---
name: "Hal Needham"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/hal-needham"
fi1m_id: "hal-needham"
imdb_id: "nm0624102"
tmdb_id: 67767
wikidata_id: "Q1230959"
roles: ["Director","Writer"]
born: "6 March 1931"
died: "25 October 2013"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 43
average_as: "director"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-04T18:40:17.636339+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Hal Needham

## Identity

Hal Needham

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/hal-needham
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** hal-needham
- **IMDb ID:** nm0624102
- **TMDB ID:** 67767
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1230959
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Needham, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230959, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0624102/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/67767

Director and writer. Born 6 March 1931 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Died 25 October 2013.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer
- **Born:** 6 March 1931, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- **Died:** 25 October 2013
- **Active:** 1962–1984
- **Also known as:** Hal Brett Needham
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 3 directing, 3 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Burt Reynolds](https://film.one/person/burt-reynolds.md), [Dom DeLuise](https://film.one/person/dom-deluise.md), [Albert S. Ruddy](https://film.one/person/albert-s-ruddy.md), [Brock Yates](https://film.one/person/brock-yates.md), [Dean Martin](https://film.one/person/dean-martin.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 43, as director, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 62 (1), 1970s 89 (2), 1980s 43 (3)
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Genres:** Action 3, Comedy 3, Family 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $195m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Needham, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230959, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0624102/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/67767

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*Cannonball Run II*](https://film.one/film/cannonball-run-ii.md) (35)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Hal Needham was an American stuntman, film director, actor and writer. Born Hal Brett Needham on 6 March 1931 in Memphis, Tennessee, he began his career performing stunts in numerous television series and feature films from the late 1950s onwards.

He directed several action comedies, most notably *Smokey and the Bandit* (1977) and its sequel *Smokey and the Bandit II* (1980), as well as *Hooper* (1978) and *The Cannonball Run* (1981). Needham frequently collaborated with actor Burt Reynolds and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Taurus World Stunt Awards in 2001 and a Governors Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2012. He died on 25 October 2013.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, catalog.afi.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

### Directed (3) — the average rests on these

- *Cannonball Run II* (1984), Fi1m 35, as Porsche 928 Driver with Cowboy Hat (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/cannonball-run-ii.md)
- *The Cannonball Run* (1981), Fi1m 50, as Ambulance EMT (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-cannonball-run.md)
- *Smokey and the Bandit II* (1980), Fi1m 44, Characters, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/smokey-and-the-bandit-ii.md)

### Crew (3)

- *Chinatown* (1974), Fi1m 93, Stunt Coordinator — [page](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md)
- *The French Connection* (1971), Fi1m 85, Stunts — [page](https://film.one/film/the-french-connection.md)
- *How the West Was Won* (1962), Fi1m 62, Stunts — [page](https://film.one/film/how-the-west-was-won.md)

