Specifically, I’m trying to determine if Mr. Baxley is still alive. According to IMDB (which lists neither a birthday nor a date of death), as recent as 1997 he worked as stunt coordinator (or arranger, or something like that) on a “Dukes of Hazzard” telefilm.
He was one of the main stunt performers on the original Star Trek and his beefy face and combover are often extremely obvious when he takes a fall or does fights for Shatner. He often did bits on that program as background characters, guards, etc., and actually had a name (Ensign Freeman) and a few lines in *The Trouble With Tribbles/i].
A friend of mine is compilng a memorial site for dead Trek actors and for a while had him listed as dying in 1975, which cannot be.
Any help would be appreciated. Google hasn’t helped, most of what I get is video listings and a single oft-repeated paragraph-long bio on him with no DOB or DOD.
Thanks,
Sir Rhosis
My first guess would be to try to contact the union(s) that employ(s) stunt players. They should have a little info; however, I don’t know what the name(s) of the union(s) might be.
From the Social Security Death Index, current to January 2004:
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Paul Baxley, b. 24 Mar 1902, d. Jan 1972, last res. Reedley, Fresno Co., California. Social Security no. issued in California, 1936-1950.
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Paul Baxley, b. 29 Nov 1912, d. Aug 1975, last res. Yuba City, Sutter Co., California. Social Security no. issued in California, 1936-1950.
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Paul Baxley, b. 18 Sep 1896, d. Dec 1975, last res. Van Nuys, Los Angeles Co., California. Social Security no. issued in California, 1936-1950.
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Paul Baxley, b. 22 Jul 1933, d. May 1976. Social Security no. issued in North Carolina in 1951.
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Paul Baxley, b. 14 Jan 1907, d. Mar 1986, last res. High Point, Guilford Co., North Carolina. Social Security no. issued in North Carolina, 1936-1950.
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Paul K. Baxley, b. 5 Dec 1923, d. 20 Jul 1989, last res. Baltimore, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. Social Security no. issued in Maryland, 1936-1950.
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Paul S. Baxley, b. 13 Jun 1899, d. 6 Sep 1989, last res. Raeford, Hoke Co., North Carolina. Social Security no. issued in North Carolina, 1936-1950.
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Paul L. Baxley, b. 8 May 1899, d. 25 Nov 1992, last res. Youngstown, Mahoning Co., Ohio. Social Security no. issued in Ohio, 1936-1950.
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Paul S. Baxley, b. 16 Feb 1925, d. 13 Feb 2003, last res. Raeford, Hoke Co., North Carolina. Social Security no. issued in North Carolina, 1936-1950.
Stunt performers in American movies and filmed television shows are members of the Screen Actors Guild.
Screen Actors Guild
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036-3600
(323) 954-1600
An index to the 1930 U.S. census has these additional names:
- Paul Baxley, age 11, born in Alabama, res. Echo, Dale Co., Alabama.
- Paul A. Baxley, age 40, born in South Carolina, res. Blackville, Barnwell Co., South Carolina.
- Paul D. Baxley, 41, born in South Carolina, res. Savannah, Chatham Co., Georgia.
Since the stuntman Paul Baxley was already working in Whiplash (1948), a film produced in 1947, it is almost certain that he was born before 1930.
Thanks, guys, I thought of mentioning it in my OP, but didn’t think it would help, but this guy’s name (from the short bios I did find) is Paul R. Baxley, Jr. I did find that indeed he was still living as of July 2003, as he was a guest at a “Dukes of Hazzard” stunt show/reunion. Still rolling cars and he must be in his 70s.
Thanks, again, especially Walloon.
Sir Rhosis
The Paul Baxley who died in North Carolina in 2003 is a Paul S. Baxley, Jr. But I read his obituary, and it mentions nothing about a Hollywood career, and his children all seem to be living on the East Coast. So, scratch him off.
US SEARCH.com has a Paul R. Baxley, age 80, living in the Los Angeles area, either Rancho Mirage, North Hollywood, or Palmdale, depending on which address is most recent. For $9.95 you can get the full address. The Ultimate People Finder at KnowX.com suggests that Palmdale is the most recent address; they charge $6.95 for the full address.