Jim Dowdall (Stuntman)

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2007-10-01

Stuntman on 10 James Bond films from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME 1977 to SKYFALL 2012

I first met Jim Dowdall at an event in London in 2007. A really nice man in real life and someone worth a lot of admiration for his brave work on the big screen.

Jim Dowdall has over 26 years experience as a stunt co-ordinator/performer, and has covered a very wide range of skills and experience in the business.

This has not only included the normal bread and butter work of fights, falls, fire, automotive and aerial and wire flying, but has stretched from Medieval Jousting in the USA, corporate business launches using stunt personnel etc., to driving a film crew on a 6 week Camel Trophy Trans Brazil/Guyana jungle Expedition.

His first job was in Circus working with Big Cats and learning Trapeze. He then worked for Bapty and Co for three years as an Armourer on such films as The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Where Eagles Dare (1968). Jim was a member of the Parachute Regiment (champion recruit) and later worked as an assistant director, before taking up Stunt work in 1972.

Over the last ten years, in addition to normal stunt work, Jim has been specialising in automotive work, particularly commercials. He has driven cars for EVERY European and Japanese car manufacturer in over 340 car commercials. This has sometimes called for some of the cars being expected to perform a varied and unusual series of manoeuvres including Blind driving using video systems.

Jim holds full Car, Motorcycle and Heavy Goods Vehicle (including tracked vehicle) licences. In addition, he has a good working knowledge and wide experience of working with Helicopters (Civilian and Military) and has a comprehensive contact list of Machines and Pilots.

He holds a NRA Range Conducting Officers qualification and an X3 Media Safety Certificate. He is a member of The Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association at The Imperial War Museum in London and lectures regularly on WW2 German Automatic Weapons.

James Bond filmography:
2012: Skyfall (2012) (precision driver - pursuit arm)
2002: Die Another Day (stunts)
1999: The World Is Not Enough (stunts)
1997: Tomorrow Never Dies (stunts)
1995: GoldenEye (1995) (stunts)
1987: The Living Daylights (stunts)
1983: Never Say Never Again (stunts)
1983: Octopussy (1983) (stunts, double for Roger Moore under the train)
1981: For Your Eyes Only (stunts)
1977: The Spy Who Loved Me (stunts)

Check out Jim Dowdall's profile on IMDB for more information about his amazing career in films.

Photos below:
(top) Yours truly with Jim Dowdall in London.

(bottom) Jim on Iceland 2002 doubling for Pierce Brosnan in the Aston Martin on the ice chase for Die Another Day.

Text written and published by Anders Frejdh in September 2007

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#james_bond_stunt

#stunt_men

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Jim Dowdall (Stuntman)

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