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Dar Allen Robinson (March 26, 1947 – November 21, 1986) was an American stunt performer and actor. Robinson broke 19 world records and set 21 "world's firsts."[1] He invented the decelerator (use of dragline cables rather than airbags for a "high fall gag",[citation needed] for stunts calling for a jump from a high place) which allowed a cameraman to film a top-down view of the stuntman as he fell without accidentally showing the airbag on the ground.[2] This was displayed in his fall from the hotel in the movie Stick. The original decelerator can still be seen on display in Moab, Utah.

Key Information

Career

[edit]

Robinson grew up in Los Angeles, California. At the early age of thirteen, Dar made the cover of Life Magazine for his accomplished abilities on the trampoline.[3] Dar's father, Jess Weston Robinson, was responsible for the "trampoline sensation" that swept the country. Dar spent many hours helping in his father's Gymnastic Supply Company. Dar's natural athletic abilities and his accomplished ease on the trampoline would quickly render him the ranking of 3rd place for his division. One of Robinson's first major stunts was a 100-foot jump from a cliff into a river for actor Steve McQueen in the 1973 film Papillon.[4] In the same year, he appeared as a motorcycle stunt man in the Clint Eastwood film, Magnum Force. He is also remembered for driving over the edge of the Grand Canyon and safely parachuting out before hitting the ground. In 1979, he set the world record for a free-fall from a helicopter, dropping 311 feet (95 m) onto an airbag.[5][6]

In a highly publicized 1979 feat, as the stunt double for actor Christopher Plummer in the 1982 film Highpoint, Robinson made a 700-foot free-fall from a deck on the CN Tower, then the world's tallest free-standing structure, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

At 220 feet, the stunt from Atlanta's Hyatt Regency Hotel (doubling for the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel) in the 1981 Burt Reynolds film Sharky's Machine still holds up as the highest free-fall stunt ever performed from a building for a commercially released film. Despite it being a record-setting fall, only the beginning of the stunt as he goes through the window is used in the film. A dummy was used for the outside wide shot.[7] Robinson performed a similar falling stunt for his largest role as an actor in the 1985 Burt Reynolds film Stick, but this time all but the end of the stunt is fully visible; he is seen from above as he falls from a tall building while firing a pistol.[8][better source needed]

Robinson returned to Toronto to attempt a world record cable jump from the CN Tower for a feature-length television documentary film called The World's Most Spectacular Stuntman. The first test of the cable using a bag of water equal to Robinson's weight smashed into the ground when the braking mechanism failed. High winds and bad weather delayed the jump until August 12, 1980. Although visibly nervous, he leapt from the tower's edge, plummeting more than 1,200 feet (370 m) tied to only a 1⁄8 in (3.2 mm) steel cable, stopping only a short distance above the ground. For this feat he was listed as highest paid stuntman for a single stunt to date in the 1988 Guinness Book of Records. One article claims he received an honorary Academy Award in 1995 for his work,[9] but it is not listed in the academy database.[10]

Death

[edit]

Dar Robinson's stunts were always well planned, and he never broke a bone in his 13-year Hollywood career. On November 21, 1986, on the set of the film Million Dollar Mystery at Glen Canyon, after the completion of the main stunt, the emergency medical staff was dismissed from the set. While filming a routine high speed run by the camera with a fellow stuntman, Robinson rode his stunt motorcycle past the braking point of a turn and straight off a cliff, to his death.

Robinson is interred in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. After his death, a documentary on his life was made in 1988 titled The Ultimate Stuntman: A Tribute to Dar Robinson.[11]

The last three films on which Robinson worked — Cyclone, Lethal Weapon, and Million Dollar Mystery — are all dedicated to his memory. Richard Donner's dedication in the closing credits of Lethal Weapon reads, "This picture is dedicated to the memory of Dar Robinson / one of the motion picture industry's greatest stuntmen". He is survived by his wife, Linda and their son Landon as well as his son from a previous marriage, Troy.[6] His son, Shawn Robinson, also a stunt performer, died of heart failure caused by undiagnosed natural causes aged 41 on July 28, 2015.

