Don Shanks Biography (1950-)

Born February 26, 1950, in Piasa, IL. Addresses: Agent: Tyler Carr Agency, 10653 Riverside Dr., Toluca Lake, CA 91602.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, stunt coordinator, stunt performer
Birth Details: February 26, 1950; Piasa, Illinois, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Indian brave, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, Sunn Classic, 1974
Taneiya, Guardian of the Wilderness (also known as Mountain Man), Sunn Classic, 1976
Young warrior, Adventures of Frontier Fremont (also known as Spirit of the Wild), Sunn Classic, 1976
(As Donald Shanks) Excavation worker, The Ghost Dance, TransWorldEntertainment, 1980
Legend of the Wild, Taft International, 1981
Chief, Revenge of the Ninja (also known as Ninja II), Cannon/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1983
Jason Longshadow, Sweet 16, Century International, 1983
(As Donald L. Shanks) Santa climbing in window, Silent Night, Deadly Night (also known as Slayride), TriStar, 1984
(As Donald L. Shanks; in archive footage) Santa climbing in window, Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2, Silent Night Releasing, 1987
(As Donald L. Shanks) Michael Myers, Halloween 5 (also known as Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers), Galaxy International Releasing, 1989
Running Wolf, Spirit of the Eagle, Queens Cross Productions, 1989
Indian fighter, Tripwire, Cinetel Films/New Line Cinema, 1990
Young Indian runner, The Indian Runner, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1991
Halfmoon, Wind Dancer, KOAN/Majestic Entertainment, 1993
Indian holding an axe, The ButterCream Gang in Secret of Treasure Mountain (also known as The ButterCream Gang II: Secret of Treasure Mountain), KOAN, 1993
Simcoe, The Legend of Wolf Mountain, KOAN, 1993
(As Donald L. Shanks) Charlie, 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up, TriStar, 1995
Blood Coat, Walking Thunder, KOAN/Rated Gee!, 1997
Third Vago wiseguy, Truth or Consequences, N.M., Triumph Films, 1997
Walking Far, Last Resort, Walt Disney, 1997
George, Ride with the Devil, MCA/Universal, 1999
First guard, The Crow: Salvation (also known as The Crow III--Toedliche Erloesung), Dimension Films/Pacifica Film Distribution, 2000
Lance (chief), Primary Suspect (also known as Box), Showcase Entertainment, 2000
Joe Oliver, Twice Today, Weird Chief Pictures, 2001
Thug, Water with Food Coloring (short film), IFILM, 2001
Junior, No Dogs Allowed, Dancing Dog Entertainment, 2002
Coach Jacoby, Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, Columbia/Screen Gems, 2005
Fisherman, I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, Sony Pictures Entertainment/Screen Gems, 2006
Some sources cite Shanks in other productions, including appearances as the title role in Black Wolf; the narrator of Spirit of the Nuche; and in Lessie's Rainbow.
Film Stunt Coordinator
(As Donald L. Shanks) The Ghost Dance, TransWorld Entertainment, 1980
The Ice Pirates, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1984
(As Donald L. Shanks) Silent Night, Deadly Night (also known as Slayride), TriStar, 1984
The Annihilators, New World, 1985
China O'Brien, Weintraub Productions, 1990
China O'Brien II, Weintraub Productions, 1991
The Legend of Wolf Mountain, KOAN, 1993
Heaven Sent, KOAN/Majestic, 1994
Behind the Waterfall (also known as Under the Waterfall), Feature Films for Families, 1995
Zion Canyon: Treasure of the Gods (short documentary; also known as Zion and Zion Park: Treasure of the Gods), World Cinemax Productions, 1996
Walking Thunder, KOAN/Rated Gee!, 1997
Baby Bedlam, Promark Entertainment Group, 2000
Primary Suspect (also known as Box), Showcase Entertainment, 2000
Water with Food Coloring (short film), IFILM, 2001
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Regent Entertainment, 2002
The First Vampire: Don't Fall for the Devil's Illusions (short film), Asgaard Entertainment, 2004
Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, Columbia/Screen Gems, 2005
Some sources credit Shanks as the stunt coordinator for the productions Dus, Mad Films; Ozarks, IMAX Vineyard Productions; and Shepard, Furst Films.
Film Stunt Performer
In Search of a Golden Sky, Comworld Pictures, 1984
(As Donald L. Shanks) Silent Night, Deadly Night (also known as Slayride), TriStar, 1984
(As Donald L. Shanks) Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2, Silent Night Releasing, 1987
(As Donald L. Shanks) Ski Patrol, Triumph Releasing, 1990

