Bob Anderson
Acting
Biography
Robert James Gilbert Anderson, known as Bob Anderson (September 15, 1922 – January 1, 2012), was the swordmaster who played Darth Vader in his various fight scenes in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He replaced David Prowse due to the actor's tendency to break lightsabers. Because of the height differences—Anderson was 6'1" (1.85m), while Prowse was 6'7" (2.02m)—Anderson's scenes were filmed from a lower angle to make him seem taller, or he stood on some small stilts or wore platform shoes. Anderson also played Rebel Officer Trey Callum during the Battle of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. Anderson later did swordfighting choreography and training for films such films as the The Lord of the Rings trilogy (with actor Christopher Lee) and the James Bond film Die Another Day (with stunt performer Jim Dowdall). Born in Hampshire, England, Bob Anderson joined the Royal Marines and won several combined services titles in the sport of fencing. He served in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II. As a competitive fencer, he represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games in 1952 and the World Championships in 1950 and 1953 in the sabre event. He finished tied for fifth in the team sabre event at Helsinki in 1952. Bob Anderson's cinema career began in 1952, when he choreographed fights for and coached Errol Flynn for the 1953 film The Master of Ballantrae. During rehearsal for a scene he accidentally slashed Flynn on his thigh, leading to notoriety in Hollywood as "the man who stabbed Errol Flynn". He went on to work as a stunt performer and/or fight choreographer in films such as The Guns of Navarone and the Bond films From Russia With Love and Casino Royale. His stature in Hollywood was cemented when he was selected by Stanley Kubrick in 1974 to act as the sword master for Barry Lyndon. Anderson did not receive much recognition for his role as doubling for Darth Vader in the Star Wars films for years after their initial release, in part because David Prowse was so lauded for his portrayal that director George Lucas did not want to detract from the boost it gave the actor's career. In a 1983 interview, however, Mark Hamill paid homage to Anderson's contribution, saying: "Bob Anderson was the man who actually did Vader's fighting. It was always supposed to be a secret, but I finally told George I didn't think it was fair any more. Bob worked so bloody hard that he deserves some recognition. It's ridiculous to preserve the myth that it's all done by one man." For the next thirty years, Anderson continued to work in cinema and was responsible for the swordsmanship in many films. He had a reputation for being a perfectionist, with director Martin Campbell giving him the nickname "Grumpy Bob". Among his credits as a fight choreographer and fencing coach are The Three Musketeers, First Knight with Sean Connery, The Mask of Zorro with actor Antonio Banderas, The Lord of the Rings trilogy with actor Christopher Lee, the James Bond film Die Another Day with stunt performer Jim Dowdall, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl with Johnny Depp. Shortly before his death, he was working on The Hobbit. Anderson died on New Year's Day in 2012. He was 89 years old.
Known For
As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.
The Empire Strikes Back
Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.
Return of the Jedi
The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in contemporary times. It was also the only Gerry Anderson produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, The Protectors became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor pulled out, forcing its cancellation. The Protectors first aired in 1972 and 1973, and ran to 52 episodes over two series, each 25 minutes long - making it one of the last series of this type to be produced in a half-hour format. It starred Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule, Nyree Dawn Porter as the Contessa Caroline di Contini, and Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet. Episodes often featured prominent guest actors.
The Protectors
David, a robotic boy—the first of his kind programmed to love—is adopted as a test case by a Cybertronics employee and his wife. Though he gradually becomes their child, a series of unexpected circumstances make this life impossible for David.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
D'Artagnan travels to Paris hoping to become a musketeer, one of the French king's elite bodyguards, only to discover that the corps has been disbanded by conniving Cardinal Richelieu, who secretly hopes to usurp the throne. Fortunately, Athos, Porthos and Aramis have refused to lay down their weapons and continue to protect their king. D'Artagnan joins with the rogues to expose Richelieu's plot against the crown.
The Three Musketeers
A team of allied saboteurs are assigned an impossible mission: infiltrate an impregnable Nazi-held island and destroy the two enormous long-range field guns that prevent the rescue of 2,000 trapped British soldiers.
The Guns of Navarone
A series of unexplainable accidents befall the people and companies responsible for developing the world's first supersonic airliner. A British agent is sent to investigate and with the help of another agent uncovers a plot masterminded by Carl Petersen who stands to gain eight million pounds if the aircraft is not ready by a certain date.
Some Girls Do
When ex-con artist Harry claims that a secret treasure is hidden inside Candleshoe, an English estate, he creates an elaborate plan to find and steal the prize. By convincing a girl named Casey to impersonate the estate owner's long-lost granddaughter, Harry hopes to uncover the treasure's location. But when Casey has a change of heart, she must follow the clues and find the treasure, in order to save Candleshoe and stop Harry before it is too late.
Candleshoe
A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Created by filmmaker Costa Botes, personally selected by director Peter Jackson, this documentary uses raw footage to reveal the inside story on how the greatest adventure film franchise was born.
The Making of 'The Fellowship of the Ring'
The making of Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's classic work.
Passage to Middle-Earth: The Making of 'The Lord of the Rings'
A documentary about Die Another Day.
Die Another Day: From Script to Screen
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film The Mask of Zorro (1998), including a brief history of the iconic character.
Unmasking Zorro
Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
The Medieval and Renaissance blade, a profound and beautiful object handcrafted by master artisans of old. An object of great complexity, yet one with a singular use in mind- it is designed to kill. The truth of the sword has been shrouded in antiquity, and the Renaissance martial arts that brought it to being are long forgotten. The ancient practitioners lent us all they knew through their manuscripts. As gunslingers of the Renaissance they were western heroes with swords, and they lived and died by them. Yet today their history remains cloaked under a shadow of legend.
Reclaiming the Blade
On Earth in 2018, the Doctor and his companions are enmeshed in a deadly web of intrigue thanks to his uncanny resemblance to the scientist/politician Salamander. He is hailed as the "shopkeeper of the world" for his efforts to relieve global famine, but why do his rivals keep disappearing? How can he predict so many natural disasters? The Doctor must expose Salamander's schemes before he takes over the world.
Doctor Who: The Enemy of the World
Immortal Xavier St. Cloud has mortals shoot his Immortal opponents so he can take their heads. Joe tells Duncan about the killings to warn him, and soon St. Cloud and his henchmen show up at the dojo. Duncan discovers the supposedly-dead Horton is working with St. Cloud, and Joe knew that Horton was alive. Meanwhile, an army intelligence officer named Renee Delaney gets involved while she is investigating one of the men working with St. Cloud.
Highlander: Unholy Alliance
Horton, an old mortal enemy, puts a criminal through plastic surgery to make her look like Tessa. The false Tessa sets Duncan up for the final death.
Highlander: Counterfeit
Film historians examines the making of the 1938 "The Adventures of Robin Hood."