Sticks and Stones Don't Hurt This Stunt Woman

March 30, 2007 — -- Stuntmen and women put themselves in harm's way to thrill audiences at the movies, but these stand-ins for the stars are not recognzied by the Academy Awards.

They have their own version of the Oscars -- the Taurus World Stunt Awards, set for May 20 in Hollywood, and they'll honor 66-year-old stunt woman Jeannie Epper with a lifetime achievement award. She'll be the first female to take that honor.

Among her performances, she hurtled down a 200-foot cliff for Kathleen Turner in "Romancing the Stone."

"I went headfirst down … I had a mouthful of rocks and dirt," Epper said.

She started doing stunts at age nine, and learned from her father, who stood in for Gary Cooper and Ronald Reagan.

"My dad taught us how to tuck and roll and fall, and stuff like that," Epper said.

She joked that she was practically born with stunt pads "attached to the umbilical cord."

"I actually think that everybody in Hollywood has at one time or another thought that the Eppers were destined and born to be stunt performers. And we were probably the only family that were actually born with stunt pads," Epper added.

Still, she had to develop her own style. "Everything we do is unique. We're not like any other athletes in the world," she said. "We work with a different set of people every movie, different cars, different cameras … So, we always have to adjust to the situation."

Eppers' credits include a ride with Jack Nicholson in "Terms of Endearment" and an appearance in "Spider-Man" as she developed her spot in a man's business.

In addition to the stunts, she also had to hone her acting skills. She said while sitting in for Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, she had to re-learn some basic skills.

"She just runs differently. Her arms kinda flail up a little bit," Epper said. "I had to train myself to run like a girl."

While Epper has the guts to pull off dangerous stunts, she also has a heart. Seven years ago, her friend, actor Ken Howard, was in need of a kidney donation, and she took the job, despite a warning from a doctor that it would put an end to her career.