12 Facts About Hal Needham

Hal Brett Needham was an American stuntman, film director, actor, writer, and NASCAR team owner.

Hal Needham is best known for his frequent collaborations with actor Burt Reynolds, usually in films involving fast cars, such as Smokey and the Bandit, Hooper, The Cannonball Run and Stroker Ace.

In 2001, Hal Needham received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Taurus World Stunt Awards, and in 2012, he was awarded a Governors Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Hal Needham doubled regularly for Clint Walker and Burt Reynolds.

Hal Needham played a cowboy in an episode of the TV Western Gunsmoke.

Hal Needham moved into stunt coordinating and directing second unit action, while designing and introducing air bags and other innovative equipment to the industry.

Hal Needham had written a screenplay titled Smokey and the Bandit and his friend Reynolds offered him the chance to direct.

Hal Needham directed the TV pilots Stunts Unlimited and The Stockers, neither of which was picked up as a series.

Hal Needham moved out of stunt work, focusing his energy on the World Land Speed Record project that eventually became the Budweiser Rocket, driven by stuntman Stan Barrett.

In 2001, Hal Needham received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Taurus World Stunt Awards.

Hal Needham was the owner of the Budweiser Rocket car, a vehicle intended to break the speed of sound on land.

Hal Needham died on October 25,2013, in Los Angeles, California, aged 82, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.