Jeannie Epper

Stunt Performer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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.'"

People Talking About ...
Jeannie Epper
Highlights
Jeannie Epper on how she won the part of Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
04:10
Jeannie Epper on being stunt double for Linda Evans in the famous catfight scene on Dynasty
01:34
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
03:36
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't
04:04
Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
01:26
Full Interview

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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

View Show Page
Jeannie Epper on being Linda Evans' stunt double on The Big Valley and still maintaining a home life
04:32
Jeannie Epper on feeling like part of a family when she did stunt work on The Big Valley
01:08
Jeannie Epper on doing stunt work for Barbara Stanwyck on The Big Valley
02:07

Dynasty

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Jeannie Epper on being stunt double for Linda Evans in the famous catfight scene on Dynasty
01:34

Wonder Woman

View Show Page
Jeannie Epper on becoming Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
00:33
Jeannie Epper on stunts she performed as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
01:43
Jeannie Epper on stunt work on Wonder Woman
00:28
Jeannie Epper on how she won the part of Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
04:10
Jeannie Epper on her friendship with Lynda Carter that developed while she was Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
01:42
Jeannie Epper on her stunt work as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
01:02
Jeannie Epper on the costume she worked in as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
02:45
Jeannie Epper on career highs - Wonder Woman and "Romancing The Stone"
03:02
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't - like wardrobe malfunctions on Wonder Woman
02:03
Jeannie Epper on challenges with the costume she worked in as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
00:52
Jeannie Epper on the most dangerous stunts she performed and injuries she and other stuntwomen incurred on Wonder Woman
02:40
Topics

Advice

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Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
01:26

Historic Events and Social Change

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Jeannie Epper on her few close fellow stuntwomen and the passing of her brothers and sisters
02:16
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
03:36
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't
04:04
Jeannie Epper on the lack of women stunt coordinators
02:54

Representation on Television

View Topic
Jeannie Epper on her few close fellow stuntwomen and the passing of her brothers and sisters
02:16
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
03:36
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't
04:04
Jeannie Epper on the lack of women stunt coordinators
02:54

Television Industry

View Topic
Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
01:26

Women

View Topic
Jeannie Epper on her few close fellow stuntwomen and the passing of her brothers and sisters
02:16
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
03:36
Jeannie Epper on the challenges that stuntwomen face that stuntmen don't
04:04
Jeannie Epper on the lack of women stunt coordinators
02:54
Professions

Performers

View Profession
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
03:36
Jeannie Epper on dealing with the risks and fears that come with being a stuntwoman; on being part of a stunt family
03:56
Jeannie Epper on how safety regulations have changed for stunt people over the years
05:55
Jeannie Epper on her style as a stuntwoman, and insurance coverage for her profession
00:44
Jeannie Epper on how CGI has affected stunt work
03:03
Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
01:26

Stunt Performer/Stunt Supervisor/Stunt Coordinator

View Profession
Jeannie Epper on learning her way when she started as a stuntwoman
01:26
Jeannie Epper on the thrill of doing stunts
01:32
Jeannie Epper on what she learned about stunts from her father and challenges for women
03:19
Jeannie Epper on accidents she's had as a stuntwoman
02:56
Jeannie Epper on receiving the lifetime achievement award for stunt work (the Taurus World Stunt Award)
02:29
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
02:54
Jeannie Epper on stunt driving
02:08
Jeannie Epper on her favorite stunts to do
01:34
Jeannie Epper on how she gets jobs in stunt work now
00:48
Jeannie Epper on the challenges of securing stunt work
01:27
Jeannie Epper on being one of the founding members of the Stuntwoman's Association of Motion Pictures
03:36
Jeannie Epper on dealing with the risks and fears that come with being a stuntwoman; on being part of a stunt family
03:56
Jeannie Epper on how safety regulations have changed for stunt people over the years
05:55
Jeannie Epper on the lack of women stunt coordinators
01:15
Jeannie Epper on doing stunt coordinator work
01:39
Jeannie Epper on her style as a stuntwoman, and insurance coverage for her profession
00:44
Jeannie Epper on how CGI has affected stunt work
03:03
Jeannie Epper on advice to an aspiring stunt person
01:26
Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

View Genre
Jeannie Epper on being Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
19:31

Western Series

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Jeannie Epper on being Linda Evans' stunt double on The Big Valley and still maintaining a home life
04:32
People

Barbara Stanwyck

View Person Page
Jeannie Epper on doing stunt work for Barbara Stanwyck on The Big Valley
02:07

Jack Nicholson

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Jeannie Epper on her favorite stunts to do - one with Jack Nicholson in "Terms of Endearment"
00:48

Kathleen Turner

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Jeannie Epper on career highs - Wonder Woman and being Kathleen Turner's stunt double in "Romancing The Stone"
00:49

Linda Evans

View Person Page
Jeannie Epper on being Linda Evans' stunt double on The Big Valley and still maintaining a home life
04:32
Jeannie Epper on being stunt double for Linda Evans in the famous catfight scene on Dynasty
01:34

Lynda Carter

View Person Page
Jeannie Epper on becoming Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
00:33
Jeannie Epper on stunts she performed as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
01:43
Jeannie Epper on how she won the part of Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
04:10
Jeannie Epper on her friendship with Lynda Carter that developed while she was Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
01:42
Jeannie Epper on the costume she worked in as Lynda Carter's stunt double on Wonder Woman
02:34

All Interviews

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