Dumb & Dumber (also known as Dumb and Dumber and Dumb Happens), New Line Cinema, 1994
How I Saved the President, 1995
The Undercover Kid, Leucadia Film Corporation, 1996
McHale's Navy, Universal, 1997
SLC Punk!, Sony Pictures Classics, 1998
Bats, Destination Films, 1999
Partners in Crime, Artisan Entertainment, 2000
Con Express, Blockbuster Video/Cinetel Films, 2002
Film Work
Other
Makeup artist and costume designer, Adventures of Frontier Fremont(also known as Spirit of the Wild), Sunn Classic, 1976
Some sources credit Shank as the second unit director for the productionsBlack Wolf, Grizzly & Grey Otter, and Lessie's Rainbow.
Television Appearances
Series
Nakoma, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, NBC, 1977-78
Miniseries
Centennial, NBC, 1978
Enapay, The Chisholms, CBS, 1979
Dreams West, CBS, 1986
Movies
Uncas, Last of the Mohicans, NBC, 1977
Deerslayer, NBC, 1978
Ashawakie, Louis L'Amour's "Down the Long Hills" (also known as Down the Long Hills), ABC and The Disney Channel, 1986
Construction worker, Stranger on My Land, ABC, 1988
George, Unforgivable, CBS, 1996
Greywolf, Legion of Fire: Killer Ants! (also known as Marabunta), Fox, 1998
Overseer, The Tempest, NBC, 1998
Caleb, Made Men, HBO, 1999
Episodic
Little Jim, "Kindred Spirits," The Incredible Hulk, CBS, 1979
Red Kettle, "The Enemy," How the West Was Won, ABC, 1979
First guard, "Famous Last Words," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2001
Appeared in Encyclopedia Brown, HBO; as Steve, Promised Land (also known as Home of the Brave), CBS; also voice for The Wild West.
Other
Appeared in New World, BBC; and Werewolf.
Television Stunt Coordinator
Series
Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1994-2003
Promised Land (also known as Home of the Brave), CBS, 1996-99
Television Stunt Performer
Series
The Master, NBC, 1984
Television Stunt Coordinator
Miniseries
Night Sins, CBS, 1997
Movies
The Babysitter, ABC, 1980
Just a Dream, Showtime, 2002
The Maldonado Miracle, Showtime, 2003
Going to the Mat, The Disney Channel, 2004
Halloweentown High, The Disney Channel, 2004
Paradise, Showtime, 2004
Pixel Perfect, The Disney Channel, 2004
Buffalo Dreams, The Disney Channel, 2005
Go Figure, The Disney Channel, 2005
Life Is Ruff, The Disney Channel, 2005
Television Stunt Performer
Movies
Scorned and Swindled, CBS, 1984
(As Donald Shanks) El Diablo, HBO, 1990
Harmful Intent (also known as Robin Cook's "Harmful Intent"), 1993
Mortal Fear (also known as Robin Cook's "Mortal Fear"), 1994
Invasion of Privacy, HBO, 1996
The Right Temptation, HBO, 2000
Stunt performer for Last Chance, CBS.
Television Stunt Performer and Second Unit Director
Specials
Ancient Secrets of the Bible, Part II (documentary), CBS, 1993
Television Stunt Performer
Episodic
Stunt performer for B. J. and the Bear, NBC; and Married ... with Children, Fox.
Pilots
The Master, NBC, 1984
Also a stunt performer for the pilot Enemy, Fox.
Television Work
Other
Stunt performer for Hollywood Detective and stunt coordinator forTeen Angel.
RECORDINGS
Videos
Himself, Inside "Halloween 5" (short documentary), Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2000
Himself, Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (short documentary), AnchorBay Entertainment, 2005
Stunt coordinator for Pandora's Device, Access.

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