Jeannie Epper, the renowned stunt double for Lynda Carter in the classic “Wonder Woman” TV series and an accomplished stunt performer in numerous movies and TV shows, passed away on Sunday evening at her residence in Simi Valley, California. She was 83 years old.
Born in 1941, Epper has an impressive resume of over 150 feature films where she performed stunts. Some notable films include “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” “The Princess Diaries,” “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” and “Flight,” among many others.
In Amanda Micheli’s 2004 documentary film “Double Dare,” there was a special spotlight on her. The film chronicles the lives of stuntwomen, including Epper and her colleague Zoรซ Bell, as they navigate the challenges and excitement of their profession.
Epper played a vital role in the establishment of the Stuntwomen’s Association of Motion Pictures in 1968. She served as the association’s president from 1999 and was later granted honorary membership. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Epper was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards, making her the first woman to be bestowed with this prestigious accolade.
According to a 2007 Entertainment Weekly article, Epper and her family of stunt performers were hailed as “the greatest stuntwoman who ever lived.”
Jeannie Epper’s parents were both professional stunt performers. Her father, John Epper, began his career as a member of the Swiss Cavalry and later became a stuntman, primarily working in westerns. It was in this industry that Jeannie got her first job at the young age of nine, marking the beginning of her journey as one of the first professional child stunt doubles. Notably, her brothers, Gary and Tony Epper, also pursued careers as stuntmen.
Jeannie Epper carried on the family tradition of performing stunts, with all three of her children, Eurlyne, Richard, and Kurtis, following in her footsteps as stunt performers.