Bud Ekins

Bud Ekins (b. 11 May 1930, Hollywood, California) is one of the foremost stuntmen of his generation.

He is known to most as the actor who jumped the fence in the Great Escape (1963), and who drove the Ford Mustang Ford Mustang 390 GT in Bullitt (1968). He also co-ordinated the stunts for the 1970's motorcycle cop shop CHiPS. Latterly has appeared as a character actor in high-profile films such as The Specialist (1994) and Vegas Vacation (1997).

Regularly contributes to documentaries and biographies on Steve McQueen with some authority, given their close friendship until the actor's death in 1980.

Inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

Won the Big Bear Endurance Run three times, the Catalina Grand Prix, and won Southern California's District Number One Plate seven times.

Founded the Baja 1000 off-road motorcycle race and recorded several record runs in the early 1960's. He also co-ordinated the stunts for the 1970's motorcycle cop shop CHiPS

HONOURS AND COMPETITION SUCCESS

Won 4 Gold Medals and a Silver at the International Six Day Trials during the 1960's.

Rode a 650cc Triumph TR6 Trophy as did Steve McQueen in the USA International Six Day Trials team for 1964 held in East Germany. The team also including his brother Dave Ekins who rode a 500cc Triumph T100 Tiger.

Won a gold Medal at the 1962 International Six Days Trials, was part of the US ISDT team of 1964 with John Steen, Cliff Coleman, Dave Ekins Steve McQueen and in 1965, McQueen being replaced by Ed Kretz Jr.

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY & TV STUNT WORK

The Ransom of Red Chief (1998) Extreme Justice (1993) Black Moon Rising (1986) City Heat (1984) Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again (1982) Megaforce (1982) The Blues Brothers (1980) 1941 (1979) Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider (1979) Movie Movie (1978) Animal House (1978) Return from Witch Mountain (1978) Sorcerer (1977) Scorchy (1976) Dixie Dynamite (1976) Death Scream (1975) Race with the Devil (1975) The Front Page (1974) The Towering Inferno (1974) Earthquake (1974) (stunts) Electra Glide in Blue (1973) The Thing with Two Heads (1972) Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Chrome and Hot Leather (1971) Flap (1970) Bullitt (1968) Speedway (1968) The Cincinnati Kid (1965) The Great Escape (1963)

SUBSEQUENT CAREER

Previously a Triumph dealer and now restores old British bikes sometimes for movie stars. Cited his becoming a Honda dealer as the one thing he'd change from his past. Occasionally appears in TV shows & TV movies including Pacific Heights, Mac and Me, and The Karate Kid series

REFERENCES

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252379/bio