Southern Utah News from Kanab, Utah • 17

SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY JULY 11, 2001 Feature By Dixie Brunner The worst thing that ever happened to Neil Summers is when he was bitten by a rattlesnake and died. Well maybe that wasnt the worst thing. There were the times Summers was set afire, blown up, and he and his horse had to jump off a moving train. And what about the thousands of times he was shot and hundreds of times that he was killed? To be able to spend your life doing something that you love is a wonderful thing, said new Kanab resident Neil Summers, of his 36 years in the film industry. Summers is a stuntman extraordinaire, with literally hundreds of famous films to his credit, many of which were filmed in the Kanab area.

Im proud of being a survivor in an industry which chews people up and spits them out, said Summers. Background Neil Summers grew up watching westerns in his boyhood home of Phoenix, AZ. His all-consuming passion was to be a cowboy in the movies. I loved the Indians, posse and the bad was all so exciting to me. During summer vacations Summers was able to live his dreams, when he would get hired as a horseback rider for westerns being filmed nearby.

Summers eventually made his way to Hollywood to realize his career in films. California held promise for a young man who was interested in westerns, good with horses and didnt mind getting shot. He has been working ever since. As a fully-accredited member of the Stuntmens Association, Summers has been tapped countless times through the years to perform courageous, dare-devil acts. In other words, hes the hard-working guy who makes the movie stars look good.

Working experiences To say Summers has experienced success in his chosen field would be an understatement. His credits include a mind-boggling fist of hundreds of famous movie and TV shows such as Gunsmoke, Dick Tracy, High Chapparal, Death Valley Days, True Grit, Grizzly Adams, Barnaby Jones, My Name is Nobody, and. Outlaw Josey Wales. Robocop, Shaw shank Redemption, Oceans II with Julia Roberts and George Clooney, and Bad Girls with Drew Barrymore, are some more recent credits, with the latest being V.I.P. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and J.A.G.

'He has been shot by Clint Eastwood, killed by John Wayne, and tangled with the best of them. While Summers plays the bad guy in most movies, quite the opposite is true in real life. Neil Summers fits the bill, western columnist Pierce Lyden once wrote. He is a stuntman deluxe, a guy Fm glad to call my friend-not only because he is a great stuntman but a great person. Many people call Summers a friend.

Besides- being friends with hundreds of actors and actresses through the years, he enjoyed a close personal friendship with President Ronald Reagan. Its been a terrific life, said Summers. Ive gotten to meet all my heroes. Kanab connection During the many years of working as stuntman in the movies, Summers spent a lot of time shooting westerns in and around Kanab. It was great back then, remembers Summers.

Youd see Sidney Poitier, John Wayne or Jack Nicholson strolling down Center Street or sitting around the pool at Parrys. Santa Fe, Tucson and Kanab were the three major locations in demand for westerns in the 60-7 0s. There would be as many as five or six major companies a year filming here, said Summers. I spent four months on one film alone. Five of those films were made with Summers personal hero, John Wayne.

John Wayne was hard to work for, commented Famous stuntman and actor Neil Summers picked Kanab for his retirement. Summers, but he was the best but not just yet. Summers filmed many westerns in the area and just wanted of the best! to settle down here when his movie-making days are over. Evolving film industry I thought they remembered me include attending film festivals According to Summers, the from one of the movies, said and collecting western movie movie industry has changed dra- Summers with a grin. memorabilia.

He is often a fea- matically through the years, and They had recognized him, but tured guest at festivals through- not necessarily for the better, not from a movie. Upon landing out the west. Summers western Since many studios are owned" at the airport, he was handcuffed memorabilia collection is by corporations instead of indi- by three FBI agents. He had thought to be one of the most viduals, decisions are made by performed a criminal re-enact- complete in the country and inboards. You get studios run by mentofa bank robber wanted in eludes over 1,000,000 photo absentee landlords, said Sum- six states for Americas Most stills, many of which were taken mers.

None of the great produc- Wanted and had been confused right here during Kanabs Little ers are around anymore. Most of for the real bad guy! He was Hollywood years. He and Bonnie the films made today are fodder taken downtown to be booked, Riding are exploring the possi-for the masses, not for enter- and it took his studio several bilityofgettingagranttoopena tainment. hours to spring him. film history museum in Kanab The stars these days have with his collection, forgotten the people who made More relaxed lifestyle But while Summers has big them famous, added Summers.

During the many years of film- plans for his leisure time, he will Many ofthem will not even sign ing in southern Utah, Summers continue to perform movie autographs anymore. They are fell in love with the area and stunts, with no retirement plans just spoiled. eventually purchased land. He in the immediate future. He will But while much has changed, has recently madehis home here, begin shooting a feature film with Summers realizes the enormous He and Karen, his wife of 11 Charlton Heston in August, exposure stars today get.

While' years, desire Kanabs quieter, So for now, Neil Summers will on a recent flight, he noticed a safer lifestyle. have to be content with brief woman pointing in his direction. I love it here, admitted Sum- moments enjoying the beauty of Slightly flattered, he figured that mers. The clerk at the grocery our majestic red rock country-she recognized him. When he store actually said goodbye and and remember back to the looked back again, he saw the that she hoped that Id come good ole days spent here getting woman talking to the steward- back soon! snakebit, shot, hit with arrows ess and pointing in his direction.

Summers pastime passions and falling from horses. Stuntman and perennial bad guy Neil movie Dick Tracy. Summers made up as Ratfink in the.