About
"I don't know whether the guys really were trying to protect us, or whether they just didn't want women in their field. It wasn't until sexy ladies like Linda Evans or Lynda Carter said, 'We don't want hairy-legged boys doubling us anymore. We've had these girls doubling us, and oh my god, they're just as good as the guys, only they have shaved legs and they don't have hairy armpits.'"
In her two-hour interview, Jeannie Epper (1941-2024) talks about her father's career in stunt work and growing up with a love of horses. She describes how she and her siblings started in the stunt world, and tells of one of her first jobs -- doubling Linda Evans and Barbara Stanwyck on The Big Valley. She outlines many of the different types of stunts she has performed, explains why she helped found the Stuntwomen's Association of Motion Picture, and details how she won the job of Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman. Epper reveals the challenges of doing stunt work in the Wonder Woman costume, and talks of her friendship with Lynda Carter. She discusses her stunt work in the films Terms of Endearment, Romancing the Stone, and Flight, and recalls doubling for Linda Evans again -- this time in the famous catfight scene in Dynasty. Epper also speaks about some of the challenges women face in the stunt business, and offers advice to aspiring stunt people. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on March 27, 2014 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Jeannie Epper on how she won the part of Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on being stunt double for Linda Evans in the famous catfight scene on Dynasty
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't
Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early interests; on her father being a stuntman; on riding horses and attending finishing school in Switzerland
On returning from Switzerland and she and her siblings starting in stuntwork; on the thrill of doing stunts and what she learned from her father
On being Linda Evans' stunt double on The Big Valley; on accidents she's had as a stuntwoman; on receiving the lifetime achievement award for stunt work (the Taurus World Stunt Award)
On the types of stunts she's performed - high falls, stunt driving, etc., and her favorite stunts; on the challenges of securing stunt work
Chapter 2
On being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
On how she won the part of Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman; on her friendship with Lynda Carter and performing stunts in costume; on career highlights - Wonder Woman and "Romancing The Stone"
On the challenges stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't; on the most dangerous stunts she performed and injuries she and other stuntwomen incurred on Wonder Woman; on dealing with the risks and fears that come with being a stuntwoman
On how safety regulations have changed for stunt people over the years
On being stunt double for Linda Evans in the famous catfight scene on Dynasty; on the lack of female stunt coordinators
On how CGI has affected stunt work; on her proudest achievement; on advice to an aspiring stunt person; on her kids getting involved with stunt work; on her legacy in the stunt business
Shows
Big Valley, The
Jeannie Epper on being Linda Evans' stunt double on The Big Valley and still maintaining a home life
Jeannie Epper on feeling like part of a family when she did stunt work on The Big Valley
Jeannie Epper on doing stunt work for Barbara Stanwyck on The Big Valley
Dynasty
Jeannie Epper on being stunt double for Linda Evans in the famous catfight scene on Dynasty
Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on becoming Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on stunts she performed as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on stunt work on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on how she won the part of Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on her friendship with Lynda Carter that developed while she was Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on her stunt work as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on the costume she worked in as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on career highs - Wonder Woman and "Romancing The Stone"
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't - like wardrobe malfunctions on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on challenges with the costume she worked in as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on the most dangerous stunts she performed and injuries she and other stuntwomen incurred on Wonder Woman
Topics
Advice
Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
Historic Events and Social Change
Jeannie Epper on her few close fellow stuntwomen and the passing of her brothers and sisters
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't
Jeannie Epper on the lack of women stunt coordinators
Representation on Television
Jeannie Epper on her few close fellow stuntwomen and the passing of her brothers and sisters
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't
Jeannie Epper on the lack of women stunt coordinators
Television Industry
Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
Women
Jeannie Epper on her few close fellow stuntwomen and the passing of her brothers and sisters
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't
Jeannie Epper on the lack of women stunt coordinators
Professions
Performers
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
Jeannie Epper on dealing with the risks and fears that come with being a stuntwoman; on being part of a stunt family
Jeannie Epper on how safety regulations have changed for stunt people over the years
Jeannie Epper on her style as a stuntwoman, and insurance coverage for her profession
Jeannie Epper on how CGI has affected stunt work
Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
Stunt Performer/Stunt Supervisor/Stunt Coordinator
Jeannie Epper on learning her way when she started as a stuntwoman
Jeannie Epper on the thrill of doing stunts
Jeannie Epper on what she learned about stunts from her father and challenges for women
Jeannie Epper on accidents she's had as a stuntwoman
Jeannie Epper on receiving the lifetime achievement award for stunt work (the Taurus World Stunt Award)
Jeannie Epper on the types of stunts she's performed- high falls and stunts she performed as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on stunt driving
Jeannie Epper on her favorite stunts to do
Jeannie Epper on how she gets jobs in stunt work now
Jeannie Epper on the challenges of securing stunt work
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
Jeannie Epper on dealing with the risks and fears that come with being a stuntwoman; on being part of a stunt family
Jeannie Epper on how safety regulations have changed for stunt people over the years
Jeannie Epper on the lack of women stunt coordinators
Jeannie Epper on doing stunt coordinator work
Jeannie Epper on her style as a stuntwoman, and insurance coverage for her profession
Jeannie Epper on how CGI has affected stunt work
Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Jeannie Epper on being Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Western Series
Jeannie Epper on being Linda Evans' stunt double on The Big Valley and still maintaining a home life
People
Lynda Carter
Jeannie Epper on becoming Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on stunts she performed as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on how she won the part of Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on her friendship with Lynda Carter that developed while she was Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Jeannie Epper on the costume she worked in as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
Linda Evans
Jeannie Epper on being Linda Evans' stunt double on The Big Valley and still maintaining a home life
Jeannie Epper on being stunt double for Linda Evans in the famous catfight scene on Dynasty
Jack Nicholson
Jeannie Epper on her favorite stunts to do - one with Jack Nicholson in "Terms of Endearment"
Barbara Stanwyck
Jeannie Epper on doing stunt work for Barbara Stanwyck on The Big Valley
Kathleen Turner
Jeannie Epper on career highs - Wonder Woman and being Kathleen Turner's stunt double in "Romancing The Stone"