Biography
Robert Tessier (2 June 1934 – 11 October 1990) was an American actor and stuntman. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, of Algonquian and French descent, he served as a paratrooper in the Korean War, for which he received a Silver Star and Purple Hearts. Before entering film he performed motorcycle stunts in the circus. His screen debut came in 1967 with The Born Losers.
Tessier appeared in dozens of films and television series, frequently cast in tough or villainous parts. Film credits include The Longest Yard (1974), Hard Times (1975), The Deep (1977), The Cannonball Run (1981) and The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) as Verdugo. Television work encompassed episodes of The A-Team (1983), Magnum, P.I. (1980), Little House on the Prairie (1974) and Kung Fu (1972). He co-founded the stunt performers' company Stunts Unlimited and was also a cabinet maker.
