[IMG:L]Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson might be doing back flips over his latest gig … hosting the 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards. The action star is no stranger to the show honoring Hollywood’s top stunt professionals, he hosted once before in 2005.
“I have the utmost respect for the stunt community, which is why I am so happy to be hosting the TWSA for the second time,” he says of the show airing on AMC May 25. “As actors, we truly appreciate all that they do as they literally put their life on the line for the sake of filmmaking. The stunt community is like family to me and I’m proud to be a part of honoring them.”
This year, the Taurus World Stunt Awards will honor Gerard Butler, star of the blockbuster hit film 300 with The Action Movie Star of the Year Award. In his powerful portrayal of King Leonidas, Butler did many of his own stunts in the film which retells the story of the battle of Thermopylae. In preparation for 300, Butler trained extensively for seven months; including training with stunt men from the film.
Butler said, “It is such a special honor to receive this award from the stunt community. In each action film I’m a part of, I am continually amazed by their remarkable talent. While I am proud to receive this accolade, I am keenly aware of who the real action heroes are.”
[IMG:R]Burt Reynolds will receive the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award for an Action Star. Throughout his career, Reynolds has been an avid supporter of the stunt industry. He became a fixture behind the wheel during iconic car chase scenes from such hit films as Cannonball Run and the Smokey and the Bandit franchises. Reynolds joins an exclusive club of actors to be recognized with this honor that includes Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Harrison Ford.
Reynolds said, “I have the highest respect for the stunt professionals who risk their lives every day. I want to thank the Taurus World Stunt Awards for not only bestowing me with this honor, but taking the time to honor these professionals and the amazing work they do.”
In addition, the Taurus World Stunt Awards will be honoring movie star and stunt icon Jeanne Epper with the highly coveted Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. Epper becomes the first woman to be recognized by the stunt industry’s most prestigious honor for her action-packed career spanning more than 50 years. Epper’s work can be seen in more than 200 film and television productions including Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels, Romancing the Stone, Fletch, Armageddon, and Kill Bill Vol. 2. A pioneer as a woman in the field, Epper’s life and career was chronicled in the 2004 award winning documentary, Double Dare.
Epper said, “It is an amazing gift to be honored by my peers with this award. It is especially gratifying to be the first woman to be honored with the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. I want to thank Red Bull and Dietrich Mateschitz for their continuing support of the stunt industry and bringing this show to life each year.”
