Eddie Hice

Eddie Hice
Performer1980
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Portrays:	Unnamed biker
Date of Birth:	March 01, 1930
Date of Death:	March 12, 2015
Age at Death:	85
Nationality:	USA
Related Media
		@ BW Media
[ Official Site]
IMDb profile

Edward Louis Joseph "Eddie" Hice (March 1, 1930 – March 12, 2015) was an American stuntman, stunt coordinator, and actor who portrayed an unnamed (and uncredited) biker in Willy and Donzo's motorcycle gang in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I." His appearance in the episode was identified through computer-aided facial recognition technology.

Career

Born in Los Angeles, California, Hice proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1946 to 1949. After his military service, Hice began his entertainment career in the 1950s with early acting appearances in television shows such as The Texan and Bonanza.

Hice's career as a professional stuntman began in 1967 with uncredited stunt work on major Hollywood productions including Bonnie and Clyde, Planet of the Apes, and M*A*S*H. Over a career spanning more than 48 years in the motion picture industry, he established himself as one of Hollywood's most reliable stunt performers, working as a stuntman, stunt coordinator, and second unit director.

Throughout his extensive career, Hice accumulated over 80 stunt credits and 30 acting credits. His notable film work included major productions such as Escape from New York (1981), They Live (1988), RoboCop 2 (1990), Repo Man (1984), A View to a Kill (1985), Glory (1989), Big Momma's House (2000), and Matilda (1996). His final professional work was on the 2007 film Georgia Rule.

Science Fiction Contributions

Hice made significant contributions to several science fiction franchises throughout his career. He is perhaps best known among science fiction fans for his work in the Star Trek franchise, where he appeared in the Star Trek: The Original Series third season episodes "Day of the Dove" and "Wink of an Eye" as an uncredited security guard. He also performed stunt work in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), where he portrayed a Mercy Hospital patient.

In addition to his Star Trek work, Hice performed stunts in all four of the original Planet of the Apes films (1968, 1970, 1972, and 1973). His science fiction credits also included work on films such as The Beastmaster (1982), Wild Wild West (1999), and the animated film The Lord of the Rings (1978), in which he provided voice work as a character actor.

Television Work

Beyond his film work, Hice maintained an active television career with numerous guest appearances and stunt work. His television credits included appearances in classic shows such as Get Smart, S.W.A.T., Little House on the Prairie (as Roy Collins in "Soldier's Return"), The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (multiple appearances in various henchman roles), and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), in which he appeared as a criminal at a police station and a baseball fan.

Personal Life

Hice was married twice during his lifetime, first to Patty Elder and later to Dianne L. Wilson, whom he married in 1981. He remained married to Dianne for 34 years until his death. The couple had two children together.

Hice was the father of stuntman Freddie Hice, who followed in his father's footsteps and performed stunts in films such as RoboCop (1987), Iron Man (2008), and Cowboys & Aliens (2011), as well as in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. He was also the father of daughter Lori Hice and the grandfather of stuntwoman Cassidy Hice and stuntman Dylan Hice, continuing the family's legacy in the stunt profession. He was survived by his sister Mary Jo Ortega and five grandchildren: Dylan Christal Hice, Ronan Hice, Dustin Hice, Cassidy Hice, and Dylan V. Hice.

Outside of his professional work, Hice was known for his deep love of animals, particularly horses and dogs. His obituary noted that "there wasn't an animal that did not love him," reflecting his gentle nature and connection with animals, which likely served him well in his stunt work involving horses and animal coordination.

Hice passed away on March 12, 2015, at Olive View Hospital in Sylmar, California, after a brief illness, at the age of 85. A celebration of life service was held on April 18, 2015, at Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita, California.

External Links

• Eddie Hice article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki.

References