Skip to content
Join free
Chuck Hayward
Actor

Chuck Hayward

20 Jan 1920Born
23 Feb 1998Died
78Age at death
79Credits

Biography

Charles Bert Hayward (January 20, 1920 – February 23, 1998) was an American motion picture stuntman and actor. He was associated particularly with the films of John Wayne. He doubled for most of the great Western and action stars of the 1950s-1980s.

His parents, Bert and Hazel Hayward, were cattle ranchers on a farm near Hyannis, Nebraska, about sixty miles east of Hayward's birthplace in Alliance. He spent his early youth working cattle, then, at 16, left home to join the rodeo circuit as a bronc rider and horse trainer. In 1947, he arrived in Los Angeles and sought work as a wrangler on motion pictures. He began doing stunts in 1949 on The Fighting Kentuckian, doubling for John Wayne.

Read the full biography

The two became pals and Hayward subsequently stunted and doubled for Wayne on nearly two dozen of the latter's films. Excelling at all sorts of horseback stunts, Hayward doubled most stars of the period who found themselves in Westerns or otherwise astride a horse, including Marlon Brando, Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, and Gregory Peck. He was prominent in The Big Country, co-produced by Peck. He was known as "Good Chuck" in contrast to "Bad Chuck", in reference to Chuck Roberson, another of Wayne's stunt doubles.

He graduated into stunt coordination, arranging the stunts in films such as The Deadly Companions and the TV series The Rat Patrol. He played small roles in numerous films and TV shows, and his appearance often served as an accurate predictor of an upcoming fight scene. He retired from stunt work in 1981, and from acting in 1989. Hayward was a member of the unofficial John Ford Stock Company, 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 his home in North Hollywood, California, in 1998. He was married three times, to Ellen Powell, by whom he had a daughter, and to Carol Lynn Shepherd. He had two children with Carol Lynn Shepherd. They were divorced in 1982. He then married Sally Pape Callaghan on October 30, 1982.

Before his Hollywood stuntman career, Hayward also worked as a medic in the United States Merchant Marine and he stated that he served on liberty ships. His two boys, along with his wife Carol's best friend who was trying to save them, perished in a forest fire in the early 1980s.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 1985StarkFilm: Scurvy
  2. 1982Crystal GazingFilm: Band Member (as Charles Hayward)
  3. 1981The Legend of the Lone RangerFilm: Wald (Cavendish gang)
  4. 1980Tom HornFilm: Deputy Proctor
  5. 1979Parts: The Clonus HorrorFilm: Walker Man
  6. 1978The Lord of the RingsFilm: Character Actor (voice)
  7. 1978The SwarmFilm: Standby Engineer
  8. 1977CHiPsSeries: Limousine Driver (2 episodes)
  9. 1977Airport '77Film: Passenger
  10. 1975HustleFilm: Morgue Attendant
  11. 1975Rooster CogburnFilm: Jerry (uncredited)
  12. 1975Gone with the WestFilm: Mimmo's Men
  13. 1975LepkeFilm: Doorman
  14. 1974Little House on the PrairieSeries: Cosby (1 episode)
  15. 1974The Longest YardFilm: Trooper I
  16. 1974Blazing SaddlesFilm: Outlaw (uncredited)
  17. 1974Scream of the WolfFilm
  18. 1972Night of the LepusFilm: Jud
  19. 1972The RookiesSeries (1 episode)
  20. 1972Joe KiddFilm: Eljay
  21. 1970Rio LoboFilm: (uncredited)
  22. 1969True GritFilm: Card Player / Raft Man (uncredited)
  23. 19685 Card StudFilm: O'Hara (uncredited)
  24. 1967The War WagonFilm: Blacksmith (uncredited)
  25. 1966Nevada SmithFilm: Fitch Man (uncredited)
  26. 1966The Rare BreedFilm: Wrangler (uncredited)
  27. 1965The Great RaceFilm: Soldier (uncredited)
  28. 1964Cheyenne AutumnFilm: Trooper (uncredited)
  29. 1963Kings of the SunFilm: Indian Warrior Friend to Black Eagle (uncredited)
  30. 1963Burke's LawSeries: Deputy (1 episode)
  31. 1962Taras BulbaFilm: Dolotov (uncredited)
  32. 1962The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceFilm: Henchman (uncredited)
  33. 1962Merrill's MaraudersFilm: Officer
  34. 1961The Deadly CompanionsFilm: Card Sharp (uncredited)
  35. 1961Two Rode TogetherFilm: Trooper (uncredited)
  36. 1960The AlamoFilm: Tennessean (uncredited)
  37. 1960SpartacusFilm: Soldier (uncredited)
  38. 1960Sergeant RutledgeFilm: Capt. Dickinson (uncredited)
  39. 1959Johnny RingoSeries: Curly Ivers (1 episode)
  40. 1959Wichita TownSeries (1 episode)
  41. 1959The Horse SoldiersFilm: Union Captain
  42. 1959Pork Chop HillFilm: Chalmers
  43. 1959Plunderers of Painted FlatsFilm: Stage Driver (uncredited)
  44. 1959Escort WestFilm: Indian
  45. 1959Black SaddleSeries: Needham, Fields (1 episode)
  46. 1959DogfaceFilm
  47. 1958Bat MastersonSeries: Fugitive in Plaid Shirt (1 episode)
  48. 1958Yancy DerringerSeries: Mine Heavy (uncredited) (1 episode)
  49. 1958Wanted: Dead or AliveSeries: A Rider, Burt Taggart, Bob Bradley (1 episode)
  50. 1958The Big CountryFilm: Rafe Hannassey
  51. 1957MaverickSeries (1 episode)
  52. 1957Wagon TrainSeries: Quentin Cleatus (1 episode)
  53. 1957Have Gun, Will TravelSeries (1 episode)
  54. 1957Forty GunsFilm: Charlie Savage
  55. 1957Run of the ArrowFilm: Corporal
  56. 1957The Unholy WifeFilm: Hazer (uncredited)
  57. 1956Gun for a CowardFilm: Nester (uncredited)
  58. 1956Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreSeries: Posse Man (uncredited), Deputy Sheriff, Farmer, Blue (1 episode)
  59. 1956Showdown at AbileneFilm: Roughneck (uncredited)
  60. 1956Gun BrothersFilm: Lookout (uncredited)
  61. 1956The SearchersFilm: Man at Wedding (uncredited)
  62. 1956Red SundownFilm: Cowpuncher
  63. 1955GunsmokeSeries: Jake, Studer, Kemp, Cowhand (1 episode)
  64. 1955The Road to DenverFilm: Randy (uncredited)
  65. 1954Jubilee TrailFilm: Velasco Rider (uncredited)
  66. 1953ArenaFilm: Cowboy
  67. 1953The Sun Shines BrightFilm: Deputy (uncredited)
  68. 1953San AntoneFilm: Willie
  69. 1953Fair Wind to JavaFilm: Sailor
  70. 1952The World in His ArmsFilm: Guest (uncredited)
  71. 1952Son of Ali BabaFilm: Villager (uncredited)
  72. 1952High NoonFilm: Townsman (uncredited)
  73. 1952Fort OsageFilm: Henchman (uncredited)
  74. 1952Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk TerritoryFilm: Henchman (uncredited)
  75. 1951Slaughter TrailFilm: Wounded Indian (uncredited)
  76. 1951Apache DrumsFilm: Townsman (uncredited)
  77. 1950Desperadoes of the WestFilm: Al (uncredited)
  78. 1950Wagon MasterFilm: Jackson (uncredited)
  79. 1950The Fargo PhantomFilm: Barnes

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.