This was the story of one of the world’s most famous unsung heroes. You’ve heard of him and seen of him – but never really knew who he was. You’ve cheered for him, rooted for him, and cried for him. Even women wanted to die for him. But he never got the credit, the fame, the glory – or even the girl. He was known as The Unknown Stuntman: the one who made Robert Redford such a star.
The reason? He’s Colt Seavers
Created by Glen A. Larson, The Fall Guy aired on ABC from 1981 to 1986. The action-comedy starred Lee Majors (The Big Valley, The Six Million Dollar Man) Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter whenever movie work gets slow. He is aided by his very eager “Kid” cousin Howie Munson (Douglas Barr) and beautiful stuntwoman Jody Banks (Heather Thomas). Relying on his wits, charm, humor and tools of his trade as a stuntman as well as his cool 4×4 GMC truck, Colt Seavers catches wanted fugitives and brings them to justice.
The Fall Guy was a ratings success throughout its five-year run on ABC. The show featured cameo appearances of Lou Ferrigno, Tom Selleck, James Coburn and Majors’ ex-wife, the late Farrah Fawcett. Former co-stars Linda Evan’s, Richard Anderson, and Lindsay Wagner – aka The Bionic Woman – also made guest appearances as well as Roy Rogers, David Carradine and his family, and many more.
Majors also sung the theme song entitled “The Ballad of The Unknown Stuntman”.
Now, The Fall Guy made its jump onto the big screen with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Not only that, it jump to the top spot at the weekend box office with $27.7 million.
Why? Because he’s the Unknown Stuntman who made Clint Eastwood looked so fine.