Yakima Canutt
Biography
Yakima Canutt was an American rodeo rider who became a stuntman, actor and second unit director. Born near Colfax, Washington, he grew up on a ranch and rode broncos professionally before entering films, where he worked on more than 200 movies between 1915 and 1975. He first tried stunt work in a fight scene on the serial Lightning Bryce and later became Republic Pictures' top stuntman, devising safety equipment and stunt techniques that later became common. He doubled for John Wayne and performed the famous stagecoach drop in John Ford's Stagecoach (1939). Canutt also staged the chariot race in Ben-Hur (1959), earning a National Board of Review special citation, and directed action for Spartacus (1960) and El Cid (1961). In 1967 he received an Academy Honorary Award for his stunt work and safety innovations. He died in 1986.
90years old at death
- Born Colfax
- Died North Hollywood
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 16
- Career span
- 8 years1933 to 1941
Genres
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Behind the award
In 1967, Canutt received an Academy Honorary Award for his stunt work and for creating safety devices that protect stunt men everywhere.
About the name
At the 1914 Pendleton Round-Up, a newspaper caption misidentified him, and that is how he came to be known by the nickname "Yakima."
First role
Canutt's first taste of stunt work came in a fight scene on the serial Lightning Bryce, after which he returned to the rodeo circuit.
Getting ready for a role
Canutt showed Wayne how to fall from a horse. Together they developed a way to make screen fights look real: standing at an angle before the camera, they could aim a punch at another actor's face and seem to land it.
Getting ready for a role
Canutt handled the chariot race staging for Ben-Hur, which called for nine teams of four horses. Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd were trained by him to do their own charioteering.
Yakima Canutt movies on Netflix
Bad Man of Deadwoodas Stage Driver
The Carson City Kidas Pete - Bartender
The Ranger and the Ladyas Mack
Stagecoachas Cavalry Scout / Indian Attacking Stagecoach
The Riders of the Whistling Skullas Otah
Winds of the Wastelandas Smokey - Henchman
Branded a Cowardas The Original Cat
Paradise Canyonas Curly Joe Gale
The Dawn Rideras Saloon Owner
Westward Ho
'Neath the Arizona Skiesas Sam Black
The Lawless Frontieras Joe - Zanti's Henchman
The Lucky Texanas Joe Cole
The Star Packeras Yak
West of the Divideas Henchman Hank
The Telegraph Trailas High Wolf
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Robert N. Bradbury directed six of these films, Joseph Kane three and Mack V. Wright two. John Wayne appears in eleven of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.







Films together
John Wayne11 films together, 1933 to 1939
John Wayne's page Stagecoach1939IMDb rating 7.8Canutt as Cavalry Scout / Indian Attacking StagecoachWayne as Ringo Kid
Winds of the Wasteland1936IMDb rating 6.0Canutt as Smokey - HenchmanWayne as John Blair
Paradise Canyon1935IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Curly Joe GaleWayne as John Wyatt
The Dawn Rider1935IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Saloon OwnerWayne as John Mason
Westward Ho1935IMDb rating 5.7Wayne as John Wyatt
'Neath the Arizona Skies1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Sam BlackWayne as Chris Morrell
The Lawless Frontier1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Joe - Zanti's HenchmanWayne as John Tobin
The Lucky Texan1934IMDb rating 5.6Canutt as Joe ColeWayne as Jerry Mason
The Star Packer1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as YakWayne as John Travers
West of the Divide1934IMDb rating 5.3Canutt as Henchman HankWayne as Ted Hayden posing Gat Ganns
The Telegraph Trail1933IMDb rating 5.7Canutt as High WolfWayne as John Trent
George 'Gabby' Hayes8 films together, 1934 to 1941
George 'Gabby' Hayes's page Bad Man of Deadwood1941IMDb rating 5.8Canutt as Stage DriverHayes as Professor Gabby Blackstone
The Carson City Kid1940IMDb rating 6.1Canutt as Pete - BartenderHayes as Marshal Gabby Whittaker
The Ranger and the Lady1940IMDb rating 6.0Canutt as MackHayes as TexRanger Sergeant Gabby
'Neath the Arizona Skies1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Sam BlackHayes as Matt Downing(George Hayes)
