Jeannie Epper, a pioneer stuntwoman who performed in more than 100 films and television set, has died. She was 83.
A spokesperson confirmed Monday that Epper passed away on Sunday night at her Simi Valley home from organic factors, surrounded by her community.
Epper changed the game for people in the industry by serving as Lynda Carter’s stunt double in the 1970s TV series” Wonder Woman,” a long career that involved burst through doors, knocking down walls, and falling from buildings. In” Romancing the Stone,” Epper, standing in for Kathleen Turner, was the one who was swept down the sinkhole, which earned her the 1985 Stuntman Award for most magnificent prank in a feature movie.
In one of those classic catfights on the daytime television series” Dynasty,” Epper took the blows for Linda Evans while sporting a blonde wig. When Shirley MacLaine throws Jack Nicholson from her Cruiser in the video” Terms of Endearment,” Epper performs the stunt that people see.
Epper’s famous job includes stuntwork in” The Bionic Woman”,” Charlie’s Angels”,” Robocop”,” The European Job” and” Kill Bill: Vol. 2″. In the video” Double Dare” from 2004, Epper and other stuntwoman Zöe Bell were profiled.
Epper has been called the “godmother of stuntwomen” and” the grand lady of Hollywood stuntwomen”, working properly prior retirement age. At time 74, she performed acrobatics in the 2015 funny” Hot Pursuit”, starring Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon.
” She certainly qualifies to be one of the greatest stunt coordinators”, said director Steven Spielberg, who worked with Epper on” Catch Me If You Can” and” Minority Report”.
She was born Jean Luann Epper in 1941 to John and Frances Epper, both specialized stunt players. Epper’s parents immigrated to the United States in the 1920s, starting a riding school in Los Angeles, where he later worked as a performer for films, specializing in horse feats and acting as a double for players like Ronald Reagan and Gary Cooper.
Five brothers and sisters, all of whom worked as stuntpeople, were raised in North Hollywood by Jeannie Epper. The home business even included her three children and grandchildren.
Epper was a skilled rider, and at age 9, she broke into stuntwork, riding a horse bareback down a hill for a 1950s Television present, becoming one of the first professional baby stunt double.
” My father said it could be risky, but he knew I was an excellent rider”, she told The Times in 1999. ” He kept telling me to keep my head up, but that’s about all. I think he did n’t want to over- concern me. There’s a good range between being concerned and destroying one’s trust”.
The line marked the start of Epper’s sport- changing profession in the man- dominated industry.
Although Epper was a member of a daredevil family, it was normal for her to start putting on wigs for female actors. However, Epper changed the industry because of resilience and shifts in behaviour and style.
” Actresses began saying,’ I do n’t want a hairy- legged guy doing this for me,'” she told The Times in 1999. And it became clear that the camera was watching, and people were putting on less and less clothing.
Eventually, as a stunt consultant, Epper recalled dealing with people who resented taking commands from a woman.
She described a guest artist on the 1980s authorities drama” Cagney &, Lacey” as being unable to deliver a reassuring blow and who refused to be given instructions by a woman, allowing simply other actors on established to show him what to do.
” He threw the punch well enough to take the scene”, she said. ” But he still could n’t throw it like a man”.
In 2019, on the situation of Epper’s being honored at the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival, Melanie Wise— a manufacturer, professional, stuntwoman and chairman of the business — said,” Jeannie inspired a wave of women to get into stunts. They are in astonishment of her”.
Epper served as both a Stuntmen’s Association of Motion Pictures ‘ founding part and an honourable Stuntmen’s Association of Motion Pictures.
She is survived by father Tim Kimack, child Eurlyne Epper, brother Richard Epper, five grandkids and seven wonderful- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by son Kurtis Epper, who was also a stunt performer.
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