Actor, Stuntman. In a career that spanned almost 50 years, he was one of Hollywood's most respected stuntmen and stunt coordinators. In 1947, he was a rodeo circuit bronco rider and horse trainer when he arrived in Los Angeles and sought work as a wrangler. He began doing stunts for director John Ford films and when he doubled for actor John Wayne in "The Fighting Kentuckian" (1949), the two became life long friends. He went on to double and appear in every western film with the Duke such as "Hondo" (1953), "The Searchers" (1956), "The Horse Soldiers" (1959), "The Alamo" (1960), "The War Wagon' (1967) and a speaking role in "True Grit" (1969). His many other film credits included "The Great Escape" (1963), "The Great Race" (1965), "Joe Kidd" (1972), "The Longest Yard" (1974) and "The Blues Brothers" (1980). As a stunt coordinator, he arranged the stunts for "The Horseman" (1971), "Who'll Stop The Rain" (1978), TV movie "The Brass Are Comin" (1970), plus 12 episodes for the TV series "Rat Patrol" and "Wild Times" TV mini-series. He retired from stunt work in 1981 and from acting in 1989. Hayward was a lifetime member of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures and an inductee into the Stuntmen's Hall of Fame. He died from Hodgkin's disease at age 78.
Actor, Stuntman. In a career that spanned almost 50 years, he was one of Hollywood's most respected stuntmen and stunt coordinators. In 1947, he was a rodeo circuit bronco rider and horse trainer when he arrived in Los Angeles and sought work as a wrangler. He began doing stunts for director John Ford films and when he doubled for actor John Wayne in "The Fighting Kentuckian" (1949), the two became life long friends. He went on to double and appear in every western film with the Duke such as "Hondo" (1953), "The Searchers" (1956), "The Horse Soldiers" (1959), "The Alamo" (1960), "The War Wagon' (1967) and a speaking role in "True Grit" (1969). His many other film credits included "The Great Escape" (1963), "The Great Race" (1965), "Joe Kidd" (1972), "The Longest Yard" (1974) and "The Blues Brothers" (1980). As a stunt coordinator, he arranged the stunts for "The Horseman" (1971), "Who'll Stop The Rain" (1978), TV movie "The Brass Are Comin" (1970), plus 12 episodes for the TV series "Rat Patrol" and "Wild Times" TV mini-series. He retired from stunt work in 1981 and from acting in 1989. Hayward was a lifetime member of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures and an inductee into the Stuntmen's Hall of Fame. He died from Hodgkin's disease at age 78.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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