The 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards Ended With a Bang on Sunday Night

The 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards Ended With a Bang on Sunday Night

Show to air domestically on AMC On Friday, May 25th at 10:30 P.M. ET/PT.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The stars were out and the action was in full force at this year's Taurus World Stunt Awards on the Paramount Pictures lot last night. An enthusiastic audience of over 1700 watched as action film icon Burt Reynolds, star of the blockbuster hit 300 Gerard Butler, and the "godmother of stunt women," Jeannie Epper were honored for their remarkable contributions to the world of action films. Awards host Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson kept the proceedings lively while some of Hollywood's 'extreme athletes,' the stunt professionals who consistently push the limits to thrill audiences around the world, were honored with their highest reward, The Taurus. The show will air domestically on AMC on Friday, May 25th at 10:30 p.m.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070521/AQM133 )

Celebrities and VIP's in attendance -- many making appearances on stage -- included Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jessica Alba, Michael Buffer, Gerard Butler, Michael Chiklis, Elisha Cuthbert, Rob Dibble, Josh Duhamel, Chris Evans, Will Ferrell, Harrison Ford, Dennis Hopper, Kelly Hu, Ali Larter, Katie Lohman, Christina Milian, John C. Reilly, David Spade, Mr. T, Ken Watanabe, and Shaun White among many others.

The show kicked off with a bang when the Rock made his first appearance onstage in an armored car, crashing into the set! Over the course of the evening, the audience was likewise treated to a series of live performances, giving a rapturous reception to Grammy-winner Joe Cocker, who rocked the house with "Feeling Alright," and acclaimed modern dance company Diavolo, who executed an elaborate acrobatic routine over, under, in and out of a moving car.

   THE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:   --  A spectacular demonstration of Parkour whose practitioners dash across       the landscape, jumping, ducking or climbing over buildings and       structures with supreme elegance and physical efficiency. Parkour was       featured in the film Casino Royal, which won "Best High Work"   --  The blockbuster hit film The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's       Chest coming to life with a spectacular swash-buckling sword fight!   --  Ali Larter ("Heroes," upcoming Resident Evil: Extinction) and Josh       Duhamel ("Las Vegas," upcoming Transformers) introduced the first-ever       on fire runway fashion show featuring models ablaze!   

On top of all the dramatic entrances, death-defying stunts, and joyous award winners, the show exhibited immense heart and gratitude with the presentation of its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards.

   HONORARY AWARDS:   --  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger presented the Taurus Lifetime       Achievement Award for an Action Movie Star to Burt Reynolds, star of       such classic films as Deliverance, Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball       Run, and Boogie Nights.  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called       Reynolds, "the greatest of the great."    --  After a touching tribute by many industry legends such as Steven       Spielberg, nearly 100 stunt women including May Boss, Debbie Evans,       and daughter Eurlyne Epper presented the Taurus Lifetime Achievement       Award to Jeannie Epper. Epper, who has worked on over a hundred film       and television shows, was overwhelmed with emotion when she looked at       the parade of women on stage. Epper exclaimed, "Look at us all now --       there truly is strength in women."    --  Dennis Hopper presented the Taurus World Stunt Awards Action Movie       Star of the Year to Gerard Butler, describing Butler's role as Spartan       King Leonidas in the groundbreaking international smash film 300 as a,       "powerful, flesh-and-blood performance combined with brilliantly       aggressive, athletic stuntwork." Hopper said, "Gerard Butler brought       us a state of the art, yet ancient vision of an action hero for the       21st century."   

The presentation of this year's Taurus World Stunt Awards Foundation grant recipients, Tony Angelotti and Larry Rippenkroeger was one of the centerpieces of the show. Angelotti, who was seriously injured while he was doubling for Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean: At the End of the World, also won this years Best Fight award for his work in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Bruce Willis made a heartfelt tribute to his "own stunt man and good friend Larry Rippenkroeger," this year's Taurus Foundation recipient, who was injured during Live Free or Die Hard. Willis said, "I want to thank everyone who's a part of the Taurus World Stunt Awards Foundation which provides assistance to stunt performers who experience debilitating stunt related injuries." Envisioned by philanthropist Dietrich Mateschitz, founder and CEO of Red Bull Energy Drink, the Foundation gives financial grants in the event of a stunt related temporary, partial or permanent disability. The Foundation is perpetuated by annual Taurus World Stunt Awards programming and ongoing fundraising activities.

The primary aim of the event was to honor the elite professionals of the stunt community. To that end, it's our pleasure to congratulate the following 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards Winners!

                          Best Work with a Vehicle                Presented by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly                              TALLADEGA NIGHTS               Steve Kelso, Doc D. Charbonneau, Paul M. Lane                                  Best Fight                        Presented by Michael Buffer                PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2: DEAD MAN'S CHEST    Tony Angelotti, Phil Culotta, Thomas Dupont, Lisa Hoyle, Jeremy Fry, Kirk Maxwell, Tom Morga, Buddy "Love" Sosthand, Mark A. Wagner, Jeff Wolfe                                Best High Work                      Presented by THE FANTASTIC FOUR        Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans and Ioan Gruffudd                               CASINO ROYALE        Ben Cooke, Kai Martin, Marvin Stewart-Campbell, Adam Kirley                     Best Overall Stunt By A Stunt Woman                           Presented by Kelly Hu                              SUPERMAN RETURNS                                Debbie Evans                             Best Specialty Stunt                Presented by Shaun White and Elisha Cuthbert                                   CRANK                        Sean Graham, Michael Nicely                        Best Action in a Foreign Film                         Presented by Ken Wantanabe                        ALARM FOR COBRA 11 (Germany)                               Stefan Richter                                 Hardest Hit                     Presented by Christina Milian and                             YOU, ME AND DUPREE                        Jimmy N. Roberts, Steve Baum                                  Best Fire                   Presented by Josh Duane and Ali Larder                           LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA                                 Simon Rhea              Best Stunt Coordination and/or 2nd Unit Direction  

Presented by Harrison Ford with a special congratulations from Daniel Craig

                               CASINO ROYALE                                Gary Powell   

For more in-depth features, stories, information and photos, please log onto the Taurus World Stunt Awards website at http://www.taurusworldstuntawards.com/.

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Source: Taurus World Stunt Awards

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Taurus World Stunt Awards

Web site: http://www.taurusworldstuntawards.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment