The people you see jumping off buildings and driving cars off cliffs in your favorite movies have their own awards show. It’s called the Taurus World Stunt Awards, and it took place recently in Hollywood.
As the stunt doubles gimped down the red carpet, the same question often arose: "Who are these guys?"
If that question reminds you of Butch and Sundance, just remember that Paul Newman and Robert Redford had stunt doubles to ride those wild horses, jump off that cliff and make love to Katherine Ross. (OK, maybe not that last.)
The event is sponsored by Dietrich Mateschitz, one of Austria's richest men.
And according to the New Yorker, the Taurus awards "adhere to Mateschitz’s strict marketing policy: stunt people are the extreme athletes of the movie industry."
Among the "celebrities" at the show: Zoe Bell, who was sometimes Uma Thurman in "Kill Bill, Vol. 2"; Tanoai Reed, The Rock’s real-life cousin and his double in "The Rundown" (who fell 100 feet off a jungle cliff and 55 feet into a pool); Arnold Schwarzenegger, action hero and now governor of California; and Billy Lucas, the guy who did all the action stuff for Arnie in "Terminator 3."
And even though it's an awards show, we don't think Dick Clark has gotten hold of it and turned it into one of his "timeless" TV specials.
These people may be stars in their galaxy, but that galaxy is far, far away

Posted at May 27, 2004 02:53 PM