Stuntman Kim Kahana, 94, died on August 12. The Hawaiian native got his start as a martial artist (and teacher of same); he was awarded two Bronze Stars, a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts for his service in Korea. Kahana moved into extra work, and in 1968 was cast as Chongo on the TV series Danger Island (“I got a call for an audition for the part, jumped on the table, did a back flip and was hired.”). Trained by iconic stuntman Yakima Canutt, Kahana was Charles Bronson’s stunt double in The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Mechanic, Death Wish, Mr. Majestyk, and Breakout. With his lithe physique, he was able to double for Stefanie Powers on The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. and Sally Field on The Flying Nun. Kahana can be seen fighting, jumping, falling or bursting into flames in Cool Hand Luke, Planet of the Apes, Patton, Soylent Green, Smokey and the Bandit, Passenger 57, The Thorn Birds, and Jeepers Creepers. Last year, he was the subject of the questionably titled documentary Kim Kahana: The Man Who Changed Hollywood. He ran Kahana’s Stunt School; his four children also went into the family business.
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