Dick Durock

Big, brawny, and imposing actor and stuntman Dick Durock was born on January 18, 1937 in South Bend, Indiana. The fourth of five children; he grew up in South Bend, Indiana and New Jersey. After serving a stint in the Marine Corps and briefly working as a computer programmer, Durock went to Hollywood to eke out a career in show business. He eventually amassed hundreds of credits in both movies and TV series alike (Durock sometimes worked on two different shows in the same day). Durock began his career in 1967 as the stunt double for Guy Williams on the final season of Verschollen zwischen fremden Welten (1965). He also doubled for both Buddy Ebsen and Max Baer Jr. on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962). With his rough face, large, strong, muscular build and towering 6' 5" height Durock was usually cast as mean thugs who get beat up by the hero. Durock achieved his greatest enduring cult popularity with his excellent portrayal of the titular kind-hearted mutant superhero in Wes Craven's delightful Das Ding aus dem Sumpf (1982). He reprised the part in the amusingly campy sequel Das grüne Ding aus dem Sumpf (1989) and the spin-off cable TV series, Das Ding aus dem Sumpf (1990). Durock's other memorable roles include one of the terrorists in Dirty Harry III - Der Unerbittliche (1976), the bare knuckle brawler who fights Clint Eastwood at the start of Mit Vollgas nach San Fernando (1980), pie-eating contest champion "Bill Travis" in the charming Stand by Me - Das Geheimnis eines Sommers (1986), and a hostile redneck hunter in the notorious turkey Howard - Ein tierischer Held (1986). Among the films Durock has performed stunts in are Stirb langsam - Jetzt erst recht (1995), Daddy's Cadillac (1988), Monster Busters (1987), Heat - Nick, der Killer (1986), Runaway Train (1985), Talon im Kampf gegen das Imperium (1982), Bronco Billy (1980), 1941 - Wo bitte geht's nach Hollywood (1979), Doc Savage - Der Mann aus Bronze (1975), Die Höllenfahrt der Poseidon (1972), Hammer (1972) and Eroberung vom Planet der Affen (1972). Durock had guest spots on such TV shows as Raumschiff Enterprise (1966), Baretta (1975), Quincy (1976), Detektiv Rockford - Anruf genügt (1974), Unsere kleine Farm (1974), Der unglaubliche Hulk (1977), Das A-Team (1983), Magnum (1980), Falcon Crest (1981), Ein Colt für alle Fälle (1981), Knight Rider (1982), Eine schrecklich nette Familie (1987) and Der Denver-Clan (1981). He played the "Imperious Leader" on the science fiction series, Kampfstern Galactica (1978). He was a proud and active member of the Stuntman's Association of Motion Pictures for over 20 years. Durock lived in Southern California with his wife Jane and made frequent guest appearances at movie conventions held all over the country. He died after a long battle with Pancreatic Cancer at age 72 on September 17, 2009 in Oak Park, California. - IMDb Mini Biography By: woodyanders