Filmography (as actor)

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1968 Star! Utility Acrobat Uncredited
1969 Paint Your Wagon Miner Uncredited
1975 Rollerball Team player
1975 Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze Native
1976 St. Ives Jimmy Peskoe Uncredited
1977 Airport '77 Larry
1979 H.O.T.S. Patterson Man #2
1981 Nighthawks ATAC Man #3
1984 Police Academy Menacing Thug in Plaid Uncredited
1985 Stick Moke
1985 To Live and Die in L.A. FBI Special Agent Conrad
1986 Vamp Security Guard
1987 Lethal Weapon Stunts/White-haired gunman Dedication
1987 Cyclone Rolf (final film role)

References

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Dar Robinson

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Dar Allen Robinson (March 26, 1947 – November 21, 1986) was an American stunt performer and actor born in Los Angeles, California, celebrated as one of Hollywood's most innovative and daring stuntmen, who broke 19 world records and set 21 world's firsts and performed death-defying feats in major films throughout the 1970s and 1980s.[1][2] Specializing in high falls and precision maneuvers, Robinson revolutionized stunt techniques with his athletic background and meticulous planning, never suffering a broken bone during his 13-year career despite executing some of the era's most extreme sequences.[2] His notable achievements included a record 311-foot fall into an airbag, a 190-foot high fall while ablaze, and a 179-foot car jump, earning him recognition in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest-paid stuntman for a single performance—$100,000 for a 900-foot controlled free fall from Toronto's CN Tower in 1980, halted just 60 feet (18 m) above the ground.[3][2][4] Robinson's filmography featured high-profile stunts doubling stars like Steve McQueen in Papillon (1973), where he executed a 100-foot cliff jump into a river, and Clint Eastwood in various action sequences, as well as a 220-foot backward fall in Burt Reynolds' Sharky's Machine (1981).[5] He also contributed to films such as Lethal Weapon (1987), which was dedicated to him posthumously, Stick (1985), Turk 182! (1985), and Highpoint (1982), where he performed a free fall from the CN Tower using a decelerator as Christopher Plummer's double.[5][2][1] Beyond cinema, he appeared on the TV series That's Incredible! showcasing his skills and innovated stunt coordination, influencing the industry's safety standards and spectacle.[4][6] Tragically, on November 21, 1986, at age 39, Robinson died during a routine motorcycle chase scene for Million Dollar Mystery near Page, Arizona, when his bike veered off U.S. Highway 89A at about 75 mph, causing him to plunge 40 feet down an embankment and suffer fatal internal injuries despite wearing protective gear.[4][2][1] A Los Angeles resident, he was survived by his wife Linda and five children, leaving a legacy as a pioneer whose work elevated the stunt profession's artistry and risk management.[2][6]

Early life

Birth and upbringing

Dar Allen Robinson was born on March 26, 1947, in Los Angeles, California.[7][8] He spent his early childhood in Southern California, growing up in the vibrant Los Angeles area during the post-World War II era.[9] Robinson's family background was closely tied to athletics, particularly through his father, Jess Weston Robinson, who owned a company that manufactured and distributed trampolines and operated several trampoline centers that contributed to the sport's rising popularity in the 1950s and 1960s.[9] This environment provided young Dar with early and frequent exposure to physical activities, fostering an initial interest in gymnastics and acrobatics within a supportive, activity-oriented household.[9]

Athletic beginnings

Robinson's interest in athletics began in his youth, influenced by his father's involvement in the trampoline industry. Growing up in California, he spent considerable time at his father's Gymnastic Supply Company, where he honed his skills on the trampoline, developing exceptional acrobatic abilities through practice and natural talent.[10][11] By age 13, Robinson had achieved significant recognition in trampolining, securing third place in his national division and appearing on the cover of Life magazine for his proficiency. This early accomplishment highlighted his prodigious talent and set the stage for his future in high-risk physical performance.[10] In addition to trampolining, Robinson was an enthusiastic gymnast during his teenage years, participating in activities that built his strength, agility, and coordination. These foundational experiences in gymnastics and trampolining provided the physical prowess essential for his later career.[11] At age 20, Robinson secured his first professional opportunity, performing acrobatics inside a giant milk bottle for a dairy company commercial, marking his initial foray into paid physical performances.[11]

Stunt career

Entry into Hollywood

Dar Robinson entered the Hollywood stunt industry in 1968, leveraging his exceptional athletic abilities honed through competitive trampolining to perform uncredited utility acrobat work in the musical drama Star!, directed by Robert Wise.[12] This initial foray marked his transition into professional entertainment, where his acrobatic prowess allowed him to contribute to dynamic sequences requiring precision and agility.[13] Building on this debut, Robinson took on stunt duties in the 1969 Western Paint Your Wagon, directed by Joshua Logan, where he executed uncredited falls and acrobatic maneuvers amid the film's rugged action elements, such as mine sequences and physical comedy bits involving the ensemble cast led by Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin.[14] These early assignments involved small-scale falls and flips, helping him gain practical experience in coordinating with directors and performers on set while minimizing risks through meticulous planning.[15] Robinson's breakthrough came in 1973 with his first major film stunt in Papillon, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, where he doubled for Steve McQueen in a daring cliff jump into the sea, performed from approximately 100 feet to depict the protagonist's desperate escape attempt.[16][7] This high-profile sequence, executed without injury, showcased his growing reputation for handling perilous drops and water landings, solidifying his role as a reliable stunt performer in action-oriented productions of the era. Through such foundational work in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Robinson established himself by consistently delivering safe, innovative acrobatics that enhanced film narratives without overshadowing the stars.

