Jackson Burns
Born: 1956
Passed: 2016
Born July 29, 1956 in Poteau, Oklahoma. He is part Native American. Worked on Walker, Texas Ranger; The Con; and Fingerprints. He is the record holder for longest fire drag stunt from a vehicle at 246 feet, Burns was totally engulfed in flames at one point and damaged his Nomex fire suit ; most squib hits at once, 22 total in 15 seconds; and as stunt double for George Kennedy on the motion picture The Man Who Came Back, was dragged from the back of a horse by fellow stuntman, Jody Stelzig, doubling for Eric Braeden, for a record total distance of 282 feet. Jackson, was hit by a car at 17 mph as stunt double for James Gandolfini on the motion picture Dance With The Devil. This is considerably faster than normal stunt car hits and Burns broke the windshield, flew over the top of the car and rolled off of the back, without a scratch. He later performed a car hit for the same actor and movie, of which he launched himself from an 18 wheel truck into the windshield of a passing pickup truck and then rolled to the ground. Gandolfini is said to have based his stuntman character in Get Shorty on Jackson. Jackson was born in an economically depressed region, known to be the poorest in the state of Oklahoma (Little Dixie). Only child of Luther Jackson Burns and Ermaline Delora Lockhart. Father is of French/Scot-Irish/Cherokee heritage and mother is of Scot/Irish/Choctaw heritage. His father Luther, quit school in 6th grade to help work and take care of his sharecropper parents(also of very limited education) and his siblings. His mother Delora finished high school. Jackson finished high school and graduated in the Class of 1974, Heavener High School, Heavener, Oklahoma. Jackson also attended Northeastern State University at Tahlequah, Oklahoma for a short time.
He was dragged 246 feet from the back of a truck while he was fully engulfed in flames in 1995. He had 22 bullet hits (squibs) fired off on his body in 15 seconds in 1997. Has coordinated six record stunts Hit by car moving at 17 mph performing stunt for James Gondolfini on the motion picture Dance With The Devil aka Perdita Durango. Later performed second car hit coming off of 18 wheel truck for same film and actor. Is a dedicated old west historian and explorer of Pre-Columbian culture of the Americas Dragged from back of horse as stunt double for George Kennedy for film Man Who Came Back. Is known as The Redneck Archaeologist for his work in archaeology and as a historian. Walks with slight limp from motorcycle racing accident when he was 15. Credits martial arts to overcoming his physical problems and regaining mobility, with his biggest influences being Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, the latter having worked for Mr Norris for six years on Walker, Texas Ranger.
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