Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Stuntman Vic Armstrong


...Rolex Coolness...


Vic Armstrong  

Stuntman and Stunt Coordinator 

Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Live and Let Die, Return of the Jedi and Superman are just a small sample of the films, Vic Armstrong has worked on as a stuntman and stunt coordinator, in addition to directing films.  He has over 50 years of experience and has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone.




In 2001 Vic received a Technical Achievement Academy Award for "the Fan Descender for accurately and safely arresting the descent of stunt persons in high free-falls. In 2002 he received the BAFA Michael Balcon Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema

Armstrong doubled for Harrison Ford in the first three Indiana Jones films and they looked so alike that crew members on set would mistake Armstrong for Ford.  Ford signed a picture for Armstrong, taken on the set of The Last Crusade with the message: Vic, if you learn to talk I am in deep trouble!





In the photo below we see Director Steven Spielberg with Vic Armstrong and Harrison Ford on the set of Temple of Doom & notice Vic is rocking his Rolex Submariner!




Armstrong has worn a Rolex Submariner Reference 1680 for over 40 years. This Submariner has a couple of extra details that make it quite special. Armstrong's Submariner came from famed jewelry company Tiffany & Co which used to sell Rolex watches in the past.  As part of their agreement with the crown, Tiffany & Co were allowed to print their name on the dial of the watch and these watches that feature Tiffany & Co on the dial are coveted by collectors today. 






The other cool factor of the watch, it was gifted to Armstrong by legendary Canadian actor, Donald Sutherland!.  How do we know this?  Armstrong mentions the back story, as to how he received the watch in his book:  The True Adventures of the World's Greatest Stuntman: My Life as Indiana Jones, James Bond, Superman and Other Movie Heroes

Sutherland also had the watch engraved on back, relating to something that happened on the set of the 1979 film, Bear Island, in which Armstrong doubled as Sutherland's character.  

 We know Sutherland is a Rolex fan and he is pictured below wearing his yellow gold GMT-Master




This special Submariner has accompanied Armstrong to film sets around the world. Armstrong is pictured below wearing it on the set of Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom, standing next to his wife Wendy Leech, who is a stuntwoman and doubled for Kate Capshaw in the film. Armstrong and Leech met on the set of Superman II, where Armstrong doubled as Superman and Leech doubled for Lois Lane.



Vic Armstrong is pictured below on the set of The Mummy 3, and notice he is wearing his Submariner with his Tuxedo...