Major stunts and collaborations

Dar Robinson's stunt career, spanning from 1968 to 1986, was defined by daring high falls and intricate action sequences that pushed the boundaries of film safety standards.[2] He specialized in free-falls without visible safety gear, often using concealed parachutes or airbags, which allowed for seamless integration into cinematic narratives.[17] His work emphasized precision and innovation in high-risk environments, contributing to the realism of action films during Hollywood's blockbuster era.[5] In 1979, Robinson achieved a notable free-fall from a helicopter, dropping 311 feet onto an airbag, setting a world record for the highest such descent at the time.[2] The following year, he performed a record-breaking 1,100-foot free-fall from the CN Tower in Toronto for the film Highpoint (1982), doubling for Christopher Plummer in a climactic sequence where his parachute deployed after six seconds of descent; this stunt earned him $100,000, the highest payment for a single stunt according to the Guinness Book of World Records.[18][2] This stunt, conducted from a ledge at the tower's summit, marked the highest free-fall captured on film up to that point.[18] Later in 1980, Robinson executed a separate 1,200-foot cable descent from the same tower for the television documentary The World's Most Spectacular Stuntman, utilizing a thin 1/8-inch steel wire and a braking system. Robinson's 1981 performance in Sharky's Machine, directed by Burt Reynolds, included a 220-foot free-fall from the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, doubling for Henry Silva in a pivotal action scene; this wireless drop into an airbag established the record for the highest such stunt in a film.[19] He reprised his collaboration with Reynolds in Stick (1985), where he handled key stunts including fights and high-impact sequences that heightened the film's tense crime thriller atmosphere.[20] Throughout his peak years, Robinson forged significant partnerships with major Hollywood figures. In 1973, he contributed motorcycle stunts to Clint Eastwood's Magnum Force, enhancing the film's gritty police action with high-speed chases and jumps.[5] His final credited work came posthumously in Lethal Weapon (1987), where he doubled for Mel Gibson in a six-story building jump and other high falls, adding visceral intensity to the buddy-cop dynamics under director Richard Donner.[21] These collaborations underscored Robinson's role in elevating stunt work to an art form, influencing action cinema's reliance on practical effects.[20]

Records and innovations

World records and firsts

Dar Robinson broke 19 world records and set 21 world's firsts in stunts over the course of his career.[22][11] Key among his records was the highest stunt free fall on film, achieved by leaping 335 meters (1,100 feet) from the CN Tower in Toronto for the 1982 film Highpoint, with his parachute deploying just 91 meters above the ground after six seconds of descent. Robinson performed two jumps from the CN Tower: the 1979 free-fall for Highpoint and a 1980 controlled descent using his decelerator invention for the documentary The Ultimate Stuntman.[18] In 1979, he set a record for the highest fall into an airbag at 311 feet, performed as a free fall from a helicopter.[2] Another milestone came in 1981 with a 220-foot free fall from a high-rise building in Sharky's Machine, doubling for actor Henry Silva and marking the highest such drop in a commercially released film at the time.[19] Robinson also pioneered several firsts, including the earliest documented high cliff jump in cinema with a 100-foot plunge into a river doubling for Steve McQueen in the 1973 film Papillon.[11] He achieved the first sky dive transfer between airplanes and the first skydive from a cargo plane while simulating driving a sports car.[2] Additional records included a 190-foot high fall while on fire and a 179-foot car jump.[2] For his CN Tower jump using the decelerator in 1980, Robinson earned $100,000, earning him recognition in the 1988 edition of the Guinness Book of Records as the highest-paid stunt performer for a single stunt.[2][23]

