Benny E. Dobbins, aka Ben, Bernie, or Bennie Dobbins (November 16, 1932 – February 5, 1988)[1] was an American stuntman, actor, stunt coordinator, and second unit director.
Bennie Dobbins | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 16, 1932 Los Angeles County, California, US |
| Died | February 5, 1988 (aged 55) Vienna, Austria |
| Years active | 1957–1988 |
As coordinator and director, Dobbins is known for films such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Running Man, Extreme Prejudice, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Commando, and Weird Science.
As a stuntman and actor Dobbins was frequently omitted from the end credits. Even in his credited work, he is often given generic character names such as Cowboy #2 in Gunsmoke (S17E21 "Yankton") and 1st Bandit in The Six Million Dollar Man (S1E12 "The Coward").
Dobbins died in Austria after suffering a heart attack near the ski resort of Schladming during the filming of Red Heat starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Dobbins was a co-director on the film, and was coordinating the stunts when he collapsed. He was airlifted from the film location by helicopter to a hospital where, later, a doctor pronounced him dead.[1]
Filmography
editA partial filmography follows.[2][3]
Stuntman
edit- Commando (1985)
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- Blazing Saddles (1974)
- Earthquake (1974)
- Cheyenne (1958-1962)
Director, Stunt Coordinator
edit- Red Heat (1988)
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
- The Running Man (1987)
- Extreme Prejudice (1987)
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
- Commando (1985)
- Weird Science (1985)
Actor
edit- Gunsmoke (1972) as Cowboy #2 (S17E21 "Yankton")
- The Six Million Dollar Man (1974) as 1st Bandit (S1E12 "The Coward")
References
edit- ^ a b "Obituaries : Benny Dobbins; U.S. Action Film Director". Los Angeles Times. Feb 7, 1988. Retrieved Aug 11, 2022.
- ^ Turner Classic Movies: https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/51110%7C0/Bennie-Dobbins#overview
- ^ TV Guide: https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bennie-dobbins/credits/3000551238/