Stunt driver bill hickman

Bullitt, the french connection, the sevenups ticket to ride. Bill hickman, born william hickman, was an american professional stunt driver, stunt coordinator and actor in the u. Top french stunt driver remy julienne was brought in for stunt with mach 1 driving on two wheels through alley he wrecked four mustangs and. The stuntman who drove for steve mcqueen in bullitt street.

Neverbeforeseen photographs reveal wreckage of hollywood. Bill hickman is a favorite of bloggers who link those three films, as i do, as phenomenal achievements in action films. Oct 26, 2003 cut to the chase classic scene in mcqueens bullitt unreal as ever. William bill hickman 19211986 find a grave memorial. For his popularity gained on bullitt, hickman was employed by william friedkin for. When they bungle a kidnapping and accidentally kill another sevenup, buddys friend ansel ken kercheval, they flee in a 1973 pontiac grand ville, and buddy pursues them in his 73. In a subsequent interview, hickman said he was holding deans body when he. There was one man whose abilities rose above the rest, but odds are only a few of you have ever heard of bill hickman. In a film career spanning from the 1950s through to the late 1970s, his body of work included films such as bullitt, the french connection and the sevenups. One of my favorite movies of all time, and one of the first disney films i saw as a kid, is the love bug 1968, which hickman also drove in.

It stars roy scheider as a crusading policeman who is the leader of the sevenups, a squad of plainclothes officers who use dirty, unorthodox tactics to snare their quarry on charges leading to prison sentences of seven years or more upon prosecution, hence the name of the team. William bill hickman was a stunt driver actor from the 1950s through the late 1970s. James dean survived fatal car crash national enquirer. Bill hickman, who was born in 1921, became an actor and stunt man. This could probably describe a few people but, according to those who worked with him, hickman was in a class by himself especially when it involved getting behind a. The pontiac chase in the sevenups is real as it gets hagerty media.

Bill hickman was the best stunt driver in the world at that time and also could act. The driving stunt even steve mcqueen couldnt pull off duration. In a film career spanning from the 1950s through to the late 1970s, his body of work included films such as. Hickman continued to work as a stunt coordinator during the 1970s, with work in cult classics such as 1971s vanishing point and 1973s electra glide in blue being standouts. He added that the production was very lucky that nobody was hurt. Mar, 2015 stuntman, stunt driver and later, stunt coordinator bill hickman was one of those people who remained virtually anonymous during his lifetime, but is responsible for some of cinemas most iconic, and hairraising moments. Cut to the chase classic scene in mcqueens bullitt. Born william hickman in 1921, hickman was a stuntman with a forte for making a car or. Those born under the chinese zodiac sign of the rooster are practical, resourceful, observant, analytical, straightforward, trusting, honest, perfectionists, neat and conservative.

Apr 06, 2018 thats legendary stunt driver bill hickman behind the wheel of the charger, and when mcqueen wasnt driving the mustang gt 390, it was expertly handled by stunt coordinator carey loftin. This could probably describe a few people but, according to those who worked with him, hickman was in a class by himself especially when it involved getting behind a steering wheel. His work in bullitt 1968 is legendary where he drove the black dodge charger 440 magnum that was pursued by steve mcqueen in his ford mustang 390 gt. In the 1950s, hickman was friends with and driving instructor to actor and icon james dean. Bill hickman, perhaps hollywoods finest stunt driver, was chosen to drive the charger.

The dodge charger which featured in bullitt steve employed stunt driver bill hickman to race this car through the streets of san francisco at speeds of up to 110 mph. Apparently the bad guy driven the dodge charger was another stuntman, bill hickman, and there were three, not two, backup mustangs. Robert culp on bill hickman and the real car from the french connection duration. His work in bullitt 1968 is legendary where he drove the black dodge. Stunt driver bill hickman drove popeyes car at speeds up to 90 miles per hour. Bill hickman supporting actor, lead driver jesus behind the.

May 16, 2018 the mob blame nypd, but the real perpetrators are moon and bo richard lynch and stunt driver bill hickman of bullitt fame, with vito as the mastermind. Bill hickman supporting actor, lead driver jesus behind. The actor is way better known for his prowess being a stunt drivers. Nov 26, 2018 hickman had a long history as a stuntman in action films but gained fame as a stunt driver in possibly the three best car chases ever put on film. Although capable of performing all types of stunts, his biggest talent was driving automobiles any way someone wanted. William hickman january 25, 1921 february 24, 1986 was an american professional stunt driver, stunt coordinator and.