Stunt inventions

Dar Robinson invented the decelerator, a dragline cable system that provided a safer alternative to airbags for high-fall stunts by gradually slowing a performer's descent through tension-controlled cables attached to a harness. This innovation eliminated the need for visible ground padding, allowing for dynamic filming from overhead and multiple angles while minimizing the risk of equipment visibility or malfunction during falls.[24][25] The decelerator made its debut in the 1985 film Stick, where Robinson executed a 220-foot backward fall from a hotel balcony while firing a prop gun, a stunt filmed without optical effects or miniatures. The system's precision enabled such high-risk maneuvers to appear seamless and realistic, marking a technical advancement in stunt execution.[26][27] Building on his background as a competitive gymnast, Robinson adapted gymnastics-style harnesses for cinematic use, integrating them into early wire work setups that facilitated controlled drops from helicopters and building ledges. These techniques involved thin, high-tensile wires connected to harnesses for suspension and propulsion, creating illusions of free-falling or aerial maneuvers with reduced strain on the performer.[24][28] Robinson demonstrated these inventions in key projects, including his approximately 900-foot fall in a cable-controlled jump from Toronto's CN Tower in 1980 for the documentary The Ultimate Stuntman, where a 1,200-foot steel dragline (his decelerator) uncoiled to decelerate his fall, stopping him 200 feet above the ground and landing on airbags below.[5][22] The original decelerator rig from his experiments remains on display in Moab, Utah, as a testament to his engineering ingenuity.[29][22] These contributions substantially lowered injury risks for falls over 200 feet by offering more predictable and adjustable deceleration compared to static airbags, and they shaped contemporary stunt rigging protocols, emphasizing harness integration and cable dynamics for safer, more versatile high-altitude work.[30][24]

Personal life

Family

Dar Robinson was married to Linda Robinson from May 11, 1985, until his death in 1986. Together, they had a son, Landon Robinson, born during this period, as noted in family records where Dar humorously marked the birth as "Mirical Boy" on their household calendar. Robinson also had two sons from a previous marriage, Troy Robinson and Shawn Robinson; the ex-wife from that marriage recalled the excitement of his initial stunts, indicating early family involvement in his professional pursuits. He also helped raise two stepchildren from Linda's previous marriage. The high-risk nature of Robinson's stunts impacted family life by necessitating frequent travel and exposing the household to constant concerns over safety, yet Linda provided ongoing support for his career decisions, standing by him through major projects. Shawn Robinson paid tribute to his father by entering the stunt industry himself, specializing in rigging for safe stunt execution on films including Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). He died of natural causes related to hypertensive heart disease in 2015 at age 41 while working on location in New Orleans. As of 2025, Linda Robinson, sons Landon and Troy, and at least two stepchildren survive, maintaining the family's connection to Dar's legacy in Hollywood stunts (status of stepchildren unconfirmed).

Interests

Robinson resided in Los Angeles, California, throughout much of his adult life, allowing him proximity to the film industry while providing a base for personal pursuits amid his demanding profession.[2] Drawing from his youthful involvement in his father's gymnastics supply business, Robinson sustained an interest in gymnastics and trampolining, incorporating these disciplines into his ongoing physical fitness routines to support his athletic capabilities.[10][31] Among his hobbies, motorcycling featured prominently, reflecting his affinity for high-adrenaline activities beyond professional stunts.[2] Robinson also enjoyed outdoor adventures, which complemented his adventurous spirit and helped maintain balance between his high-risk career and downtime.[32]

Death and legacy

The accident

On November 21, 1986, Dar Robinson, aged 39, died in a motorcycle accident while filming a chase scene for the movie Million Dollar Mystery on a remote dirt road in the Glen Canyon area near Page, Arizona.[2] The incident occurred on U.S. Highway 89A, approximately 65 miles north of Page, during a stunt in which Robinson was riding a Honda 600 dirt bike at about 50 m.p.h.[2] Robinson lost control of the motorcycle on a sharp curve, veered off the road, and plunged roughly 40 feet down a steep embankment, striking a rock ledge before being impaled by a sagebrush limb.[2] The high-speed maneuver on the uneven dirt surface led to massive internal injuries that proved fatal.[2] Authorities ruled the death accidental, with a subsequent 1990 court investigation finding no negligence on the part of the production team.[33] In the immediate aftermath, film crew members rushed Robinson about one mile to the production's base camp, where a nurse provided initial treatment.[2] He was then transported by car 12 miles south to a rendezvous point and airlifted by Arizona Highway Patrol helicopter, but he was pronounced dead en route to a hospital in Page.[2] No other individuals were injured in the incident.[4]

