William H. Burton Sr.
Personal Info
Known for
Crew
Gender
Male
William H. Burton Sr.
Biography
William H. Burton Sr., also known as Bill or Billy, is a stuntman, stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director. He was one of the original members of Stunts Unlimited and he received the 2019 Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the great all-around stuntmen, it is said of Billy that he can drive anything with wheels and ride anything with legs!
Billy started ranching and found success on the rodeo circuit but soon moved to Hollywood. Many of the film and television productions at the time were Westerns so he was able to find steady work as a stuntman and extra.
He got his start in stunts in 1965 by way of the rodeo to work on western films and television shows in Hollywood. He soon met mentor Hal Needham who taught him what it took to be a great stuntman and he was one of the original members of Stunts Unlimited formed in 1970 by Hal Needham, Glenn Wilder and Ronnie Rondell.
In 1976 and 1978, Billy won the World Stuntman’s Competition on CBS Sports Spectacular, competing in motorcycle, car, and horse work for the award.
From there, he transitioned into directing action sequences for film. He has brought numerous memorable sequences to life, including an exhilarating boat chase between Nicholas Cage and John Travolta in Face-Off and the iconic motorcycle chase in Mission: Impossible 2 with Tom Cruise.
His directing credits include Mission: Impossible 2, The Scorpion King, Collateral Damage, Hostage, and more. With over 50 years as a stuntman, stunt coordinator, and 2nd unit director, Billy considers his career a great ride.
Crew
(2014)
The Homesman
Stunt Coordinator
(2007)
Dead Heist
Additional Production Assistant
(2007)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Stunt Coordinator
(2007)
Fracture
Stunt Coordinator
(2005)
Hostage
Stunt Coordinator, Second Unit Director
(2005)
House of Wax
Second Unit Director
(2002)
Collateral Damage
Stunt Coordinator, Stunts, Second Unit Director
(2002)
The Scorpion King
Second Unit Director
(2000)
Mission: Impossible II
Second Unit Director
(1999)
Go
Stunts
(1998)
The X-Files
Second Unit Director
(1997)
Face/Off
Second Unit Director
(1997)
Volcano
Stunts
(1996)
The Phantom
Stunt Coordinator
(1995)
The Good Old Boys
Second Unit Director
(1995)
Bad Boys
Stunts
(1993)
Hard Target
Stunts, Stunt Coordinator, Second Unit Director
(1990)
Dick Tracy
Stunt Coordinator
(1989)
K-9
Stunts
(1987)
Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge
Stunt Coordinator
(1987)
Predator
Stunts
(1987)
Code Name: Zebra
Stunts
(1986)
Soul Man
Stunts
(1986)
Jackals
Second Unit Director
(1985)
To Live and Die in L.A.
Stunts
(1982)
The Entity
Stunts
(1982)
Wrong Is Right
Stunt Coordinator
(1981)
Body Heat
Stunt Coordinator
(1981)
Eyewitness
Stunt Coordinator
(1981)
Cutter's Way
Stunt Coordinator
(1980)
Heaven's Gate
Stunts
(1980)
Smokey and the Bandit II
Stunts
(1978)
Game of Death
Stunt Driver
(1978)
The Driver
Stunts
(1978)
Hooper
Stunts
(1978)
The Young Runaways
Stunt Driver
(1977)
Moonshine County Express
Stunt Coordinator
(1977)
Rolling Thunder
Stunt Coordinator
(1976)
Fighting Mad
Stunts
(1975)
Crazy Mama
Stunts
(1975)
A Boy and His Dog
Stunt Coordinator
(1975)
Bite the Bullet
Stunts
(1974)
Strange Homecoming
Stunt Coordinator
(1973)
(1972)
Boxcar Bertha
Stunt Coordinator
(1972)
Ulzana's Raid
Stunt Coordinator, Stunt Double
(1971)
Star Spangled Girl
Stunt Double
(1970)
(1970)
Little Big Man
Stunts
(1969)
(1969)
The Undefeated
Stunts