:Bobby Bass

Bass, a graduate of Morningside High School in Inglewood, California, was an enthusiast of the martial arts. As a teenager, he became a judo champion, meeting Gene LeBell who introduced him to the stunt industry in Hollywood.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuntplayers.com/memorial/memorial.php|title=Bobby Bass|publisher=stungplayers.com|accessdate=2007-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024202738/http://www.stuntplayers.com/memorial/memorial.php|archive-date=2007-10-24|url-status=dead}}

Bass served in the military, initially as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and then in Special Forces to become a special forces instructor.{{cite book|last=Freese|first=Gene Scott|title=Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary|url={{Google books|10dXAwAAQBAJ|page=18|plainurl=yes}}|page=18|edition=2nd|isbn=9781476614700|date=2014|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, North Carolina}}{{cite magazine |last1=O'Neill |first1=Terry |title=Lethal Weapon Terry O'Neill interviews Mel Gibson |journal=Fighting Arts International |date=1987 |issue=44 |pages=12 |url=http://stickgrappler.tripod.com:80/52/mel3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030102022117/http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/52/mel3.html |archive-date=2003-01-02 |location=England |oclc=500109467 |access-date=2018-11-09 |url-status=dead }} He resumed competing in judo and attained the rank of third degree black belt.

Bass made a career in movies and television in a variety of genres working with Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone, and John Wayne. He taught martial arts and weapons handling to Geena Davis, Michael Douglas, Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Susan Sarandon, and Kathleen Turner. Bass appeared in TV commercials and TV series such as Fantasy Island, MacGyver, Mission: Impossible, Star Trek: The Original Series, The A-Team, and The Twilight Zone.{{cite news

|url=https://variety.com/2001/scene/people-news/bobby-bass-1117855660/|title=Bobby Bass |publisher=variety.com

|date=12 November 2001|accessdate=1 September 2018}}

Bass also championed safer working conditions for the stunt industry, especially after his then-fiancée and Melanie Griffith's best friend, Heidi von Beltz,{{cite web|url=http://www.melaniegriffith.com/in2mec/fp_02_15_01.html|title=First Peek |publisher=melaniegriffith.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010626225049/http://www.melaniegriffith.com/in2mec/fp_02_15_01.html|archive-date=26 June 2001}} was paralyzed performing a stunt that Bass had coordinated in 1980 for Cannonball Run. He abandoned her after the accident, and von Beltz was awarded $4.6 million in a wrongful-injury lawsuit.{{Cite web|last=Robb|first=David|date=2015-10-29|title=Heidi von Beltz Dies: Stuntwoman Paralyzed In 'Cannonball Run' Crash Was 59|url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/heidi-von-beltz-dead-stuntwoman-paralyzed-cannonball-run-crash-1201597841/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}

Bass had two sons with his first wife. His second wife was Norma Collins, whom he was married to until his death. He was stepfather to Collins' four children, including actress Bo Derek. He suffered from Parkinson's disease until his death by suicide in Los Angeles.{{Cite web|last=Robb|first=David|date=2018-05-19|title=Jimmy Nickerson Dies: Veteran Hollywood Stuntman On 'Rocky', 'Raging Bull', & Dozens Of Others|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/jimmy-nickerson-dead-stuntman-lethal-weapon-rocky-raging-bull-1202394394/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2013-03-13|title=Drugs, Tragedies and 'Charlie's Angels'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/drugs-tragedies-and-charlies-angels-80961/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=TheWrap|language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|0060037}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bass, Bobby}}

Category:1936 births

Category:2001 deaths

Category:American stunt performers

Category:Male actors from Los Angeles

Category:Morningside High School alumni