## Complete filmography (119)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Hard Time: Hostage Hotel* (1999), Director
- *The Sunchaser* (1996), Stunts
- *Cybill* (1995), series, as Hal Needham
- *Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel* (1994), Director, Executive Producer, Characters
- *Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit* (1994), Characters, Director, Executive Producer
- *Bandit: Bandit, Bandit* (1994), Executive Producer, Characters, Director
- *Bandit: Bandit Goes Country* (1994), Characters, Story, Director, Executive Producer
- *B.L. Stryker* (1989), series, Director
- *Body Slam* (1986), Director
- *Rad* (1986), Director
- *Cannonball Run II* (1984), as Porsche 928 Driver with Cowboy Hat (uncredited) · Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 35, [page](https://film.one/film/cannonball-run-ii.md)
- *Smokey and the Bandit Part 3* (1983), Characters
- *Stroker Ace* (1983), as Man Punching Stroker Into Ladies Room · Director, Screenplay
- *MegaForce* (1982), as Technician (uncredited) · Director, Screenplay
- *The Cannonball Run* (1981), as Ambulance EMT (uncredited) · Director — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/the-cannonball-run.md)
- *Smokey and the Bandit II* (1980), Director, Characters — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/smokey-and-the-bandit-ii.md)
- *Stunts Unlimited* (1980), as H.N. (uncredited) · Director
- *Death Car on the Freeway* (1979), as Mr. Blanchard · Director
- *The Villain* (1979), Director
- *Hooper* (1978), Director
- *Foul Play* (1978), Stunts
- *The End* (1978), Stunt Coordinator
- *Smokey and the Bandit* (1977), Director, Stunts, Story
- *Billy Jack Goes to Washington* (1977), Stunt Coordinator
- *Nickelodeon* (1976), Stunt Coordinator
- *A Star Is Born* (1976), Stunts
- *Charlie's Angels* (1976), series, as Julio, Spencer
- *Gator* (1976), Stunt Coordinator, Second Unit Director
- *Jackson County Jail* (1976), as Chief of Fallsburg Police
- *Gable and Lombard* (1976), Stunts
- *Lucky Lady* (1975), Stunts
- *Peeper* (1975), Stunt Coordinator
- *Take a Hard Ride* (1975), as Garmes (uncredited) · Stunt Coordinator, Second Unit Director
- *W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings* (1975), as Trooper Carson · Stunt Coordinator
- *French Connection II* (1975), as Doyle Kidnapper (uncredited) · Stunt Coordinator
- *The Longest Yard* (1974), Second Unit Director, Stunt Coordinator
- *Three the Hard Way* (1974), Stunt Coordinator
- *Chinatown* (1974), Stunt Coordinator — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md)
- *Busting* (1974), Stunts
- *Blazing Saddles* (1974), as Outlaw (uncredited) · Stunts
- *McQ* (1974), as Santiago Henchman (uncredited) · Stunt Driver
- *White Lightning* (1973), Second Unit Director, Stunts, Stunt Coordinator, Stunt Double
- *The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing* (1973), Stunt Coordinator
- *Call to Danger* (1973), as Connors · Stunts
- *The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean* (1972), Stunts
- *The Heist* (1972), Stunts
- *The Bounty Man* (1972), as Pike
- *Goodnight, My Love* (1972), Stunt Coordinator
- *The Culpepper Cattle Co.* (1972), as Burgess · Stunt Coordinator
- *Hardcase* (1972), Stunt Coordinator
- *Sometimes a Great Notion* (1971), as Man at Racetrack · Stunts
- *Something Big* (1971), Stunt Coordinator
- *The Organization* (1971), Stunts
- *The French Connection* (1971), Stunts — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-french-connection.md)
- *Chrome and Hot Leather* (1971), Stunts
- *One More Train to Rob* (1971), as Bert Gant · Stunt Coordinator
- *Alias Smith and Jones* (1971), series, Actor
- *Angel Unchained* (1970), Stunt Coordinator
- *Dirty Dingus Magee* (1970), Stunts
- *C.C. and Company* (1970), Stunts
- *Chisum* (1970), Stunt Coordinator
- *Rio Lobo* (1970), Stunts
- *The Animals* (1970), Stunts
- *The Undefeated* (1969), as Yankee Corporal at River Crossing (uncredited) · Stunt Coordinator
- *The Bridge at Remagen* (1969), Stunt Coordinator
- *The Great Bank Robbery* (1969), Stunts
- *Hellfighters* (1968), Stunt Coordinator
- *Bandolero!* (1968), Stunt Coordinator
- *The Devil's Brigade* (1968), as The Sergeant · Stunt Coordinator
- *The Ballad of Josie* (1967), Stunts
- *Camelot* (1967), Stunts
- *Mannix* (1967), series, as Henchman #2 (uncredited)
- *Cimarron Strip* (1967), series, Actor
- *Hells Angels on Wheels* (1967), Stunts
- *The War Wagon* (1967), as Hite · Stunts, Stunt Double, Stunt Coordinator
- *The Way West* (1967), Stunts
- *Ironside* (1967), series, as Officer Connell
- *Tobruk* (1967), Stunts
- *Alvarez Kelly* (1966), Stunts
- *Beau Geste* (1966), Stunt Coordinator
- *The Rare Breed* (1966), Stunt Coordinator
- *Our Man Flint* (1966), Stunts
- *The War Lord* (1965), Stunts
- *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, as Henchman (uncredited) · Stunts
- *Laredo* (1965), series, Actor
- *The Great Race* (1965), as Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
- *Shenandoah* (1965), Stunts
- *In Harm's Way* (1965), as Airman in the Blue Lagoon (uncredited) · Stunts
- *Major Dundee* (1965), Stunts
- *Advance to the Rear* (1964), as Rebel Soldier (uncredited)
- *Mail Order Bride* (1964), Stunts
- *4 for Texas* (1963), as Thomas Worker (uncredited) · Stunts
- *Kings of the Sun* (1963), Stunts
- *The Raiders* (1963), Stunts
- *McLintock!* (1963), as Carter (uncredited) · Stunts
- *The Great Adventure* (1963), series, as Recruiting Officer
- *Wall of Noise* (1963), Stunts
- *Donovan's Reef* (1963), Stunts
- *How the West Was Won* (1962), Stunts — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/how-the-west-was-won.md)
- *Stoney Burke* (1962), series, Actor
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as The Man, Bounty Hunter
- *Shootout at Big Sag* (1962), as Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
- *The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance* (1962), Stunts
- *A Thunder of Drums* (1961), Stunt Double
- *Coronado 9* (1960), series, Actor
- *Guns of the Timberland* (1960), as Townsman (uncredited)
- *The Rebel* (1959), series, as Indian
- *Thunder in the Sun* (1959), Stunts
- *Paratroop Command* (1959), as German (uncredited) · Stunts
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Corporal Williams, Tom (uncredited), Brawler (uncredited)
- *Yancy Derringer* (1958), series, as Judge Randall's guard (uncredited), Guard (uncredited)
- *The Big Country* (1958), Stunts
- *The Fiend Who Walked the West* (1958), as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- *Zorro* (1957), series, as Don (uncredited), Lancer (uncredited)
- *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Saloon Tough (uncredited)
- *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, as Harry Beldon, Gleet, 3rd Posseman, Little Horse, Mac, Trail Hand Mabry, Gandy Dancer, Gunman #1 - Joe, Soldier, Morgan - Trooper, Emmet Trager, Cowhand, Club Bartender, Shaw, Cal - Posse Member, First Guide, Ham Turner, Lookout, Turner, Body Guard #2, Buddy Webster, 2nd Deputy, Dink Turner, Apache
- *The Spirit of St. Louis* (1957), Stunts
- *Tales of Wells Fargo* (1957), series, as 2nd Cowhand, Indian Brave, Stage Passenger (uncredited), Townsman (uncredited), Outlaw
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Ed, Cowboy, Henchman (uncredited), Charlie (uncredited), Renegade, Gang Member (uncredited), Townsman (uncredited)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 4 nominated

- Academy Honorary Award 2013: Academy Honorary Award (won)
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director 1985: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director (nominated), for *Cannonball Run II*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay 1985: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay (nominated), for *Cannonball Run II*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director 1984: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director (nominated), for *Stroker Ace*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director 1983: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director (nominated), for *Megaforce*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/hal-needham