The Lawless Frontier1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Joe - Zanti's HenchmanHayes as Dusty(George Hayes)
The Lucky Texan1934IMDb rating 5.6Canutt as Joe ColeHayes as Jake Benson
The Star Packer1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as YakHayes as Matt Matlock(George Hayes)
West of the Divide1934IMDb rating 5.3Canutt as Henchman HankHayes as Dusty Rhodes(George Hayes)
Earl Dwire7 films together, 1934 to 1935
Earl Dwire's page The Dawn Rider1935IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Saloon OwnerDwire as Pete - Expressman
Westward Ho1935IMDb rating 5.7Dwire as Townsman
'Neath the Arizona Skies1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Sam BlackDwire as Tom - Nina's Father
The Lawless Frontier1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Joe - Zanti's HenchmanDwire as Pandro Zanti Posing Don Yorba
The Lucky Texan1934IMDb rating 5.6Canutt as Joe ColeDwire as Sheriff Miller
The Star Packer1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as YakDwire as Mason
West of the Divide1934IMDb rating 5.3Canutt as Henchman HankDwire as Sheriff
Artie Ortego6 films together, 1934 to 1935
Artie Ortego's page Branded a Coward1935IMDb rating 5.7Canutt as The Original CatOrtego as Saloon Robber
'Neath the Arizona Skies1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Sam BlackOrtego as Shorty - Henchman
The Lawless Frontier1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Joe - Zanti's HenchmanOrtego as Henchman
The Lucky Texan1934IMDb rating 5.6Canutt as Joe ColeOrtego as Deputy
The Star Packer1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as YakOrtego as Pat
West of the Divide1934IMDb rating 5.3Canutt as Henchman HankOrtego as Henchman
Herman Hack5 films together, 1934 to 1940
Herman Hack's page The Ranger and the Lady1940IMDb rating 6.0Canutt as MackHack as Freight Wagon Driver
Paradise Canyon1935IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Curly Joe GaleHack as Deputy Herman
The Dawn Rider1935IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Saloon OwnerHack as Henchman
'Neath the Arizona Skies1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Sam BlackHack as Henchman
The Lawless Frontier1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Joe - Zanti's HenchmanHack as Henchman
Eddie Parker4 films together, 1934
Eddie Parker's page 'Neath the Arizona Skies1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Sam BlackParker as Henchman Asking Chris for Nina
The Lawless Frontier1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Joe - Zanti's Henchman
The Lucky Texan1934IMDb rating 5.6Canutt as Joe ColeParker as Al Miller
The Star Packer1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as YakParker as Parker(Ed Parker)
Robert N. BradburyDirector, 6 films, 1934 to 1935
All films by Robert N. Bradbury The Dawn Rider1935IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Saloon Owner
Westward Ho1935IMDb rating 5.7
The Lawless Frontier1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Joe - Zanti's Henchman
The Lucky Texan1934IMDb rating 5.6Canutt as Joe Cole
The Star Packer1934IMDb rating 5.1Canutt as Yak
West of the Divide1934IMDb rating 5.3Canutt as Henchman Hank
Joseph KaneDirector, 3 films, 1940 to 1941
All films by Joseph Kane Bad Man of Deadwood1941IMDb rating 5.8Canutt as Stage Driver
The Carson City Kid1940IMDb rating 6.1Canutt as Pete - Bartender
The Ranger and the Lady1940IMDb rating 6.0Canutt as Mack
Mack V. WrightDirector, 2 films, 1936 to 1937
All films by Mack V. Wright The Riders of the Whistling Skull1937IMDb rating 5.8Canutt as Otah
Winds of the Wasteland1936IMDb rating 6.0Canutt as Smokey - Henchman
Also four films together3 more actors
- Chuck BaldraThe Carson City Kid (1940), The Ranger and the Lady (1940), The Dawn Rider (1935) and The Telegraph Trail (1933)
- Jack RockwellWinds of the Wasteland (1936), 'Neath the Arizona Skies (1934), The Lawless Frontier (1934) and The Lucky Texan (1934)
- Tex PalmerThe Dawn Rider (1935), The Lucky Texan (1934), The Star Packer (1934) and West of the Divide (1934)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1967 to 1976, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1967 | Honorary Award | Honorary | |
| Other honors | |||
| 1976 | National Rodeo Hall of Fame | Won | |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


