Buddy Van Horn(1928-2021)

Prolific American stunt man and occasional small part actor, formerly billed as Wayne Van Horn. The son of a veterinarian who ministered to animals at Universal studios, he first worked as a horse wrangler following a stint in the U.S. Army. This earlier expertise as a rider served him well after he joined his brother Jimmy in Hollywood. Van Horn's riding skills were showcased in many westerns of the 50s and 60s. He frequently doubled forGuy Williamson Disney's popular TV seriesZorro (1957).Equally adept at fencing and fight scenes, Van Horn also made his mark in epic swashbucklers likeSpartacus (1960)andThe War Lord (1965).Major stars he doubled for have includedGregory Peck(Mackenna's Gold (1969)),James Stewart(Firecreek (1968)]) andHenry Fonda([The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)]). He was latterly best known as a long-standing collaborator ofClint Eastwoodin the capacities of stunt double and stunt coordinator (The Enforcer (1976),The Gauntlet (1977),Sudden Impact (1983)), director (Any Which Way You Can (1980),The Dead Pool (1988),andPink Cadillac (1989)) and second-unit director (Magnum Force (1973),The Rookie (1990),Pale Rider (1985)etc.). Van Horn was an inductee into the Stuntmen's Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Stunt Award.