Bobby Sargent has been a stuntman, stunt coordinator and director for over 35 years and has performed many of the most spectacular stunts in motion picture history. He comes from a background as a World Champion Athlete in trampoline, gymnastics, diving and high diving. Representing the United States on numerous world teams, he holds a succession of major titles including, AAU National Champion, Gold Medallist in the America Cup World Championship in Mexico City, World Professional Spring Board Diving, Word Record High Diving and the Acapulco Cliff Diving Championship. Bobby has been featured and appeared on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, Sports World and other sport productions. At 22, he owned and operated his own gymnastics school and conducted workshops throughout the world. He was voted one of the Top Ten Coaches in the United States and also served for six years as advisor to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.
After introducing new and innovative stunts, fresh ideas and ways to apply his extensive background with cars, boats and motorcycles he was offered the enviable position as stunt double for Burt Reynolds. He performed in many films with Mr. Reynolds including Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball Run, Sharkey’s Machine, Stick and Rough Cut, creating many of the action sequences seen in these and other action films including First Blood, Uncommon Valour, Police Squad – The Naked Gun and Dazed and Confused. He became a most indemand writer/creator of action sequences working with top producers and directors in the industry including Francis Ford Coppolla, Hal Needham, Don Siegel, Carl Reiner, Joe Dante, Ted Kotcheff, Steven Soderberg, Chris Columbus, Peter Bogdanovich, John Millius, David Marek and the Zuker Brothers. Aside from Burt Reynolds, he has created and performed stunts for such stars as Kirk Douglas, Nick Nolte, Roger Moore, Sylvester Stallone, Don Johnson, Leslie Nielsen, Ben Affleck, Daniel Baldwin and Peter Fonda. He has been featured in the books, “Burt Reynolds Life Story,” Jeff Bridges book “Making Texasville,” and “Hollywood Stunt Performers.” He is a member of the Hollywood Stuntman Hall of Fame in Moab, Utah.
Bobby’s work in this extremely competitive industry has been a classic climb to success and he is recognized by the industry for his competence, integrity and his extensive knowledge. Bobby brings to every project his expertise in action direction and stunts, his knowledge of the inner workings of the film industry and most importantly, his ability to be world-class in everything he does.
In 1973, Bobby won the famed Acapulco cliff diving competition. In the photo above, Bobby prepares for a practice dive for that contest.
Bobby Sargent performed this 125 ft. high dive at an expo in Canada.
Bobby dives out of the path of a speedboat in "Outlaw Blues"
Bobby performed this high fall for a movie called "The Pack"
Bobby fell 130 feet from the Monument Bridge in St. Louis for the film "Stingray"
Bobby doubled Kirk Douglas in "The Villain" which co-starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann-Margret. Director Hal Needham can be seen walking behind Bobby.
Bobby doubled Burt Reynolds in "Smokey and the Bandit II"
Doubling Jack Starrett, Bobby falls out of a helicopter in "First Blood" starring Sylvester Stallone as Rambo.
Bobby appeared in the "Deadly Ambition" episode of "T.J. Hooker"
Bobby worked extensively on “TJ Hooker� and performed many of his signature high falls
Bobby being knocked down by a passing motorist on the baseball pitch in “Naked Gun” and doubling Roger Moore in “Cannonball Run”
Bobby had quite a working relationship with Burt Reynolds. Doubling him, not only, on “Smokey and the Bandit 2” but also on “Sharkey’s Machine”, “Stick” and “Rough Cut”
Bobby being chased by every available stuntman in the US on “Smokey and the Bandit 2” Bobby Sargent is a case in point about being in the right place at the right time. After performing as a gymnast and diving champion stuntman Carey Loftin hired him for “Outlaw Blues”. He got to double the lead actor Peter Fonda. He then moved to Los Angeles and was spotted by Hal Needham who made him Burt Reynolds double. Bobby went on to coordinate stunts and direct. He also formed his own production company.
Many thanks to Bobby and TXSTAR Entertainment.
© Behind The Stunts 2012