Trailblazing Wonder Woman stuntwoman Jeannie Epper dies aged 83
Jeannie Epper, the prolific performer behind Lynda Carter’s stunts on Wonder Woman has died aged 83.
Her family told The Hollywood Reporter that Epper died of natural causes at her California home on May 5.
Epper is considered one of the greatest stuntwomen of all time with more than 160 stunt credits from 70 years in film and TV.
Carter paid tribute to her colleague in a post on X (formerly Twitter) alongside a behind-the-scenes photo of them both in costume on the Wonder Woman set.
I have a lot to say about Jeannie Epper. Most of all, I loved her. I always felt that we understood and appreciated one another.
After all, it was the 70s. We were united in the way that women had to be in order to thrive in a man’s world, through mutual respect, intellect and… pic.twitter.com/ghxY2JT5UP
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) May 6, 2024
“I have a lot to say about Jeannie Epper. Most of all, I loved her. I always felt that we understood and appreciated one another. After all, it was the 70s. We were united in the way that women had to be in order to thrive in a man’s world, through mutual respect, intellect and collaboration,” Carter said.
“Jeannie was a vanguard who paved the way for all other stuntwomen who came after. Just as Diana was Wonder Woman, Jeannie Epper was also a Wonder Woman. She is so beautiful to me. Jeannie, I will miss you.”
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Jeannie Epper received a Lifetime Achievement award in 2007.
In addition to Wonder Woman, Epper is also known for an epic sequence in 1984 film Romancing the Stone in which she swung across a 107 metre gorge while standing in for Kathleen Turner in the rainforest mudslide scene.
Epper’s other stunt credits include Dynasty, where she stepped in for Linda Evans for Krystle’s catfights with Alexis, Charlie’s Angels and Robocop.
Her first stunt job was in the 1951 film Elopement in which she rode a horse bareback down a cliff.
Epper was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards, becoming the first woman to receive the honour.
Her last stunt credit is from 2021 and was the video game Ground Zero Texas: Nuclear Edition, which she did at the age of 80.
Epper is survived by her husband Tim, children Eurlyne and Richard, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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