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Post by maphillips3 on Feb 6, 2010 16:49:16 GMT -5
This is the guy from "hard times"(The big bald guy). I was wanting too know more about this guy. I know he did those "Mr. Clean" commercials, and was part of a biker gang, but thats it. What do you guys think of him.
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Post by chaney on Feb 6, 2010 17:22:24 GMT -5
Tessier (pronounced Tes -e- ay) was an Algonquin Indian from the Massachusetts area. He served during the Korean War as a Paratrooper and was highly decorated with a Purple Heart. He ran a gym for a while on the East Coast and studied law enforcement before deciding to pack up his family and move to California to get away from the cold. He worked in the movie studios as an electrician and carpenter while doing on-camera extra work and stunts whenever he got an opportunity.
Tessier was a long time motorcyle rider and leader of an outlaw club. Tessier, his bikes, and his friends were hired by Tom Laughlin for the movie "Born Losers" in the mid-60's. In addition to being the technical advisor and stunt coordinator, Tessier ended up with an on-screen role, and his huge arms, tattoos, and menacing look launched him into bigger roles. In the early 1970's he was a member of Stunts Unlimited, but when he shaved his head for a supporting part in "The Longest Yard" he found his niche. He followed with "Hard Times" and lots of TV and movies, all without hair save for a crewcut in "The Deep", where he has a great fight scene with bodybuilder/pro wrestler Earl Maynard.
It's been said that Tessier was about as strong, crazy, and tough as they come, though he'd also surprise people by how intelligent and humorous he was. He could speak several languages and was an excellent woodworker and leather-maker who would build furniture and other projects. He trained for years at Vince Gironda's gym and was very knowledgeable on exercise and nutrition. Legend has it he could curl 225 pounds on a preacher bench. He was very good friends with Dan Haggerty of "Grizzly Adams" fame and William Smith.
Tessier died at the age of 56 from cancer. He was about 6'1" and 230-240 pounds of muscle in his prime. His many tattoos traced his heritage, telling the story of the Tessier family. Nowadays guys who look like Tessier are a dime a dozen, but back in the 1960's-80's nobody looked like him. He was one of a kind and a favorite bad guy of mine growing up.
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Post by chaney on Feb 20, 2010 9:57:44 GMT -5
Low-budget movie stuntman Gary Kent recently wrote a book on his movie experiences titled SHADOWS AND LIGHT. In it he mentions Robert Tessier and other real Hollywood tough guys or war heroes:
"I would not have wanted to get in a fight with Robert Tessier, however, no matter how many cranky cronies I have on my side. Certainly, dreaming would not mollify the severity of the situation. Tessier was a real tough character, a legitimate war hero, recipient of several Purple Hearts, and a Silver Star for gallantry in the face of the enemy. There are lots of fellows who play tough guys and heroes in movies, most of them couldn't carry Tessier's stunt bag, all broth and no beans."
Kent also mentions other familiar names as being real tough guys, among them Lee Marvin, Neville Brand, Woody Strode, Roy Jenson, Charlie Horvath, William Smith, Bobby Hoy, Ben Johnson, Chuck Norris, Jack Palance, and Nick Dimitri "just to name a few".
Kent doesn't mention Charlie in his book but he did work for a time as a bar bouncer at a restaurant/bar that Lee Marvin frequented. He claims Marvin was a great guy and he spent a lot of time in the bar's parking lot sharing a bottle with Marvin and talking about life and Hollywood.
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Post by maphillips3 on Feb 21, 2010 18:15:01 GMT -5
Thanks CHANEY, thats a interesting list, I am not surprised about "Woody Strode", should have said that , when i started a topic about him.