The other 50 percent of the chases greatness is a result of friedkins and dantonis inventiveness, the impeccable stunt driving of an enraged bill hickman, owen roizmans and friedkins cinematography friedkin says he operated the camera for key shots because he was young and single, and his cameramen had families, and of. Bill hickman supporting actor, lead driver a lot of you may not recognize the name but you will definitely recognize his work. Writer william nolan quotes steves comments on his choice for the charger driver. William bill hickman was a stunt driveractor from the 1950s through the late 1970s. Stunt driver, actor, stunt coordinator, involved in three of the greatest movie car chases of all time, the french connection. Bullitt, the french connection and the sevenups, all shot on. Jul 25, 2019 dean had been given the crude nickname by stunt driver bill hickman and the star decided to call his porsche the same name.

He staged a similar chase on the streets of manhattan but with a greater. William hickman january 25, 1921 february 24, 1986 was an american professional stunt driver, stunt coordinator. Aug 02, 2016 a tribute to legendary stunt driver, bill hickman. Hickman was a close friend of james dean and pulled. Although capable of performing all types of stunts, his biggest talent was.

Jan 21, 2007 with bill hickman driving they kept putting smaller tires on the charger so mcqueens mustang could keep up. Feb 22, 2015 this fiveminute car chase is, of course, a thriller to watch, thanks in no small part to the stunt driving of bill hickman, who piloted the black dodge charger that dueled with steve mcqueen in. William bill hickman january 25, 1921 february 24, 1986 was a stunt driver, actor, and stunt coordinator from the 1950s through to the late 1970s. In a subsequent interview, hickman said he was holding deans body when he expired. Bill hickman picture the actor is better known for his prowess as a stunt driver.

Bullitt, the french connection and the sevenups, all shot on actual city s. The sevenups is a 1973 american mystery action film produced and directed by philip dantoni. The love bug is one of the most underrated carenthusiast films of all time considering that they have more car jargon dialog than all the fast and furious movies combined. Bill hickman, the stunt driver from the best car chases ever, including the legendary ones in bullitt 1968 and the french connection 1971 frank sinatra and his stunt double on the set of the. The only thing staged was when doyles car narrowly avoids a collision with the woman and baby. His function in bullitt 1968 is normally renowned where he drove the dark dodge charger 440 magnum that was pursued by steve mcqueen in his ford mustang 390 g. Stuntman, stunt driver and later, stunt coordinator bill hickman was one of those people who remained virtually anonymous during his lifetime. Bill hickman the best hollywood stunt car driver ever. Apr 07, 2020 bill hickman costarred and served as stunt coordinator, but it was jerry summers at the wheel for the films greatest moment, when a pontiac ventura violently plows into the back of a parked semi. Bill testified he arrived at the crash about two or three minutes after it occurred. Bill hickman died of cancer in 1986 at the age of 65. Robert culp on bill hickman and the real car from the french. Bill hickman is best known for being the stone face hitman looking at rearview in his black 68 dodge charger from the 1968 film bullitt.

The actor is better known for his prowess as a stunt driver. Not that he had what could be called a speaking role, but his double take when bullitts mustang appears in the chargers rear view mirror was. Bill hickman january 25, 1921 february 24, 1986, born william hickman, was a stunt driver, actor, and stunt coordinator from the 1950s through to the late 1970s. He is considered one of the film industrys most accomplished stunt drivers. In a film career spanning from the 1950s through to the late 1970s, hi. Hickman played a major role in terms of development and execution in three of the greatest movie car chase sequences of all time. Classic carchase movie bullitt stunt driver bill hickman he drove the black 1968 dodge charger in the movie told a magazine many years after the movie that the 375hp 440 engines in both chargers used in the movie scenes were largely unmodified while the 325hp 390 engines in the two 1968 mustang gts were heavily modified as were the brakes and suspensions for the race scenes. Stuntman, stunt driver and later, stunt coordinator bill hickman was one of those people who remained virtually anonymous during his lifetime, but is responsible for some of cinemas most iconic, and hairraising moments. Sep 29, 2016 both as well as the french connection were produced by philip dantoni and all 3 used bill hickman to perform the legendary stunt driving. The bullitt chase scenes were shot around easter of 1968. The legendary hollywood stunt doubles who make movies more. As for that legendary movie, the famous taylor street chase scene was filmed street by street, and every car including the trolleys was driven by other professional stunt actors. For his reputation earned on bullitt, hickman was hired by william friedkin for the french connection 1971.

His legacy is some unforgettable films with some of the best examples of car control ever to be seen on screen. Hickman played a major role in terms of development and execution of three of the greatest movie car chase sequences of all time. Hackman did some of the driving but the extremely dangerous stunts were performed by bill hickman, with friedkin filming from the backseat. Jul 15, 2017 porsche mechanic rolf wutherich was also in the car.