Eddie Matthews(II)
- Stunts
- Actor
- Producer
Eddie Matthews was born in Des Moines Iowa, where he grew up hunting, fishing and playing baseball, where "Field of Dreams"was made.
He Went to Arizona State university to college, hoping eventually to be a professional baseball player, but found out quickly he was lacking in only a couple areas, size, speed & talent or he would have been great haha.
Eddie was an extra on a movie filming in Phoenix, "Used cars" in 1980, where he met some of the top veteran stunt people in the business whom said; "if you want to be in the stunt biz you must move to LA." It was then he realized, a career as a stuntman was an opportunity to be a professional athlete while getting to play a wide variety of sports.
So after moving to La La Land, He quickly realized, like the thousands before him, it can takes many yrs to get one job, let alone make a living. Having a diving & trampoline background he started working with a professional high diving company doing high dive shows at Six Flags theme park in Los Angeles.
Also Having a Masters degree in family counseling, and Eddie's favorite movie being "Rain Man"and "One flew over the cuckoo's nest" he started working as a counselor in various Psychiatric hospitals in LA. He also worked and lived for 5 yrs in a residential home for Autistic adults,,these were now his roommates! And it was the Rain Man movie on steroids every day for five yrs. This prepared him for any craziness that Hollyweird might throw at him..
Eddie then got a good job at Universal Studios Hollywood playing the Don Johnson character in the Miami Vice stunt show for the next 6 yrs, where he started meeting more people in the industry and began getting more frequent outside stunt jobs. And after many fights, falls & explosions later, later he was honored to be voted into the prestigious Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures group , where many of the older pioneers & legends of the stunt industry were still working.
One of Eddies dear friends and mentors for 20 plus yrs was a real movie cowboy and stunt double for John Wayne. Their friendship taught Eddie far more about Gods plan & purpose for his life then the movie industry ever could offer. And before his cowboy friends career ended, Eddie was blessed with the opportunity to stunt double for Kenny Rogers on one of the "Gambler " westerns, where he and his old buddy got to play cowboys, riding in stage coaches & doing fights in the saloon together.
Now Working Over 35 yrs, Eddie has had the opportunity to stunt coordinate movies , produce a western and stunt double for such actors as; Matthew Broderick in "Ferris Bueller's Day off", Dennis Hopper in "Speed", Robert De Niro in "Casino". And many others, including Sylvestor Stallone, Chris Farley, Mar Walberg, Richard Gere, Charlie Sheen, Anthony Hopkins, Jean-Claude Van Dam, Johnny Depp, Dennis Quaid and many others.
Having the opportunity to work with many celebrities, he has witnessed behind the scenes many broken lives. It became obvious, that everyone in the world whether rich or poor cannot avoid the storms and trials of life and no amount of fame, fortune or awards can bring any lastly peace or fulfillment without the peace of God.
Eddie's vision & mission now is to produce and work on impactful, family friendly stories like Rain Man, Brave Heart, Forest Gump, the Sandlot etc. where unlikely people overcome great odds.
He Went to Arizona State university to college, hoping eventually to be a professional baseball player, but found out quickly he was lacking in only a couple areas, size, speed & talent or he would have been great haha.
Eddie was an extra on a movie filming in Phoenix, "Used cars" in 1980, where he met some of the top veteran stunt people in the business whom said; "if you want to be in the stunt biz you must move to LA." It was then he realized, a career as a stuntman was an opportunity to be a professional athlete while getting to play a wide variety of sports.
So after moving to La La Land, He quickly realized, like the thousands before him, it can takes many yrs to get one job, let alone make a living. Having a diving & trampoline background he started working with a professional high diving company doing high dive shows at Six Flags theme park in Los Angeles.
Also Having a Masters degree in family counseling, and Eddie's favorite movie being "Rain Man"and "One flew over the cuckoo's nest" he started working as a counselor in various Psychiatric hospitals in LA. He also worked and lived for 5 yrs in a residential home for Autistic adults,,these were now his roommates! And it was the Rain Man movie on steroids every day for five yrs. This prepared him for any craziness that Hollyweird might throw at him..
Eddie then got a good job at Universal Studios Hollywood playing the Don Johnson character in the Miami Vice stunt show for the next 6 yrs, where he started meeting more people in the industry and began getting more frequent outside stunt jobs. And after many fights, falls & explosions later, later he was honored to be voted into the prestigious Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures group , where many of the older pioneers & legends of the stunt industry were still working.
One of Eddies dear friends and mentors for 20 plus yrs was a real movie cowboy and stunt double for John Wayne. Their friendship taught Eddie far more about Gods plan & purpose for his life then the movie industry ever could offer. And before his cowboy friends career ended, Eddie was blessed with the opportunity to stunt double for Kenny Rogers on one of the "Gambler " westerns, where he and his old buddy got to play cowboys, riding in stage coaches & doing fights in the saloon together.
Now Working Over 35 yrs, Eddie has had the opportunity to stunt coordinate movies , produce a western and stunt double for such actors as; Matthew Broderick in "Ferris Bueller's Day off", Dennis Hopper in "Speed", Robert De Niro in "Casino". And many others, including Sylvestor Stallone, Chris Farley, Mar Walberg, Richard Gere, Charlie Sheen, Anthony Hopkins, Jean-Claude Van Dam, Johnny Depp, Dennis Quaid and many others.
Having the opportunity to work with many celebrities, he has witnessed behind the scenes many broken lives. It became obvious, that everyone in the world whether rich or poor cannot avoid the storms and trials of life and no amount of fame, fortune or awards can bring any lastly peace or fulfillment without the peace of God.
Eddie's vision & mission now is to produce and work on impactful, family friendly stories like Rain Man, Brave Heart, Forest Gump, the Sandlot etc. where unlikely people overcome great odds.