Alan Chuntz
Alan Chuntz (21 April 1927 - 8 August 2009) was a television stuntman and actor, known for working on and appearing in various Doctor Who serials.
Alan Chuntz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bernard Chuntz April 21, 1927 |
| Died | August 8, 2009 (aged 82) London, England |
| Occupation | Actor, stuntman, extra, taxi driver |
| Spouse(s) | Lilian Silvester
(m. 1950–2009) |
Doctor Who
As a member of Derek Ware's stunt team HAVOC, Chuntz worked on many serials between 1968's The Invasion[1] and 1982's The Visitation, receiving only one credit as the chauffeur in 1976's The Seeds of Doom (getting punched by Tom Baker's Doctor).
Whilst filming an action sequence for 1970's Inferno, Chuntzy (his nickname while working on the programme) jumped a fraction too late than he was supposed to and ended up with his leg being gashed by the bumper of the Doctor's car Bessie. The gash was so severe, he had to go to A&E, disrupting filming. Jon Pertwee who drove the car, felt so bad that he almost became ill himself. Despite needing eighteen stitches, Chuntz returned to work to help lift the actor's spirits.
Other Work
Other shows Chuntz appeared in and/or provided stuntwork for include Danger Man, The Avengers, Callan, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, The Onedin Line, Tales of the Unexpected and Minder. In addition, he provided stuntwork on films such as You Only Live Twice, The Dirty Dozen, The Italian Job, Brannigan, and Spies Like Us, sometimes playing uncredited minor roles in them as well. Chuntzy portrayed French singer Charles Aznavour in Grand Slam.
Personal life
Also a martial artist, Chuntz held a Black Belt in karate. In the 1960s, notorious gangsters the Krays asked him for lessons but he politely declined the offer, not wanting to get mixed up with them.
When he was not stunt performing, Chuntzy, like fellow stuntman Terry Walsh, worked as a Black Cab Taxi Driver.
References
- The Seeds of Doom Archive in Doctor Who Magazine #263 mentions he worked on The Web of Fear but I can't find any documentation to back this up.
- Pertwee, Jon; Howe, David J. (1996). I am the Doctor: Jon Pertwee's Final Memoir. London: Virgin Publishing. ISBN 1-85227-621-5.
- Howe, David J.; Walker, Stephen James (1996). Doctor Who The Handbook – The Third Doctor. London: Doctor Who Books. p. 22. ISBN 0-426-20486-7.
- The Ambassadors of Death DVD Commentary
- Inferno DVD Commentary/Info text subtitles
External links
- Alan Chuntz at IMDb