Extened bio for Bob Simmons? The stuntman legend.

yodboy007

I am asking if anyone on here knows anything more about Bob Simmons than just the basics. I would love to know more about this legendary stunt coordinator/action arranger. Talk about a pioneer in his field. This man was talented and is one of the most important figures in Bond history. Why so little is listed about him I do not know. I am dying to know more about him.

The basics are easy to find: he was born in 1933, did stunt work until he retired after AVTAK, did the gunbarrel for the first three films, fought Connery in TB, died in 1988, etc.

What is his true date of birth? Some say 1922 others say 1933.

Why did he retire when he did in 1985?

How extensive was his work with Vic Armstrong?

What did he die from at a relatively young age??? You would think a former stuntman would be in good shape and would live a long, active life.

Where can I find videos and interviews about him?

Why is he so underlooked by many? He should be a shining star in this franchise's legacy.


All answers will be greatly appreciated. I plan to buy his autobiography, "Nobody Does It Better", when I get the money. Has anyone read this? Surely that will answer some of these questions.

Mark Hazard

If it helps, Nobody Does It Better (My 25 Years of Stunts with James Bond and Other Stars), (written with Kenneth Passingham) was published in paperback by Javelin Books in 1987.

Haven't read it in years, well since about 1987, so can't tell you much about it.

007zagreb

theres quite a lot about BOB SIMMONS in vic armstrong's autobiography; titan books,london 2011; i get the impression he was a bit of a loner; he appears to have known roger morre and sean connery quite early on in their careers; he was in the stage production of mister roberts with roger and tyrone power in london in 1950... it would also be interesting to get hold of a print of the mvoei bob actually starred in that man from tangier!! a 1969 interview in a london newspaper said simmons lived in ealing,west london with his sister...according to a roger moore biography bob was also discussed to play bond originally!!

007zagreb

further to my above missive,there's quite a lot about bob simmons in NOSHER POWELL'S autobiography, called NOSHER; it give s a graphic account of working on YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE; prepare to get punch-drunk...

barracuda

As Mark Hazard mentioned above there is a biography, although it appears to have been out of print for some time. You can buy used copies online though, but I haven't read it so can't say it it's worth reading or not.

Q and M

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Simmons_(stunt_man)

Mark Hazard

barracuda wrote:

As Mark Hazard mentioned above there is a biography, although it appears to have been out of print for some time. You can buy used copies online though, but I haven't read it so can't say it it's worth reading or not.

I'd consider selling my copy for $130+

and even throw in the postage

Marketto007

Does anyone knows how Bob Simmons died?! Many thanks.

Silhouette Man

Marketto007 wrote:

Does anyone knows how Bob Simmons died?! Many thanks.

I'm afraid I don't know but he wasn't what you would have called an old man.

AlphaOmegaSin

His Wikipedia Page doesn't have anything on his Death.

Silhouette Man

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

His Wikipedia Page doesn't have anything on his Death.

No, I checked too.

Marketto007

Haven't found anything on his death, that's very strange.

Silhouette Man

Marketto007 wrote:

Haven't found anything on his death, that's very strange.

It is a bit - it usually tells you in bios how the person died but it's not worth getting too hung up on I suppose. Getting his autobiography might help as it was (first) published in the year that he died - 1987.