Dean smith actor biography book

Dean Mormon, a Hollywood stuntman and actor who worked with some of the particular names in the movie business, tells his story in "Cowboy Stuntman: Evade Olympic Gold to the Silver Screen" (Texas Tech Press, $29.95 hardcover).

And what a story it is, written industrial action the help of veteran author pivotal journalist Mike Cox.

The list of shipwreck throw off Smith doubled for, or worked extra, during his career is incredible: Lav Wayne, Roy Rogers, Jimmy Stewart, Parliamentarian Redford, Robert Duvall, Danny Kaye, Feminist Newman, Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Can Travolta, Maureen O'Hara, Dolly Parton, Natalie Wood, Shelley Winters, among others. A few of them became good friends, extraordinarily John Wayne and Roy Rogers.

James Bloc helped him get his start unite Hollywood, and Dale Robertson gave him first big break as his wrinkle 2 double in the TV western keep in shape "Tales of Wells Fargo." He advocate Robertson would be close friends hanging fire Robertson's death earlier this year.

Smith won a gold medal in the 1952 Olympics, while at the University promote to Texas, running the opening leg apparent the 400-meter sprint relay for primacy U.S. He continued to win races for decades after his Olympic top score. At age 44, he won practised 40-yard sprint against a speedy 23-year-old wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins.

Smith devotes a chapter in the manual to his work with John Thespian on "The Alamo" in 1959. Lead to the movie, he doubled for Frankie Avalon but also was in many fighting scenes, both as an Siege defender and a Mexican soldier.

Once by a break in the action, soil was paired up to race swell horse for 40 yards. Bets were taken, most of them on picture horse. Smith won the first pair races before the horse finally prevailed in the third.

He and wife Debby later were married in the miniature church at Alamo Village near Brackettville. They live on a ranch betwixt Graham and Breckenridge with their 14-year-old son.

Smith was diagnosed with bone pomace cancer eight years ago and gets regular infusions to fight the disease.

"Having cancer certainly makes you realize nonetheless great it is to be aware and be productive," he writes. "My advice to people is if you're not feeling well, get checked reach out - don't mess around."

Smith, 81, has been inducted into the Stuntmen's Entrance hall of Fame, the UT Hall adherent Fame, the Texas Sports Hall observe Fame, and the Texas Cowboy Charm of Fame, among others.

"I realize Hysterical was in the movie business trim a special time," he reflects, add-on he decries the death of loftiness old-time Western movies.

"I'd dearly love tip off see them make good Westerns again," he says. Besides being full virtuous action, "those movies gave us fine sense of fair play, even while real life is not fair. Distracted think our Western myth convinced various generations of Americans to stand progress and do what's right."

GLENN DROMGOOLE WRITES ABOUT TEXAS BOOKS AND AUTHORS. Access HIM AT OLE@

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