The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.

Rest in Peace, Sword Master Bob Anderson

Grey GhostGrey Ghost Registered User regular
edited January 2012 in Social Entropy++
bobanderson600_jpg_627x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg

Do you know this dude? You may not know his face, but you know his work

Bob Anderson was a champion fencer and a stunt choreographer (and often performer) on basically every badass fight with bladed weapons in Western film (or at least the ones that matter)

He was in the Vader suit for the lightsaber duels in Empire and Jedi, he choreographed the Pirates and Lord of the Rings swordfights, a bunch of Errol Flynn movies, and oh yeah, he's responsible for the single coolest exhibition of swordplay ever put on film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC6dgtBU6Gs

Anderson was 89 years old and kept it up right until the end (he was still doing the fights for the The Hobbit, which is shooting now); I have to imagine he passed in his sleep because there's no way Death could take him in a duel

So let's raise our blades to Bob Anderson, who is handing angels their asses right about now

Grey Ghost on
«1

Posts

  • FleebFleeb has all of the fleeb juice Registered User regular
    Awesome guy. RIP badassman.

  • tynictynic PICNIC BADASS Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited January 2012
    oh man he sounds like a dude!

    RIP dude.

    tynic on
  • BahamutZEROBahamutZERO Registered User regular
    he was an awesome dude.

    BahamutZERO.gif
  • Dark Raven XDark Raven X Laugh hard, run fast, be kindRegistered User regular
    Holy shit, I was just reading about this guy a couple days ago.

    Pirates of the Caribbean has gotta be his best. The blacksmith fight in particular is fantastic.

    Oh brilliant
  • alternatingAberrationalternatingAberration I am the milk man My milk is deliciousRegistered User regular
    Man, who is going to fill that vacuum.

    xI8QS1g.jpg?1
  • MeldingMelding Registered User regular
    That's unfortunate. Rest in peace guy, you're sword fighting dinosaurs in heaven now.

  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    big ups for Anderson

    belruelotterav-1.jpg
  • Centipede DamascusCentipede Damascus Ho! Ho! Ho! Drink Coke!Registered User regular
    Man, who is going to fill that vacuum.

    hopefully he trained apprentices who have attained some measure of his talent

  • Der Waffle MousDer Waffle Mous Blame this on the misfortune of your birth. New Yark, New Yark.Registered User regular
    Man, who is going to fill that vacuum.

    hopefully he trained apprentices who have attained some measure of his talent
    I bet that's how he died.

    Steam PSN: DerWaffleMous Origin: DerWaffleMous Bnet: DerWaffle#1682
  • UnbrokenEvaUnbrokenEva HIGH ON THE WIRE BUT I WON'T TRIP ITRegistered User regular
    I find it kind of funny looking at his IMDB page, he had a handful of movie jobs from the 50s-70s, and just Star Wars in the late 70s/early 80s. Then he did Highlander and The Princess Bride back to back and after that was very busy right up until he died.

  • Mortal SkyMortal Sky queer punk hedge witchRegistered User regular
    It's guys like this - the people involved in making films not only well written and acted, but also fun to watch - who sometimes seem to be the most unappreciated, even though they make dozens of films absolutely incredible. It's pretty amazing to look at Anderson's record and realize just how many memorable swordfights he was behind. I mean, hell, I even dreamed I was in one of them (the final lightsaber fight of RotJ) a few years ago.
    RIP, Bob Anderson.

  • UnbrokenEvaUnbrokenEva HIGH ON THE WIRE BUT I WON'T TRIP ITRegistered User regular
    Also I can't help but notice that he doesn't appear to have been involved in the Star Wars prequels, which is telling.

  • Centipede DamascusCentipede Damascus Ho! Ho! Ho! Drink Coke!Registered User regular
    Man, who is going to fill that vacuum.

    hopefully he trained apprentices who have attained some measure of his talent
    I bet that's how he died.

    killed his master in a duel and never said why

  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    Guys, just remember:
    SWORDS WILL FUCKING CUT YOU

    belruelotterav-1.jpg
  • MeldingMelding Registered User regular
    Damn it druhim, i was about to go get those.

    That Series gets so good.

  • ButtlordButtlord Fornicus Lord of Bondage and PainRegistered User regular
    Druhim wrote:
    Guys, just remember:
    SWORDS WILL FUCKING CUT YOU

    That's why you need to know how to survive edged weapons

    True story I watched all of Surviving Edged Weapons this summer

    It's basically the best thing

  • Grey GhostGrey Ghost Registered User regular
    Man, who is going to fill that vacuum.

    hopefully he trained apprentices who have attained some measure of his talent
    I bet that's how he died.

    killed his master in a duel and never said why

    Anderson, Anderson
    Six foot twenty, fuckin' killing for fun

  • ButtlordButtlord Fornicus Lord of Bondage and PainRegistered User regular
    Grey Ghost wrote:
    Man, who is going to fill that vacuum.

    hopefully he trained apprentices who have attained some measure of his talent
    I bet that's how he died.

    killed his master in a duel and never said why

    Anderson, Anderson
    Six foot twenty, fuckin' killing for fun

    I heard he stole a pocketful of horses, and fucked the shit outta bears

  • This content has been removed.

