Fred Waugh

Career Highlights

• Coordinated stunts for Minority Report, Bruce Almighty, Batman & Robin, and Last Action Hero.
• Served as Second Unit Director on Shoot to Kill, Medicine Man, Last Action Hero, and Spy Hard.
• Successfully transitioned from stunt performer to leadership roles, becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected stunt coordinators.

Biography

Fred Waugh was one of the most respected stunt coordinators of the modern era, a veteran stunt professional whose career evolved from performing action in front of the camera to designing and supervising it behind the scenes. Beginning his Hollywood career as a stunt performer during the golden age of television and western filmmaking, Waugh developed a reputation for professionalism, versatility, and leadership. Over time he became part of a generation that helped transform stunt work from a largely performer-driven craft into a highly organized discipline centered on planning, coordination, and safety. His contributions would ultimately span more than four decades of film and television production.

Like many stunt professionals of his era, Waugh learned the craft through experience. He worked during a period when stunt performers were expected to master a wide variety of skills, including fights, falls, horseback riding, vehicle action, and practical effects work. As the film industry expanded into larger productions and increasingly complex action sequences, Waugh’s experience and leadership abilities positioned him for advancement. He successfully made the transition from stunt performer to stunt coordinator, joining the ranks of the industry’s most trusted action supervisors and helping guide productions through the growing demands of modern filmmaking.

By the late 1980s and 1990s, Waugh had established himself as one of Hollywood’s premier stunt coordinators. His credits included major productions such as Beetlejuice (1988), Shoot to Kill (1988), Raising Cain (1992), Last Action Hero (1993), Liar Liar (1997), Batman & Robin (1997), Minority Report (2002), Bruce Almighty (2003), and Starsky & Hutch (2004). Across these films, Waugh was responsible for planning, organizing, and supervising action sequences that ranged from comedy and fantasy to large-scale blockbuster spectacle. His ability to adapt to different genres made him one of the most versatile coordinators working in the industry.

Waugh’s expertise also extended into directing action. He served as Second Unit Director on productions including Shoot to Kill, Medicine Man (1992), Last Action Hero, and Spy Hard (1996). These assignments placed him in charge of filming action sequences and specialty photography outside the principal unit, demonstrating the confidence studios placed in his ability to execute complex material. His career reflected the natural progression of many of the industry’s most accomplished stunt leaders, moving from performer to coordinator and ultimately into broader filmmaking responsibilities.

In recognition of his contributions to stunt performance and action filmmaking, Fred Waugh was inducted into the Hollywood Stuntmen Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 1992. Throughout his career, he helped shape the evolution of modern stunt coordination, bridging the traditions of classic Hollywood stunt work with the increasingly sophisticated demands of contemporary filmmaking. Today, he is remembered not only as a skilled stunt performer, but as a highly influential Stunt Coordinator whose leadership helped bring some of Hollywood’s most memorable action sequences to the screen.

Awards and Honors

• Hollywood Stuntmen Hall of Fame Inductee — Class of 1992
• Member, Stunts Unlimited (one of the industry’s premier professional stunt organizations)

Distinctions & Industry Recognition

• One of Hollywood’s leading stunt coordinators during the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.
• Coordinated action for major productions including Beetlejuice, Shoot to Kill, Raising Cain, Last Action Hero, Liar Liar, Batman & Robin, Minority Report, Bruce Almighty, and Starsky & Hutch.
• Successfully transitioned from stunt performer to stunt coordinator and second unit director.
• Served as Second Unit Director on Shoot to Kill, Medicine Man, Last Action Hero, and Spy Hard.
• Part of a multi-generational stunt family that includes filmmakers and former stunt performers.

Notable Filmography

Year	Title	Position
1988	Beetlejuice	Stunt Coordinator
1988	Shoot to Kill	Stunt Coordinator / Second Unit Director
1992	Medicine Man	Second Unit Director
1992	Raising Cain	Stunt Coordinator
1993	Last Action Hero	Stunt Coordinator / Second Unit Director
1996	Spy Hard	Second Unit Director
1997	Liar Liar	Stunt Coordinator
1997	Batman & Robin	Stunt Coordinator
2002	Minority Report	Stunt Coordinator
2003	Bruce Almighty	Stunt Coordinator

Photo Gallery