Bob Yerkes

Bob Yerkes
Born
Brayton Walter Yerkes

(1932-02-11)February 11, 1932
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 1, 2024(2024-10-01) (aged 92)
Northridge, California, U.S.
OccupationStuntman
Spouse
Dorothy Morales
​
​
(m. 1953, divorced)​
Children1

Brayton Walter Yerkes (February 11, 1932 – October 1, 2024), known professionally as Bob Yerkes, was an American stuntman.[1][2][3]

Career

Born in Santa Monica, California, on February 11, 1932,[4] Yerkes began a life of acrobatics in the circus at the age of 15.[5] He began his career in film stunts in 1948, and went on to work as a stuntman in such films as Back to the Future, Return of the Jedi, and Hook.[4] Yerkes later hosted stunt training days, on an invitation-only basis at his home in the Northridge section of Los Angeles, which had a backyard that contained extensive rigging for stunt work.[5] He continued to amass film credits until 2017.[5]

Personal life and death

Yerkes was a Christian, having joined the religion in his youth.[4]

In 1953, Yerkes married Dorothy Morales, a fellow circus performer. They had a son and divorced in the 1970s.[4] Bob Yerkes died from complications of pneumonia at a hospital in Northridge, on October 1, 2024. He was 92.[4][5]

Filmography

Year Film Role
1948 Julia Misbehaves Stunts
1954 The Silver Chalice Stunts, actor
1956 Trapeze Stunts
1959 The Big Circus Actor (uncredited), technical advisor
1970 Airport Stunts
1974 Airport 1975 Stunts
1974 Earthquake Stunts
1974 The Towering Inferno Stunts
1975 Breakout Stunts
1983 Return of the Jedi Stunts
1984 Ghostbusters Stunts
1985 Back to the Future Stunts
1986 Ferris Bueller's Day Off Stunts
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Stunts
1989 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Stunts
1990 Back to the Future Part III Stunts
1991 Hook Stunts
1993 Robin Hood: Men in Tights Stunts
1995 Batman Forever Technical advisor
1999 Magnolia Stunts
2002 Adaptation Actor (Charles Darwin)
2006 Poseidon Stunts
2009 Angels & Demons Actor (Cardinal Guidera)
2009 The Butterfly Circus Actor [Poppy]
2009 Up in the Air (short film) Executive producer

References

  1. ^ "He falls for scripture". Los Angeles Times. February 19, 1977. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012.
  2. ^ "But the elephant missed it". Los Angeles Times. August 10, 1977. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
  3. ^ "Stuntman Bob Yerkes talks about his dangerous profession". Chicago Tribune. January 6, 1985. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e Rosenwald, Michael S. (October 17, 2024). "Bob Yerkes, Bruised but Durable Hollywood Stuntman, Dies at 92". The New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Barnes, Mike (October 3, 2024). "Bob Yerkes, Circus Trainer and 'Back to the Future,' 'Remo Williams' Stuntman, Dies at 92". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 3, 2024.