Swordmaster and Stunt Choreographer. Born Robert James Gilbert Anderson in Gosport, Hampshire, England. He took up fencing at an early age, and prior to the Second World War, he joined the Royal Marines, teaching fencing and taking titles in the sport in the Royal Tournament for the combined services, winning foil, epee', sabre, and bayonet for four years running. During the war he served in the Mediterranean and was aboard the HMS Coventry when it was sunk. After demobilization, he represented Britain at the 1950 and 1953 world championships as well as at the 1952 Olympics. After which, he entered into a twenty year association with Britain's national fencing team, serving as a coach. He was retained for film work in 1952, staging fight scenes and coaching actor Errol Flynn in fencing for "The Master of Ballantrae." His often uncredited work also appeared in "The Guns of Navarone" (1961), "Casino Royale" (1967), "Kidnapped" (1971) and perhaps most notably as the stunt double for Darth Vader in "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and again three years later in "Return of the Jedi." He became one of the industry's most sought after fight choreographers and swordmasters, coaching actors in "The Princess Bride" (1987), in "The Mask of Zorro" (1998); in "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and "Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003). He also served as the swordmaster for almost 30 episodes of the television series "Highlander" from 1992 to 1994. He appeared as himself in the 2009 documentary "Reclaiming the Blade." His last film work was as swordmaster in the posthumously released "The Hobbit" in 2012.
Swordmaster and Stunt Choreographer. Born Robert James Gilbert Anderson in Gosport, Hampshire, England. He took up fencing at an early age, and prior to the Second World War, he joined the Royal Marines, teaching fencing and taking titles in the sport in the Royal Tournament for the combined services, winning foil, epee', sabre, and bayonet for four years running. During the war he served in the Mediterranean and was aboard the HMS Coventry when it was sunk. After demobilization, he represented Britain at the 1950 and 1953 world championships as well as at the 1952 Olympics. After which, he entered into a twenty year association with Britain's national fencing team, serving as a coach. He was retained for film work in 1952, staging fight scenes and coaching actor Errol Flynn in fencing for "The Master of Ballantrae." His often uncredited work also appeared in "The Guns of Navarone" (1961), "Casino Royale" (1967), "Kidnapped" (1971) and perhaps most notably as the stunt double for Darth Vader in "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and again three years later in "Return of the Jedi." He became one of the industry's most sought after fight choreographers and swordmasters, coaching actors in "The Princess Bride" (1987), in "The Mask of Zorro" (1998); in "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and "Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003). He also served as the swordmaster for almost 30 episodes of the television series "Highlander" from 1992 to 1994. He appeared as himself in the 2009 documentary "Reclaiming the Blade." His last film work was as swordmaster in the posthumously released "The Hobbit" in 2012.
Bio by: Iola
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