Bobby Bass

Bobby Bass (occasionally Bob Bass) (August 6, 1936 in California – November 7, 2001) was an American actor, stunt performer, and stunt coordinator/second unit director.

Early life

Bass, a graduate of Morningside High School in Inglewood, California, was an enthusiast of the martial arts. As a teenager, he became a judo champion, meeting Gene LeBell who introduced him to the stunt industry in Hollywood.[1]

Bass served in the military, initially as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and then in Special Forces to become a special forces instructor.[2][3] He resumed competing in judo and attained the rank of third degree black belt.[2]

Career

Bass made a career in movies and television in a variety of genres working with Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone, and John Wayne. He taught martial arts and weapons handling to Geena Davis, Michael Douglas, Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Susan Sarandon, and Kathleen Turner. Bass appeared in TV commercials and TV series such as Fantasy Island, MacGyver, Mission: Impossible, Star Trek: The Original Series, The A-Team, and The Twilight Zone.[4]

Bass also championed safer working conditions for the stunt industry, especially after his then fiancee and Melanie Griffith's best friend, Heidi von Beltz[5] was forever paralyzed performing a stunt in 1980 for Cannonball Run.

Personal life

At the time of his death, Bobby Bass was married to Norma Collins. He had two children from his first marriage, and four grandchildren therefrom. He had four step-children (including actress Bo Derek), and six grandchildren therefrom. He suffered from Parkinson's disease until his death in Los Angeles.[4]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1973The Don Is DeadHijackerUncredited
1976Bound for GloryHead Goon at Migrant Camp
1980The Ninth ConfigurationDriver
1980Tom HornCorbett's Bodyguard
1980The HunterMatthew Branch
1980Blood BeachRapist
1982MegaforceMotorcycle Driver
1983Star 801st Hood
1985To Live and Die in L.A.FBI Agent #1
1987The SqueezePoker Player
1990Heart ConditionArmed Man
1933Excessive ForceLimo Driver
1994PentathlonBartender / Patron
1995JadeAssistant District Attorney
1996My Fellow AmericansNSA Hitman #1
1997Grosse Pointe BlankAssassin #1
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References
  1. "Bobby Bass". stungplayers.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  2. Freese, Gene Scott (2014). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary (2nd ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 18. ISBN 9781476614700.
  3. O'Neill, Terry (1987). "Lethal Weapon Terry O'Neill interviews Mel Gibson". Fighting Arts International. No. 44. England. p. 12. OCLC 500109467. Archived from the original on 2003-01-02. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
  4. "Bobby Bass". variety.com. 12 November 2001. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  5. "First Peek". melaniegriffith.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2001.
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