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Jeannie Epper

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Jeannie Epper
Epper in 2007
Born
Jean Luann Epper

(1941-01-27)January 27, 1941
Glendale, California, U.S.
DiedMay 5, 2024(2024-05-05) (aged 83)
Simi Valley, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Stuntwoman, actress
Years active1951–2019
Known forWonder Woman
Spouses
  • Wes Fuller (divorced)
  • Richard Spaethe (divorced)
  • Lee Sanders (divorced)
  • Tim Kimack
Children3
RelativesJohn Epper (father)
Tony Epper (brother)
Gary Epper (brother)[1]

Jean Luann Epper (January 27, 1941 – May 5, 2024) was an American stuntwoman and actress. She performed stunts in over 100 feature films and television series and is perhaps best known as Lynda Carter's stunt double on the 1970s television series Wonder Woman.[2] She was featured in Amanda Micheli's 2004 documentary Double Dare, along with New Zealand stuntwoman and actress Zoë Bell. Entertainment Weekly noted that many consider her "the greatest stuntwoman who's ever lived."[3]

Her acting roles included appearances in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), Foxy Brown (1974), Switchblade Sisters (1975), Drum (1976), Supernatural (2006), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), and Quarantine (2008).

Biography

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Jean Luann "Jeannie" Epper was born in Glendale, California, on January 27, 1941, to professional stunt performers John and Frances Epper.[4]: 332 [5][6] John had immigrated to the United States from Switzerland during the 1920s; Jeannie later spent part of her childhood at finishing school in Switzerland, though she "hated" the experience.[6] After establishing a riding academy in Los Angeles, John Epper built a career as a stuntman specializing in horseback stunts.[7] Jeannie Epper began learning stunt work from her father at the age of nine,[8] and she became one of the first professional child stunt doubles.[5] Her family traces its lineage back to "a colonel in Napoleon's army".[3]

Career

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Although it was initially challenging for Epper to find work, as men had traditionally done the stunt work for many actresses, the industry began to open up to more women in the 1970s, and Epper made her breakthrough with regular stunt double work for Lynda Carter on Wonder Woman (1975–1979), Lindsay Wagner on The Bionic Woman (1976-1978) and Kate Jackson on Charlie's Angels (1976).[4]: 332  Epper's subsequent stunt work included the film Romancing the Stone (1984),[8] for which she received the 1985 Annual Stuntman Award for Most Spectacular Stunt (Feature Film).[5] In the early 21st century, Epper performed stunts in Catch Me If You Can (2002), Minority Report (2002), and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004).[4]: 333 

Epper was a founding member of the Stuntwomen's Association of Motion Pictures in 1968,[5] and in 1999 she served as its president.[9] She was an honorary member of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures.[5][10]

In May 2007, Epper received a lifetime achievement award from the Taurus World Stunt Awards, becoming the first woman selected for the honor.[3][8] She continued to work as a stunt performer into her seventies, with later work including the film Hot Pursuit (2015). It is estimated that Epper has completed up to 150 stunts for film and television over the course of her career.[4]: 333  Her final acting role was on an episode of The Rookie in 2019.[6]

Personal life

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Beginning when she was sixteen, Epper was married four times; her first three marriages, to Wes Fuller, Richard Spaethe, and Lee Sanders, ended in divorce.[6] Her fourth marriage, Tim Kimack, lasted until her death.[6] She had three children, one of whom predeceased her.[11] All of her children also followed her into stunt work.[11]

In 2000, she donated a kidney to family friend Ken Howard,[12] with whose wife Linda she had worked in the stunt community.[13]

After a period of declining health, Epper died from complications of an infection at her home in Simi Valley, California, on May 5, 2024, at the age of 83.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Venable, Malcolm (March 26, 2019). "This 78-Year-Old Stuntwoman Has Defied Expectations (and Death) Her Whole Career". TV Guide.
  2. ^ LaPorte, Nicole (May 25, 2007). "Danger smashes gender barrier". Variety.
  3. ^ a b c Nashawaty, Chris (October 12, 2007). "A family of stuntmen". Entertainment Weekly.
  4. ^ a b c d Marlow McClenagan, Cindy (2019). "Jeannie Epper (1941–)". In Bauer, Laura L. S. (ed.). Hollywood heroines:the most influential women in film history. Santa Barbara, California. ISBN 978-1-4408-3648-0. OCLC 1047576980.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e "Jeannie Epper". Women In Stunts. May 12, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Green, Penelope (May 11, 2024). "Jeannie Epper, Stunt Double to the Stars, Is Dead at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  7. ^ Miller, Martin (January 31, 1999). "Legends of the Fall (continued)". Los Angeles Times. p. 78. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Person of the Week: Jeannie Epper". ABC News. May 4, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  9. ^ Miller, Martin (January 31, 1999). "Legends of the Fall". Los Angeles Times. p. 75. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "Honorary Members of Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures". Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Barnes, Mike (May 5, 2024). "Jeannie Epper, Legendary 'Wonder Woman' and 'Romancing the Stone' Stuntwoman, Dies at 83". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  12. ^ Carney, Kat (July 11, 2003). "Headline News 'Crossing Jordan' star deals with personal drama". CNN. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  13. ^ Steinhauer, Jennifer (July 30, 1995). "Women Who Burn, Run, Jump And Slide For a Living". New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
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