds for a documentary made on his life & work for the last two-plus years now, ect.
By the way not to be a total bother, but does anyone have his most current/reliable e-mail address in which we can send in questions & autograph like requests? I would presume Jack might know. Was merely respectfully curious...
ReplyDeletePEACE
No clue. I had his home address, but it's been ages. No longer remember it.
DeleteAh its all cool bro, hopefully it can turn up on some horror genre forums. No real biggie ;-)
Deletelegend and best jason ever
ReplyDeleteHi Fans, So nice to read all the great things you wrote about me, even if they are not deserving. Feel free to contact me at my new website, www.tedwhite.com.
ReplyDeleteHope to hear from you and see you at a convention soon.
Ted White
It was truly nice to re-read over this post that you made last year, Mr. White! I see that next year in at Horror Hound Weekend that you're retiring from the convention circuit and I am seriously considering meeting you as I'm a huge fan of your film & television acting & stunt work. God bless you kind sir, you were a very intimidating and tactful Jason Voorhees; you scared many of us during our childhoods. And thank you kind sir, do take care in retirement now!
DeleteTed was the best Jason. Richard was great too though. I too believe that Ted is a breed no longer attributed to Hollywood or movies in general. Great in Waynes movies too. Thanks Ted!!! Tom Savini is not an asshole he just hates annoying fanboys who talk loud in his face and drool all over him. Just imagine spending all day/night at conventions hearing the same thing over and over again. He is a very private person and probably shouldn't even be attending conventions. But it's about the $$$.
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