Robert Tessier

Robert Tessier
Born	(1934-06-02)June 2, 1934 Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Died	October 11, 1990(1990-10-11) (aged 56) Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Cause of death	Cancer
Occupation(s)	Actor, Stuntman

Robert W. Tessier (June 2, 1934 – October 11, 1990) was an American actor and stuntman who was best known for playing heavy, menacing characters on film and television.

Early life

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts of Algonquian descent, Tessier served as a paratrooper in the Korean War earning both a Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Performing career

Tessier was an accomplished motorcycle rider doing stunts in the circus. These skills helped him secure his first film role in The Born Losers directed by Tom Laughlin.

With his shaven head, size and threatening-looking appearance, Tessier went on to play a series of villainous roles on both TV and in film. He later formed a stunt troupe called Stunts Unlimited with director Hal Needham.

Although Tessier starred in many films and TV roles over his career, probably two of his best remembered film roles were as the menacing, karate-wielding convict "Shokner" in the 1974 comedy-drama The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds (whom he counted as one of his friends) and as Kevin in The Deep. He also played a bare knuckle fighter in the Charles Bronson film Hard Times.

In his spare time, Tessier was an accomplished cabinet maker often making pieces for his co-stars.

Death

Tessier died of cancer in 1990.

Filmography

• The Born Losers (1967) - Cueball (as Robert W. Tessier)
• The Glory Stompers (1967) - Magoo
• The Sidehackers (1968)
• Run, Angel, Run! (1969) - Gang Leader (uncredited)
• Five the Hard Way (1969) - Jake (as Bob Tessier)
• The Babysitter (1969) - Laurence Mackey
• Cry Blood, Apache (1970) - Two Card Charlie
• The Hard Ride (1971)
• The Jesus Trip (1971) - Duncan
• Private Duty Nurses (1971) - Super bouncer
• Outlaw Riders (1971) - Beans (as Bob Tessier)
• The Velvet Vampire (1971) - Biker (as Bob Tessier)
• Gentle Savage (1973) - Greywolf
• The Longest Yard (1974) - Shokner
• How Come Nobody's on Our Side? (1975) - Bike Rider (as Bob Tessier)
• Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975) - Dutchman
• Hard Times (1975) - Jim Henry
• Breakheart Pass (1975) - Levi Calhoun
• The Deep (1977) - Kevin
• Another Man, Another Chance (1977) - Blacksmith
• Hooper (1978) - Amtrac
• Starcrash (1979) - Chief Thor
• The Villain (1979) - Mashing Finger
• Steel (1979) - Cherokee
• The Cannonball Run (1981) - Biker (as Bob Tessier)
• The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) - Verdugo
• Double Exposure (1983) - Bartender
• The Lost Empire (1985) - Koro
• Avenging Angel (1985) - Tattoo Artist
• The Fix (1985) - Spook
• No Safe Haven (1987) - Randy
• One Man Force (1989) - Wilson
• Beverly Hills Brats (1989) - Slick
• Future Force (1989) - Becker
• Nightwish (1989) - Stanley
• Fertilize the Blaspheming Bombshell (1990) - Devil-master
• Fists of Steel (1991) - Saylor (Last appearance)

Television

• Kung Fu (1974) - Aztec Warrior
• Little House on the Prairie (Survival, 1975) - Chief Jack Lame Horse (as Jack Lame Horse)
• The Last of the Mohicans (1977) - Magua
• Centennial (1978-1979) - Rude Water
• Desperate Women (1978) - Outlaw (uncredited)
• Starsky and Hutch (2-part episode in 1979) - Soldier
• The Billion Dollar Threat (1979) - Benjamin
• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (2 episodes both in 1979) - Marcos
• The Dukes of Hazzard (1980) - Mitch Henderson
• The Incredible Hulk (1980) - Johnny
• Vega$ (1980) - Sawyer
• Fantasy Island (1981) - Flynt
• The Fall Guy (1981-1986) - Thug / Harvey / Garvey / Prisoner
• CHiPs (1982) - Zorn
• The A-Team (1983-1985) - Mute / Scully
• Manimal (1983) - Sailor Poker Player (as Robert W. Tessier)
• The Rousters (1983) - Bender
• Magnum, P.I. (1984) - Murderer
• Spenser: For Hire (1985) - Conan
• Amazing Stories (1986) - Woodsman
• Sledge Hammer! (1987) - Stoolie
• B.L. Stryker (1989)

External links

• Robert Tessier at IMDb
• "Robert Tessier". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-02-05.