Buddy Van Horn – Clint Eastwood’s longtime stunt double and film director – passes away at age 92

The filmmaking and stunt performing communities are in mourning today, after the passing of the iconic Buddy Van Horn.

Van Horn was a longtime stunt double for Clint Eastwood, who also directed him in three movies, who passed away on May 11, according to a Los Angeles Times obituary, with a private ceremony held at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.

The stuntman, filmmaker and actor had a legendary career in Hollywood spanning over 60 years, including being a Charter Member of the Stuntmen’s Association of Motion Pictures and being inducted into the Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame.

RIP: The filmmaking and stunt performing communities are in mourning today, after the passing of the iconic Buddy Van Horn

Stuntman: Van Horn was a longtime stunt double for Clint Eastwood, who also directed him in three movies, who passed away on May 11, according to a Los Angeles Times obituary, with a private ceremony held at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills

Van Horn was quite literally born for the business, birthed on the back lot of Universal Studios, where his father worked as a veterinarian for the studio’s horses and other large animals.

He began riding horses at a very early age, like the other men in his family, and he got his start in Hollywood as a movie extra riding horses.

When he just 21 he was drafted into World War II, serving in the US Army for two years before returning home, where he returned to Hollywood.

Horseman: He began riding horses at a very early age, like the other men in his family, and he got his start in Hollywood as a movie extra riding horses

He served as a stunt double on Around the World in 80 Days, Spartacus, the hit TV series Zorro, where he doubled for star Guy Williams, and Bonanza, while also doubling for stars such as Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart & Lee Marvin.

Van Horn started working with Clint Eastwood as his stunt double on the 1968 film Coogan’s Bluff, for director Don Siegel.

Siegel also brought him on to double for Eastwood in 1970’s Two Mules for Sister Sara, and 1971’s The Beguiled and the iconic classic Dirty Harry.

Stunt legend: Van Horn started working with Clint Eastwood as his stunt double on the 1968 film Coogan’s Bluff, for director Don Siegel

When Eastwood started directing films himself, he brought Van Horn over as both a stunt double and stunt coordinator.

He worked on Eastwood films such as High Plains Drifter, Magnum Force, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, The Eiger Sanction and Every Which Way But Loose, to name just a few.

He also served as second unit director on Magnum Force before moving up to director with 1980’s Every Which Way You Can, followed by The Dead Pool (1988) and Pink Cadillac (1989).

Director: He also served as second unit director on Magnum Force before moving up to director with 1980’s Every Which Way You Can, followed by The Dead Pool (1988) and Pink Cadillac (1989)

Van Horn also served as second unit director on Eastwood’s The Rookie and Absolute Power, along with the viral thriller Outbreak.

He continued working in stunts throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s in films like Heartbreak Ridge, Pale Rider, A Perfect World, All The Pretty Horses, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and his final project, J. Edgar.

Van Horn is survived by his wife Konne, Konne, daughters Erika and Jennifer and grandchildren Morgan, Cade, Hayden, Cole and Landon.

Second unit: Van Horn also served as second unit director on Eastwood’s The Rookie and Absolute Power, along with the viral thriller Outbreak

Survived: Van Horn is survived by his wife Konne, Konne, daughters Erika and Jennifer and grandchildren Morgan, Cade, Hayden, Cole and Landon