David Hardin Sharpe (February 2, 1910 – March 30, 1980) was an American actor and stunt performer, sometimes billed as Davy Sharpe.[1]

Dave Sharpe
Born
David Hardin Sharpe

(1910-02-02)February 2, 1910
DiedMarch 30, 1980(1980-03-30) (aged 70)
Occupation(s)Stunt performer, actor
Years active1922–1978
Spouse(s)Jean Allen (?-?)[citation needed]
Gertrude Messinger (April 1932 - May 1935; divorced)
Thelma Mae Crawford (January 1949 - April 1952; divorced)
Mary Lou Dix, aka Mary Louise Wolfe (1956-?)
Children1

Biography

edit

Sharpe's father was Harry Sharpe, a fight referee in St. Louis.[2]

Sharpe won the US National Tumbling Championship in 1925 and 1926. He began his film career as a child actor in the 1920s. Eventually he became the "Ramrod" (stunt coordinator) for Republic Pictures from 1939 until mid-1942 when the USA entered World War II. He was replaced in this role by Tom Steele while Sharpe joined the Army Air Corps in 1943.

Personal life and death

edit

Sharpe married film actress Gertrude Messinger in 1932.[2] He died in 1980, aged 70, of Lou Gehrig's disease (some sources cited Parkinson's disease).[3]

Recognition

edit

In 1979, Sharpe received the Yakima Canutt Award, which honors stuntmen.[4] Sharpe was inducted into the Stuntman's Hall of Fame in 1980.[citation needed]

Selected filmography

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Cline, William C. (2000-09-15). Serials-ly Speaking: Essays on Cliffhangers. McFarland. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-7864-0918-1.
  2. ^ a b "Miss Messinger Bride Of David Sharpe After Elopement". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. April 21, 1932. p. 13. Retrieved September 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ David Sharpe biography, B-Westerns.com. Accessed November 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "Stuntman Sharpe Gets Canutt Award". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. May 28, 1979. p. 14 – Part IV. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
edit