  • miscellaneousinsanitymiscellaneousinsanity grass grows, birds fly, sun shines, and brother, i hurt peopleRegistered User regular
    Heard the news from my brother earlier, RIP
    Few knew of Anderson's role until Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, said in a 1983 interview that "Bob Anderson was the man who actually did Vader's fighting."
    "It was always supposed to be a secret, but I finally told (director) George (Lucas) I didn't think it was fair any more," Hamill told Starlog magazine. "Bob worked so bloody hard that he deserves some recognition. It's ridiculous to preserve the myth that it's all done by one man."
    [...]
    "I never took up the sword," he said in an interview for the 2009 documentary "Reclaiming the Blade." "I think the sword took me up."

    uc3ufTB.png
  • TonkkaTonkka Some one in the club tonight Has stolen my ideas.Registered User regular
    Aw man.

    Steam: evilumpire Battle.net: T0NKKA#1588 PS4: T_0_N_N_K_A Twitter Shirts and such HELP!
  • ThreeCubedThreeCubed Grandma Winky's fat ankles Registered User regular
    What??! NO!

    EyQGd.jpg
  • SCREECH OF THE FARGSCREECH OF THE FARG #1 PARROTHEAD margaritavilleRegistered User regular
    man this guy was rad

  • EdcrabEdcrab Actually a hack Registered User regular
    I was reading about him the other day too

    A ripe old age and still working, with swords, right up until the end

    cBY55.gifbmJsl.png
  • I Win SwordfightsI Win Swordfights all the traits of greatness starlight at my feetRegistered User regular
    My man. :(

    R.I.P.

    lfYVHTd.png
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    Heard the news from my brother earlier, RIP
    Few knew of Anderson's role until Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, said in a 1983 interview that "Bob Anderson was the man who actually did Vader's fighting."
    "It was always supposed to be a secret, but I finally told (director) George (Lucas) I didn't think it was fair any more," Hamill told Starlog magazine. "Bob worked so bloody hard that he deserves some recognition. It's ridiculous to preserve the myth that it's all done by one man."
    [...]
    "I never took up the sword," he said in an interview for the 2009 documentary "Reclaiming the Blade." "I think the sword took me up."

    Reclaiming the Blade is actually a pretty good documentary.

    belruelotterav-1.jpg
  • Grey GhostGrey Ghost Registered User regular
    Oh hey and it's on Netflix Instant!
    I know what I must do

  • GumpyGumpy There is always a greater powerRegistered User regular
    Bloody impressive that he managed to keep it up till the very end

    RIP Mr Anderson

  • PiotyrPiotyr Power-Crazed Wizard SilmariaRegistered User regular
    I'll leave these here...because holy crap he did everything...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URuzSAEAQac

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UZPLkeQtpY

  • Lost SalientLost Salient blink twice if you'd like me to mercy kill youRegistered User regular
    Welp

    Those videos are cool

    Mostly they just reminded me how much I love the shit out of Zorro

    RUVCwyu.jpg
    "Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs." HAIL SATAN
  • WrenWren ninja_bird Registered User regular
    the james bond swordfight was the best swordfight in the history of ever

    tf2sig.jpg
    TF2 - Wren BF3: Wren-fu
  • NaphtaliNaphtali Hazy + Flow SeaRegistered User regular
    that was about the only good thing to come out of die another day

    Steam | Nintendo ID: Naphtali | Wish List
  • Lost SalientLost Salient blink twice if you'd like me to mercy kill youRegistered User regular
    I've never actually seen Die Another Day.

    Also the best swordfight in ever is Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone in The Adventures of Robin Hood.

    Did you know that Basil Rathbone actually took to fencing and became quite accomplished at it? True story! Even though he never won in the movies, he was really good! I think I read that in By the Sword. Which, incidentally, was a cool book.

    RUVCwyu.jpg
    "Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs." HAIL SATAN
  • NaphtaliNaphtali Hazy + Flow SeaRegistered User regular
    unless you really have to be a bond movie completionist, don't bother seeing it LS

    Steam | Nintendo ID: Naphtali | Wish List
  • ShortyShorty touching the meat Intergalactic Cool CourtRegistered User regular
    Naphtali wrote:
    unless you really have to be a bond movie completionist, don't bother seeing it LS

    true story.

  • SnorkSnork word Jamaica Plain, MARegistered User regular
    if you are a bond movie completionist i feel like it might be best to just forget DAD even happened

    it was... unbelievably bad. i was incapable of enjoying it at age 12 with a plate full of white castle burgers and a living room full of doofy adolescents

  • ShortyShorty touching the meat Intergalactic Cool CourtRegistered User regular
    there are things that make it worthwhile but only the most dedicated bond fan should bother to look for them

    just move along, watch a good Bond film, there are lots of those

  • Lost SalientLost Salient blink twice if you'd like me to mercy kill youRegistered User regular
    I dunno about you all but I just rewatch Moonraker every day.

    RUVCwyu.jpg
    "Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs." HAIL SATAN
  • ShortyShorty touching the meat Intergalactic Cool CourtRegistered User regular
    moonraker is cool when you're a kid because LASERS

    but it was a really obvious attempt to cash in on the space-craze heralded by Star Wars

    it had almost an identical plot to The Spy Who Loved Me, for fuck's sake

Sign In or Register to comment.