Industry impact and recognition

Robinson's innovations in stunt technology, particularly the decelerator device he developed, significantly advanced safety protocols for high falls in the film industry, allowing performers to descend from extreme heights with reduced risk compared to traditional methods like airbags. This invention, an early dragline cable system, became a foundational technique for subsequent generations of stunt work, influencing modern rigging practices that prioritize performer protection. His emphasis on precision engineering and planning helped elevate stunt performing from a high-risk endeavor to a more standardized profession, setting benchmarks for safety that persist in contemporary action cinema.[24] Robinson's legacy extended to his family, notably inspiring his son Shawn Robinson, who followed in his footsteps as a professional stunt performer and rigger, contributing to films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Shawn's career in stunt coordination and equipment rigging echoed his father's focus on safety innovations, perpetuating Dar's influence within Hollywood's stunt community. This familial succession underscored Robinson's role in mentoring and paving the way for safer, more technical approaches to stunts.[34] Posthumously, Robinson received widespread recognition for his contributions. In 1987, the documentary The Ultimate Stuntman: A Tribute to Dar Robinson was released, hosted by Chuck Norris and featuring interviews with collaborators like Burt Reynolds and Richard Donner, and showcasing clips of his most daring feats to highlight his techniques and impact on the craft. The film served as a biographical tribute, detailing his life and underscoring his pioneering role in stunt innovation. The film Lethal Weapon (1987), in which he performed stunts, was dedicated to him posthumously. Additionally, the 1986 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged him as the highest-paid stunt performer for a single stunt, earning $100,000 for his 335 m (1,100 ft) controlled free fall from Toronto's CN Tower in Highpoint (1982), and recognized several of his free-fall records, including the highest stunt free fall on film at 335 meters (1,100 feet) from Toronto's CN Tower in Highpoint (1982).[35][18][2] His death prompted significant media coverage, including an obituary in The New York Times that described him as the holder of over 21 world stunt records and a transformative figure in Hollywood action sequences. As of 2025, Robinson's influence remains evident in discussions surrounding the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' new category for stunt coordination, with tributes highlighting his record-breaking feats as emblematic of the unrecognized artistry in the field. He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California, a site that reflects his enduring place among cinema's stunt legends.[4][36][7]

References

  1. DAR ALLEN ROBINSON, 39, stuntman who survived…
  2. Motorcycle Chase Scene Ends in Stunt Man's Death
  3. Stunt gags leave auds speechless - Variety
  4. Dar Robinson, Stuntman, Dies - The New York Times
  5. The "Ultimate Stuntman" who jumped off the CN Tower in 1980
  6. Hollywood Stunt Performers: The 100-Year Road to Oscars ...
  7. Dar Robinson (1947-1986) - Find a Grave Memorial
  8. Dar Robinson(1947-1986) - IMDb
  9. THE STUNTMAN - The Washington Post
  10. The Tale Of Dar Robinson: The World's Richest Stunt Double
  11. Stuntman - Tribute to Dar Robinson
  12. Star! (1968) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
  13. Dar Robinson
  14. Paint Your Wagon (1969) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
  15. Dar Robinson - Biography - IMDb
  16. Papillon (1973) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
  17. That time Dar Robinson jumped off the CN Tower, twice - Retrontario
  18. Highest stunt free fall on film | Guinness World Records
  19. BEST-PAID STUNTMAN KILLED WHILE FILMING - Chicago Tribune
  20. Dar Robinson and Sharkey's Machine - Brothers' Ink Productions
  21. When Dar Robinson leapt from Toronto's CN Tower | RAY BENNETT
  22. MOVIE DOUBLES STUNT THROUGH LIFE BY THE SKIN OF THEIR ...
  23. 10 Record-Breaking Hollywood Stunts and Stunt Masters - Spyscape
  24. Trivia - Dar Robinson - IMDb
  25. Action blockbuster The Fall Guy shows why stunt people are ... - BBC
  26. Legendary Hollywood Stuntmen And Their Famous Roles
  27. Stick (1985) - Trivia - IMDb
  28. Hollywood's best stunts? Here's our picks - Variety
  29. Dar Robinson: The Legendary Stuntman Who Defied Gravity and ...
  30. The Man Who Jumped Off The CN Tower — And Survived
  31. The Evolution Of Stunts Part Four - - British Action Academy
  32. Dar Robinson Facts for Kids
  33. Dar Robinson | - Ky Michaelson
  34. Producers Absolved in Stuntman's Death - Los Angeles Times
  35. Stuntman Shawn Robinson Died Of Natural Causes, Coroner Says
  36. The Ultimate Stuntman: A Tribute to Dar Robinson - IMDb
  37. The Oscars' New Category: Celebrating Stunt Performers
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