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  • Biography
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IMDbPro

Bob Yerkes(1932-2024)

  • Stunts
  • Actor
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Stuntman Brayton Walter "Bob" Yerkes is from Los Angeles County, California. Yerkes started tumbling down at Santa Monica Muscle Beach at age eleven and ran away from home to join the Clyde Beatty Circus as part of an acrobatic act at age fifteen. Bob began performing stunts in movies upon returning to Los Angeles in the late 1940s. His career as a stuntman encompasses several decades. Among the notable people that Yerkes has doubled for are Paul Newman, Robert Duvall, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christopher Lloyd, and Della Reese. Moreover, Bob also taught many celebrities circus acts for various "Circus of the Stars" TV specials throughout the 1980s as well as has trained numerous stunt performers in the backyard of his home in Los Angeles, California.
BornFebruary 11, 1932
DiedOctober 1, 2024(92)
BornFebruary 11, 1932
DiedOctober 1, 2024(92)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels

Known for

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, Warwick Davis, David Prowse, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Carter, and Larry Ward in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
8.3
  • Stunts
  • 1983
Nicolas Cage in Adaptation. (2002)
Adaptation.
7.7
  • Charles Darwin
  • 2002
Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future
8.5
  • Stunts
  • 1985
Poseidon (2006)
Poseidon
5.7
  • Stunts
  • 2006

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Stunts



  • David Hasselhoff and Ken Jeong in Killing Hasselhoff (2017)
    Killing Hasselhoff
    4.5
    • stunts
    • 2017
  • Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, Robert Pattinson, and Tai in Water for Elephants (2011)
    Water for Elephants
    6.9
    • stunts
    • 2011
  • Hank Azaria and Russell Brand in Hop (2011)
    Hop
    5.4
    • stunts
    • 2011
  • Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin in The Back-up Plan (2010)
    The Back-up Plan
    5.3
    • stunt double
    • 2010
  • Justin Long, Jesse McCartney, and Matthew Gray Gubler in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
    Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
    4.6
    • stunts
    • 2009
  • Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, and Rachel McAdams in State of Play (2009)
    State of Play
    7.1
    • stunts
    • 2009
  • Pamela Anderson, Leslie Nielsen, Simon Rex, Drake Bell, Craig Bierko, Regina Hall, and Tracy Morgan in Superhero Movie (2008)
    Superhero Movie
    4.7
    • stunts
    • 2008
  • Tim Allen, Spencer Breslin, Kate Mara, Ryan Whitney, and Michael Cassidy in Zoom (2006)
    Zoom
    4.4
    • stunt performer
    • 2006
  • Poseidon (2006)
    Poseidon
    5.7
    • stunts
    • 2006
  • Patricia Richardson and Rosa Blasi in Strong Medicine (2000)
    Strong Medicine
    6.8
    TV Series
    • stunt rigger
    • 2006
  • Jennifer Aniston and Ben Stiller in Along Came Polly (2004)
    Along Came Polly
    6.0
    • stunts
    • 2004
  • Where the Red Fern Grows (2003)
    Where the Red Fern Grows
    6.4
    • stunt player
    • 2003
  • Worst Case Scenarios
    6.7
    TV Series
    • stunt coordinator
    • 2002
  • Eriq La Salle in Crazy as Hell (2002)
    Crazy as Hell
    5.9
    • stunt player
    • 2002
  • Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001)
    Megiddo: The Omega Code 2
    3.9
    • stunts
    • 2001

Actor



  • The Key
    Short
    • Purse Snatcher
    • 2010
  • 1000 Ways to Die (2008)
    1000 Ways to Die
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Bob the Scrooge
    • 2010
  • The Butterfly Circus (2009)
    The Butterfly Circus
    7.7
    Short
    • Poppy
    • 2009
  • Tom Hanks in Angels & Demons (2009)
    Angels & Demons
    6.7
    • Cardinal Guidera
    • 2009
  • Evilution (2008)
    Evilution
    3.7
    • Sweat Suit Tenant
    • 2008
  • I Believe
    Short
    • Dad
    • 2006
  • Nicolas Cage in Adaptation. (2002)
    Adaptation.
    7.7
    • Charles Darwin
    • 2002
  • George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alicia Silverstone, Uma Thurman, and Chris O'Donnell in Batman & Robin (1997)
    Batman & Robin
    3.8
    • Observatory Guard (uncredited)
    • 1997
  • Lauren Holly, Hector Elizondo, Carla Gugino, Mark Harmon, Barbara Hershey, Mandy Patinkin, Adam Arkin, and Rocky Carroll in Chicago Hope (1994)
    Chicago Hope
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Flying Travelli Trapeze Act (uncredited)
    • 1994
  • Molly Ringwald, Rob Lowe, Laura San Giacomo, Gary Sinise, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ruby Dee, Corin Nemec, and Bill Fagerbakke in The Stand (1994)
    The Stand
    7.1
    TV Mini Series
    • Old Man in Store (as Brayton Yerkes)
    • 1994
  • Jennifer Grey and Peter Berg in A Case for Murder (1993)
    A Case for Murder
    5.4
    TV Movie
    • Judge Newhouse
    • 1993
  • Mr. Saturday Night (1992)
    Mr. Saturday Night
    5.9
    • Acrobat
    • 1992
  • Purple People Eater (1988)
    Purple People Eater
    4.6
    • Trapeze Artist
    • 1988
  • Ratboy (1986)
    Ratboy
    3.9
    • Stagehand
    • 1986
  • Anthony Edwards and Linda Fiorentino in Gotcha! (1985)
    Gotcha!
    6.2
    • KGB #2
    • 1985

Producer



  • The Butterfly Circus (2009)
    The Butterfly Circus
    7.7
    Short
    • executive producer
    • 2009
  • Up in the Air (2009)
    Up in the Air
    7.2
    Short
    • executive producer
    • 2009
  • Douglas Folsom in Unbound (2008)
    Unbound
    Short
    • executive producer
    • 2008
  • Mirage
    Short
    • executive producer
    • 2007
  • I Believe
    Short
    • executive producer
    • 2006

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Brayton 'Bob' Yerkes
  • Height
    • 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
  • Born
    • February 11, 1932
    • Santa Monica, California, USA
  • Died
    • October 1, 2024
    • Northridge, California, USA(complications from pneumonia)
  • Spouse
    • Dorothy YerkesApril 2, 1953 - September 1976 (divorced, 1 child)
  • Children
      Mark Yerkes
  • Parents
      Howard Kenneth Yerkes
  • Relatives
    • Norma Lee Yerkes(Sibling)

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Ran away from home at the age of 15 to join the circus where he performed the teeterboard act.

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