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Yakima Canutt

Yakima Canutt

16 movies on Netflix

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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  1. 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.

  2. 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."

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. The Star Packer1934 Action, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Westernas Yak

    IMDb rating 5.11.4K votes

  2. The Lucky Texan1934 Romance, Westernas Joe Cole

    IMDb rating 5.61.5K votes

  3. 'Neath the Arizona Skies1934as Sam Black

    IMDb rating 5.11.3K votes

  4. West of the Divide1934as Henchman Hank

    IMDb rating 5.31.2K votes

  5. Paradise Canyon1935as Curly Joe Gale

    IMDb rating 5.11.1K votes

  6. The Dawn Rider1935as Saloon Owner

    IMDb rating 5.11.5K votes

  7. Stagecoach1939as Cavalry Scout / Indian Attacking Stagecoach

    IMDb rating 7.860K votes

  8. The Telegraph Trail1933as High Wolf

    IMDb rating 5.7756 votes

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.

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Films together

Awards

Three awards and honors from 1967 to 1976, one of them major.

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Yakima Canutt's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Academy Awards
1967Honorary AwardHonorary
Other honors
1976National Rodeo Hall of FameWon
Star on Hollywood Walk of FameHonored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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