Taurus Stunt Awards Recap
The 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards Ended With a Bang on Sunday NightÂ
HOLLYWOOD, CA UNITED STATES 05/21/2007
Show to air domestically on AMC On Friday, May 25th at 10:30 P.M. ET/PT.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., May 21 /PRNewswire/ — The stars were out and the
action was in full force at this year’s Taurus World Stunt Awards on the
Paramount Pictures lot last night. An enthusiastic audience of over 1700
watched as action film icon Burt Reynolds, star of the blockbuster hit 300
Gerard Butler, and the “godmother of stunt women,” Jeannie Epper were
honored for their remarkable contributions to the world of action films.
Awards host Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson kept the proceedings lively whilesome of Hollywood’s ‘extreme athletes,’ the stunt professionals who
consistently push the limits to thrill audiences around the world, were
honored with their highest reward, The Taurus. The show will air
domestically on AMC on Friday, May 25th at 10:30 p.m.
Celebrities and VIP’s in attendance — many making appearances on stage
– included Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jessica Alba, Michael Buffer,
Gerard Butler, Michael Chiklis, Elisha Cuthbert, Rob Dibble, Josh Duhamel,
Chris Evans, Will Ferrell, Harrison Ford, Dennis Hopper, Kelly Hu, Ali
Larter, Katie Lohman, Christina Milian, John C. Reilly, David Spade, Mr. T,
Ken Watanabe, and Shaun White among many others.
   The show kicked off with a bang when the Rock made his first appearance
onstage in an armored car, crashing into the set! Over the course of the
evening, the audience was likewise treated to a series of live
performances, giving a rapturous reception to Grammy-winner Joe Cocker, who
rocked the house with “Feeling Alright,” and acclaimed modern dance company
Diavolo, who executed an elaborate acrobatic routine over, under, in and
out of a moving car.
   THE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:
   – A spectacular demonstration of Parkour whose practitioners dash across
       the landscape, jumping, ducking or climbing over buildings and
       structures with supreme elegance and physical efficiency. Parkour was
       featured in the film Casino Royal, which won “Best High Work”
   – The blockbuster hit film The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s
       Chest coming to life with a spectacular swash-buckling sword fight!
   – Ali Larter (”Heroes,” upcoming Resident Evil: Extinction) and Josh
       Duhamel (”Las Vegas,” upcoming Transformers) introduced the first-ever
       on fire runway fashion show featuring models ablaze!
   On top of all the dramatic entrances, death-defying stunts, and joyous
award winners, the show exhibited immense heart and gratitude with the
presentation of its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards.
   HONORARY AWARDS:
   – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger presented the Taurus Lifetime
       Achievement Award for an Action Movie Star to Burt Reynolds, star of
       such classic films as Deliverance, Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball
       Run, and Boogie Nights. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called
       Reynolds, “the greatest of the great.”
   – After a touching tribute by many industry legends such as Steven
       Spielberg, nearly 100 stunt women including May Boss, Debbie Evans,
       and daughter Eurlyne Epper presented the Taurus Lifetime Achievement
       Award to Jeannie Epper. Epper, who has worked on over a hundred film
       and television shows, was overwhelmed with emotion when she looked at
       the parade of women on stage. Epper exclaimed, “Look at us all now –
       there truly is strength in women.”
   – Dennis Hopper presented the Taurus World Stunt Awards Action Movie
       Star of the Year to Gerard Butler, describing Butler’s role as Spartan
       King Leonidas in the groundbreaking international smash film 300 as a,
       “powerful, flesh-and-blood performance combined with brilliantly
       aggressive, athletic stuntwork.” Hopper said, “Gerard Butler brought
       us a state of the art, yet ancient vision of an action hero for the
       21st century.”
   The presentation of this year’s Taurus World Stunt Awards Foundation
grant recipients, Tony Angelotti and Larry Rippenkroeger was one of the
centerpieces of the show. Angelotti, who was seriously injured while he was
doubling for Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean: At the End of the
World, also won this years Best Fight award for his work in Pirates of the
Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Bruce Willis made a heartfelt tribute to his
“own stunt man and good friend Larry Rippenkroeger,” this year’s Taurus
Foundation recipient, who was injured during Live Free or Die Hard. Willis
said, “I want to thank everyone who’s a part of the Taurus World Stunt
Awards Foundation which provides assistance to stunt performers who
experience debilitating stunt related injuries.” Envisioned by
philanthropist Dietrich Mateschitz, founder and CEO of Red Bull Energy
Drink, the Foundation gives financial grants in the event of a stunt
related temporary, partial or permanent disability. The Foundation is
perpetuated by annual Taurus World Stunt Awards programming and ongoing
fundraising activities.
   The primary aim of the event was to honor the elite professionals of
the stunt community. To that end, it’s our pleasure to congratulate the
following 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards Winners!
                          Best Work with a Vehicle
                Presented by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly
                              TALLADEGA NIGHTS
               Steve Kelso, Doc D. Charbonneau, Paul M. Lane
                                 Best Fight
                        Presented by Michael Buffer
                PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2: DEAD MAN’S CHEST
    Tony Angelotti, Phil Culotta, Thomas Dupont, Lisa Hoyle, Jeremy Fry,
 Kirk Maxwell, Tom Morga, Buddy “Love” Sosthand, Mark A. Wagner, Jeff Wolfe
                               Best High Work
                      Presented by THE FANTASTIC FOUR
        Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans and Ioan Gruffudd
                               CASINO ROYALE
        Ben Cooke, Kai Martin, Marvin Stewart-Campbell, Adam Kirley
                    Best Overall Stunt By A Stunt Woman
                           Presented by Kelly Hu
                              SUPERMAN RETURNS
                                Debbie Evans
                            Best Specialty Stunt
                Presented by Shaun White and Elisha Cuthbert
                                   CRANK
                        Sean Graham, Michael Nicely
                       Best Action in a Foreign Film
                         Presented by Ken Wantanabe
                        ALARM FOR COBRA 11 (Germany)
                               Stefan Richter
                                Hardest Hit
                     Presented by Christina Milian and
                             YOU, ME AND DUPREE
                        Jimmy N. Roberts, Steve Baum
                                 Best Fire
                  Presented by Josh Duhamel and Ali Larter
                           LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
                                 Simon Rhee
             Best Stunt Coordination and/or 2nd Unit Direction
 Presented by Harrison Ford with a special congratulations from Daniel Craig
                               CASINO ROYALE
                                Gary Powell
credit: prnewswire.com
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