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K. Tessier Holstead
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Post by K. Tessier Holstead on Oct 9, 2017 1:16:44 GMT -5
Low-budget movie stuntman Gary Kent recently wrote a book on his movie experiences titled SHADOWS AND LIGHT. In it he mentions Robert Tessier and other real Hollywood tough guys or war heroes: "I would not have wanted to get in a fight with Robert Tessier, however, no matter how many cranky cronies I have on my side. Certainly, dreaming would not mollify the severity of the situation. Tessier was a real tough character, a legitimate war hero, recipient of several Purple Hearts, and a Silver Star for gallantry in the face of the enemy. There are lots of fellows who play tough guys and heroes in movies, most of them couldn't carry Tessier's stunt bag, all broth and no beans." Kent also mentions other familiar names as being real tough guys, among them Lee Marvin, Neville Brand, Woody Strode, Roy Jenson, Charlie Horvath, William Smith, Bobby Hoy, Ben Johnson, Chuck Norris, Jack Palance, and Nick Dimitri "just to name a few". Kent doesn't mention Charlie in his book but he did work for a time as a bar bouncer at a restaurant/bar that Lee Marvin frequented. He claims Marvin was a great guy and he spent a lot of time in the bar's parking lot sharing a bottle with Marvin and talking about life and Hollywood. |
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Post by harmonica on Oct 9, 2017 5:55:06 GMT -5
It's been said that Tessier was about as strong, crazy, and tough as they come, though he'd also surprise people by how intelligent and humorous he was. He could speak several languages and was an excellent woodworker and leather-maker who would build furniture and other projects. He trained for years at Vince Gironda's gym and was very knowledgeable on exercise and nutrition. Legend has it he could curl 225 pounds on a preacher bench. He was very good friends with Dan Haggerty of "Grizzly Adams" fame and William Smith. This actually must be true. I found a picture of Robert Tessier, curling two 50-kilo dumbbells.  |
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He was my dads befriend
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Post by He was my dads befriend on Dec 10, 2021 15:21:46 GMT -5
Tessier (pronounced Tes -e- ay) was an Algonquin Indian from the Massachusetts area. He served during the Korean War as a Paratrooper and was highly decorated with a Purple Heart. He ran a gym for a while on the East Coast and studied law enforcement before deciding to pack up his family and move to California to get away from the cold. He worked in the movie studios as an electrician and carpenter while doing on-camera extra work and stunts whenever he got an opportunity. Tessier was a long time motorcyle rider and leader of an outlaw club. Tessier, his bikes, and his friends were hired by Tom Laughlin for the movie "Born Losers" in the mid-60's. In addition to being the technical advisor and stunt coordinator, Tessier ended up with an on-screen role, and his huge arms, tattoos, and menacing look launched him into bigger roles. In the early 1970's he was a member of Stunts Unlimited, but when he shaved his head for a supporting part in "The Longest Yard" he found his niche. He followed with "Hard Times" and lots of TV and movies, all without hair save for a crewcut in "The Deep", where he has a great fight scene with bodybuilder/pro wrestler Earl Maynard. It's been said that Tessier was about as strong, crazy, and tough as they come, though he'd also surprise people by how intelligent and humorous he was. He could speak several languages and was an excellent woodworker and leather-maker who would build furniture and other projects. He trained for years at Vince Gironda's gym and was very knowledgeable on exercise and nutrition. Legend has it he could curl 225 pounds on a preacher bench. He was very good friends with Dan Haggerty of "Grizzly Adams" fame and William Smith. Tessier died at the age of 56 from cancer. He was about 6'1" and 230-240 pounds of muscle in his prime. His many tattoos traced his heritage, telling the story of the Tessier family. Nowadays guys who look like Tessier are a dime a dozen, but back in the 1960's-80's nobody looked like him. He was one of a kind and a favorite bad guy of mine growing up. |
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Post by Marcel simard on Jun 1, 2022 21:53:41 GMT -5
He was the brother of my late aunt pauline tessier simard. I met his son in 2001 at my cousin norman " nummy " simards home in westford, mass. Who also did alot of his tatoo work. BTW he did my tatoos as well.
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Post by Greg on Nov 17, 2023 18:36:15 GMT -5
This is the guy from "hard times"(The big bald guy). I was wanting too know more about this guy. I know he did those "Mr. Clean" commercials, and was part of a biker gang, but thats it. What do you guys think of him. |
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