Orwin C. Harvey

Career Highlights

• Elite High-Fall Specialist — Performed numerous dangerous high falls throughout his career, including a documented 65-foot dive from an offshore oil derrick while doubling Sean Connery in Diamonds Are Forever (1971), demonstrating the precision and courage required of Hollywood’s top stunt professionals.
• Versatile Stunt Double for Major Stars — Built a reputation as a dependable stunt double for performers including Sean Connery, Gale Gordon, Chill Wills, and Leif Erickson, contributing to a wide range of film and television productions over multiple decades.
• From Television Westerns to Blockbuster Spectacles — Successfully transitioned from the classic television western era to major feature films, performing action work on productions such as The Poseidon Adventure, Diamonds Are Forever, and The Eiger Sanction, helping bridge Hollywood’s Golden Age stunt tradition with the larger-scale action filmmaking of the 1970s.

Biography

Orwin C. Harvey was one of the many unsung stunt professionals whose work helped bring Hollywood’s action sequences to life across several decades. A versatile stunt performer, stunt double, and high-fall specialist, Harvey built a reputation for reliability, athleticism, and courage in an industry where success often depended on performing dangerous feats without recognition on screen. Though audiences rarely knew his name, his work became part of countless memorable film and television productions.

Harvey came of age during the golden era of television and western filmmaking, when stunt performers were expected to master a wide variety of skills. Standing six feet tall with an athletic build, he found steady work in both film and television, appearing in productions ranging from westerns and crime dramas to large-scale adventure films. His versatility allowed him to double numerous actors throughout his career, including Sean Connery, Gale Gordon, Chill Wills, Leif Erickson, John Crawford, and John Shuck. Producers and stunt coordinators valued Harvey’s ability to step into a wide range of roles and execute difficult action safely and convincingly.

Among Harvey’s greatest strengths was his work as a high-fall specialist. Hall of Fame archival materials document his performance of a spectacular sixty-five-foot dive from an offshore oil derrick while doubling Sean Connery in the James Bond adventure Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Such stunts required exceptional body control, timing, and confidence, as there was little margin for error. Additional photographs preserved in the Hall archives show Harvey performing other major falls and aerial stunts, highlighting the specialized skills that made him a trusted member of Hollywood’s stunt community.

As the industry entered the blockbuster era of the 1970s, Harvey continued to contribute to increasingly ambitious productions. His credits included major films such as The Poseidon Adventure, one of the decade’s defining disaster epics, and The Eiger Sanction, known for its challenging mountain-climbing action sequences. He also worked extensively in television on programs such as The FBI, Here’s Lucy, and Nichols, demonstrating the adaptability that allowed many stunt professionals of his generation to move successfully between television and feature films.

Throughout his career, Orwin Harvey represented the professionalism and dedication that defined Hollywood’s stunt community. While stars received the public acclaim, performers like Harvey accepted the physical risks necessary to make action sequences believable and exciting. His willingness to execute dangerous falls, double major stars, and contribute to productions across multiple genres earned him the respect of his peers and secured his place among the distinguished inductees of the Hollywood Stunts Hall of Fame.

Awards and Honors

• Hollywood Stuntmen Hall of Fame Inductee(2001 Legacy Class)
• Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Member
• American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) Member
• American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) Member

Distinctions & Industry Recognition

• Veteran stunt performer whose career spanned the television western era through the blockbuster action films of the 1970s.
• Performed a documented 65-foot offshore oil-derrick dive while doubling Sean Connery in Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
• Recognized as a skilled High Fall Specialist and stunt double.
• Doubled major stars including Sean Connery, Gale Gordon, Chill Wills, Leif Erickson, John Crawford, and John Shuck.
• Contributed stunt work to productions including The Poseidon Adventure, Diamonds Are Forever, The Eiger Sanction, The FBI, Here’s Lucy, and Nichols.
• Maintained professional membership in SAG, AFTRA, and AGVA throughout his career.

Notable Filmography

Year	Title	Position
1965–1974	The FBI	Stunt Performer
1971	Nichols	Stunt Performer
1971	Diamonds Are Forever	Stunt Double for Sean Connery
1972	The Poseidon Adventure	Stunt Performer
1972	Here’s Lucy	Stunt Performer
1972	The London Bridge Special	Stunt Performer
1975	The Eiger Sanction	High Fall Specialist / Stunt Performer
1975	The Apple Dumpling Gang	Stunt Performer
1977	The World’s Greatest Lover	Stunt Performer
1980	The Legend of the Lone Ranger	Stunt Performer

Photo Gallery