Gary Kent

Gary Kent (born June 7, 1933) is an American film director, actor, and stuntperson notable for his appearances in various independent, grindhouse and exploitation films. A native of Washington, Kent studied at the University of Washington before later embarking on a film career. He made his feature film debut in Battle Flame (1959), and had roles in several other low-budget films in the 1960s, including The Black Klansman (1966) and the biker film The Savage Seven (1968). He also served as a stunt double for Bruce Dern in Psych-Out (1969).

Gary Kent
Kent in 2016
Born (1933-06-07) June 7, 1933
Walla Walla, Washington, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Washington
OccupationActor, stuntperson
Years active1959–present


Biography

Early life

Kent was born on a wheat ranch in Walla Walla, Washington, the son of Arthur E. and Iola Kent. He graduated from Renton High School in Renton, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, and attended the University of Washington, where he studied journalism, played football and pole-vaulted on the track team. After college he entered the Naval Air Corps, where he wrote promotion and publicity for the Navy's elite flying team, The Blue Angels.[1]

Career

In 1959 Kent moved to Hollywood and was working primarily in drive-in exploitation films.[2] He acted, worked stunts and directed action for directors Richard Rush, Monte Hellman, Al Adamson, Don Jones, Ray Dennis Steckler, Peter Bogdanovich and Brian De Palma. He performed television stunts and acted on Green Hornet, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and NBC's Daniel Boone starring Fess Parker.[1] Some of the films he directed were The Pyramid (1975)[3] and Rainy Day Friends (1983).[4] Kent doubled Jack Nicholson in stunts in the Richard Rush films Hells Angels on Wheels, The Savage Seven and Psych-Out, and also did his very first stunts in 1966 Nicholson films Ride in the Whirlwind and The Shooting, which shot back to back in Kanab, Utah under the direction of Monte Hellman.[5]

In his 2009 memoir Shadows and Light,[6] Kent writes of an "outlaw" cinema aimed at breaking film taboos and barriers.[7] In the book he talks of shooting at Spahn Ranch when Charles Manson and his followers were there.[8] He retired from stunts in 2003 after an accident on Don Coscarelli's film Bubba Ho-Tep, for which Kent served as stunt coordinator. Kent does continue to act in independent films.[2]

Later years

As of 2018, Kent resided in Austin, Texas.[2] Kent is the subject of the documentary Danger God released on DVD in 2019.[9]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1959 Battle Flame Gilcrist
1964 The Thrill Killers Frank
1966 The Black Klansman Wilkins
1966 Ride in the Whirlwind N/A Stunts
1966 The Shooting N/A Stunts
1967 Hells Angels on Wheels Bearded Hood Uncredited; also stunts
1968 Psych-Out Thug leader Also stunts
1968 The Savage Seven Lansford
1968 Targets Gas tank worker
1968 A Man Called Dagger N/A Stunts
1969 One Million AC/DC Olaf
1969 The Mighty Gorga Arnold
1969 Satan's Sadists Johnny
1969 Body Fever Frankie
1970 Hell's Bloody Devils Hit Man
1971 The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant Motorcyclist Credited as Donald Brody; also stunts
1971 The Return of Count Yorga N/A Stunts
1971 Dracula vs. Frankenstein Bob
1972 Angels' Wild Women
1973 Schoolgirls in Chains Frank
1974 Freebie and the Bean Ambulance Attendant Also stunts
1982 The Forest John
1983 Lost Jack
1988 Lethal Pursuit Bud
1989 Warbird
1994 Color of Night
1996 Street Corner Justice Monsignor Rowan
2002 Bubba Ho Tep N/A Stunts


References
  1. Freese, Gene Scott (April 2014). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary (2nd ed.). Jefferson, NC: McFarland. p. 156. ISBN 978-0786476435. Retrieved February 17, 2006.
  2. Gross, Joe (Jun 2, 2018). "Austin stuntman Gary Kent has lived a life right out of the movies". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  3. Ratliff, Larry (June 7, 2011). "'Pyramid' power: A Gary Kent lovefest". Larry Ratliff. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  4. Thomas, Kevin (December 19, 1985). "'Rainy Day Friends' are Surrounded by Puddles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  5. Edwards, Scott (January 2018). Quintessential Jack: The Art of Jack Nicholson on Screen. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. ISBN 978-1476670942.
  6. Kent, Gary (July 2009). Shadows and Light: Journeys with Outlaws in Revolutionary Hollywood. Dalton Pub. ISBN 978-0981744377.
  7. Rosenblatt, Josh (November 2, 2009). "Hollywood, Texas". The Texas Observer. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  8. Savlov, Marc (July 10, 2009). "The Fall Guy". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  9. "Danger God". imdb.com.
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