Hollywood stuntman Bob Yerkes, a 70-year journey from the circus to the cinema

A1 Digital India News: Bob Yerkes, who worked as a Hollywood stuntman for nearly 70 years, started out as a circus performer and amazed the world with his unparalleled courage and ability.

Yerkes was born Bretton Walter Yorkes on February 11, 1932, in Santa Monica, California. His talent was evident from an early age when he would perform gymnastics at Muscle Beach. At the age of 15, he joined the circus and from there began the exciting journey of his life.

Yerkes' contribution to the circus was unforgettable. He worked with various prestigious circuses such as Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. His career continued to grow and he became a part of many big trapeze acts, including the Flying Artans and the Flying Alexanders.

Yerkes' contribution to the circus led him to Hollywood. He worked as a stunt double for Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis in the 1948 film Trapeze. This led to him performing stunts in movies and TV, including many iconic films such as Return of the Jedi, Back to the Future, and The Towering Inferno.

His career highlights include

Return of the Jedi (1983) – Double role as Boba Fett

Back to the Future – Stunts on the Clock Tower

Assistant stunts in Ghostbusters and Poltergeist

Yerkes’ contributions were not limited to just performing stunts; he also made many innovations to make stunt art safer. One of his biggest contributions was the invention of the airbag, which is used by every stunt performer today.

Bob Yerkes received many honors and awards for his amazing contributions. He received the World Acrobatics Society Lifetime Award, and was inducted into the Gallery of Acrobatics Legends. In addition, he was also awarded the Willie Edelston Coach of the Year Award and inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame.

Yerkes married Dorothy Morales in 1953, but they divorced in the 1970s. His son Mark also chose a career as a stuntman, while his other son Gerald died in the Vietnam War.