Carey Loftin
Encyclopedia
Carey Loftin (also credited as Cary Loftin) was an American
actor
and stuntman
. One of his most famous roles was as the truck driver in Steven Spielberg
's Duel, although his face was never seen. He also performed some stunts for Steve McQueen
in Bullitt
, especially during the film's famous car chase.
Other films to which he contributed include Vanishing Point, Stanley Kramer
's multi-million dollar, all-star comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
, as well as Walt Disney's The Love Bug
, and its second sequel
. He also drove the truck that killed Edith Keeler in the Star Trek
episode, "The City on the Edge of Forever."
He had a supporting role as Skinner in the Keenan Wynn
and Bob Mathias
series The Troubleshooters
, which aired on NBC
in the 1959–1960 season. His costars included Chet Allen
and Forrest Compton
.
He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 2001.
A notable demonstration of stunt driving that Loftin performed was the car chase/race in Against All Odds (1984). He was the driver of the black Ferrari. According to the movie's director, Taylor Hackford
, Loftin was sixty-eight when he did this stunt. At first Hackford was reluctant to hire the aging stuntman but stunt coordinator Gary Davis convinced Hackford that even at sixty-eight, Loftin was by far the best car man in the business at that time.
Loftin died of natural causes in Huntington Beach
, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and stuntman
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
. One of his most famous roles was as the truck driver in Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's Duel, although his face was never seen. He also performed some stunts for Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen
Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen was an American movie actor. He was nicknamed "The King of Cool." His "anti-hero" persona, which he developed at the height of the Vietnam counterculture, made him one of the top box-office draws of the 1960s and 1970s. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination...
in Bullitt
Bullitt
Bullitt is a 1968 American police procedural film starring Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Vaughn. It was directed by Peter Yates and distributed by Warner Bros. The story was adapted for the screen by Alan Trustman and Harry Kleiner, based on the 1963 novel Mute Witness by Robert L....
, especially during the film's famous car chase.
Other films to which he contributed include Vanishing Point, Stanley Kramer
Stanley Kramer
Stanley Earl Kramer was an American film director and producer. Kramer was responsible for some of Hollywood's most famous "message" movies...
's multi-million dollar, all-star comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a 1963 American comedy film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer about the madcap pursuit of $350,000 in stolen cash by a diverse and colorful group of strangers...
, as well as Walt Disney's The Love Bug
The Love Bug
The Love Bug is the first in a series of comedy films made by Walt Disney Productions that starred an anthropomorphic pearl-white, fabric-sunroofed 1963 Volkswagen racing Beetle named Herbie...
, and its second sequel
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo is a 1977 film, the third of a series of films by Walt Disney Productions starring Herbie – the white Volkswagen racing Beetle with a mind of its own.-Plot:...
. He also drove the truck that killed Edith Keeler in the Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
episode, "The City on the Edge of Forever."
He had a supporting role as Skinner in the Keenan Wynn
Keenan Wynn
Keenan Wynn was an American character actor. His bristling mustache and expressive face were his stock in trade, and though he rarely had a lead role, he got prominent billing in most of his film and TV parts....
and Bob Mathias
Bob Mathias
Robert Bruce "Bob" Mathias was an American decathlete, two-time Olympic gold medalist, actor and United States Congressman representing the state of California.-Early life and athletic career:...
series The Troubleshooters
The Troubleshooters (1959 TV series)
The Troubleshooters is a 26-segment half-hour adventure series starring Keenan Wynn as Kodiak and Bob Mathias as Frank Dugan, which aired new episodes on NBC Television from September 11, 1959, to April 10, 1960. Based on unusual events at international construction sites, the program was...
, which aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in the 1959–1960 season. His costars included Chet Allen
Chet Allen (actor)
-Life and career:Allen was born in Chickasha, the seat of Grady County, Oklahoma.Allen was known for his supporting role as the 31-year-old "Slats" in the 1959-1960 NBC adventure/drama television series The Troubleshooters with costars Keenan Wynn and Bob Mathias...
and Forrest Compton
Forrest Compton
Forrest Compton is an American actor. He has appeared in many television series and films but is by far best known as attorney Mike Karr, the central character on the long-running soap opera The Edge of Night, on which he appeared from 1970 - 84...
.
He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 2001.
A notable demonstration of stunt driving that Loftin performed was the car chase/race in Against All Odds (1984). He was the driver of the black Ferrari. According to the movie's director, Taylor Hackford
Taylor Hackford
Taylor Edwin Hackford is an American film director, and the current president of the Directors Guild of America.-Early life:Hackford was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Mary , a waitress, and Joseph Hackford...
, Loftin was sixty-eight when he did this stunt. At first Hackford was reluctant to hire the aging stuntman but stunt coordinator Gary Davis convinced Hackford that even at sixty-eight, Loftin was by far the best car man in the business at that time.
Loftin died of natural causes in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.