Yakima Canutt
Overview
- AKA Yak
- Occupation Second Unit Director
- Also Director, Actor, Stunt man
- Birthname Enos Edward Canutt
- Birthdate November 29, 1896
- Birthplace Colfax, Washington, USA
- Died May 24, 1986 (North Hollywood, California, USA)
Biography
Enos Edward Canutt was born on ranch sixteen miles from Colfax, Washington, 1895. He spend all his childhood close horses and at the age of sixteen he joined a rodeo. After serving in the navy during the First World War he continued with a record-breaking career as a saddlebronc rider. At this time he picked up th nickname ”Yakima”.
Yakima skill as a rider and stunt fighter gave him a contract starring in a series of Western silents. A case of flu damaged his voice and he started focusing on stuntwork and quickly he became known as Hollywood’s premier stuntman. Canutt created new or refined old techniques uses in Westerns and action films for years to come.
Canutt retired from active stunting after injuries recieved from Boom Town (1940) and In Old Oklahoma (1943), to concentrate on directing second unit. He was the man behind some of the most dynamic and memorable action sequences in film history, culminating in the famed chariot race in Ben-Hur (1959).
Yakima Canutt died in 1986, as one of the most famous and respected stunt men of our time.
Selected films
- Lightning Bryce - 1919
- Girl Who Dared, The - 1920
- Heart of a Texan, The - 1922
- Days of '49, The - 1924
- Iron Rider, The - 1926
- Outlaw Breaker, The - 1926
- Open Range - 1927
- Riders of the Golden Gulch - 1932
- Telegraph Trail, The - 1933
- Gunsmoke Ranch - 1937
- Secret of Treasure Island, The - 1938
- Hauchos of Eldorado - 1941
- Adventure of Frank and Jesse James - 1948
- Rocky Mountain - 1950
- Knights of the Round Table - 1953
- Rio Bravo - 1959
- Ben-Hur - 1959
- Spartacus - 1960
- How the West Was Won - 1962
- Fall of the Roman Empire, The - 1964
- Cat Ballou - 1965
- Spy Smasher Returns (TV) - 1966
- Khartoum - 1966
- Blue - 1968
- Rio Lobo - 1970
- Man Called Horse, A - 1970
- Song of Norway - 1970
- Breakheart Pass - 1975
Curiosa
- Yakima Canutt was married twice. His first wife was Kitty Wilks (1916-1919, divorced) and his second wife was Minnie Audrea Rice (1931-1986, his death).
- He is named Yakima after the city of Yakima, Washington. Installed in the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK (USA).
- He is father of stuntmen Joe Canutt and Tap Canutt.