Robert Tessier

Robert W. Tessier (June 2, 1934 - October 11, 1990) was an American actor and stuntman who was best known for his roles as a shaven-headed, fierce looking convict in the film The Longest Yard and in the Charles Bronson film Hard Times.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts of Algonquin descent,^{[citation needed]} Tessier served as a paratrooper in the Korean War and earned both a Silver Star and Purple Heart. He was an accomplished motorcycle rider and this helped him secure his first movie role, in the film The Born Losers directed by Tom Laughlin. From that point on, Tessier, surely the most threatening-looking man in pictures at that point, played a series of villainous roles. He later formed a stunt troupe called Stunts Unlimited with director Hal Needham. He was an accomplished cabinet maker and made pieces for his co-stars.

Tessier died of cancer in 1990. He was survived by his son by Diana Ivarson, Ben Ivarson.

Filmography

• The Born Losers (1967) (as Robert W. Tessier)
• The Glory Stompers (1968)
• Run, Angel, Run (1969) (not credited)
• Five the Hard Way (1969)
• The Babysitter (1969)
• Cry Blodd, Apache (1970)
• Outlaw Riders (1971)
• The Jesus Trip (1971)
• The Velvet Vampire (1971) (as Bob Tessier)
• Gentle Savage (1973)
• The Longest Yard (1974)
• How Come Nobody's on Our Side? (1975)
• Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975)
• Hard Times (1975)
• Breakheart Pass (1975)
• The Deep (1977)
• Another Man, Another Chance (1977)
• Hooper (1978)
• Starcrash (1979)
• The Villain (1979)
• Steel (1979)
• The Cannonball Run (1981) (as Bob Tessier)
• The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)
• Double Exposure (1983)
• The Fix (1984)
• Avenging Angel (1985)
• The Lost Empire (1985)
• No Safe Haven (1987)
• Beverly Hills Brats (1989)
• Nightwish (1989)
• One Man Force (1989)
• Fertilize the Blaspheming Bombshell (1990)
• Future Force (1990)
• Fists of Steel (1991)

Television credits

• Kung Fu (1974)
• Little House on the Prairie (1975)
• Last of the Mohicans (1977)
• Centennial (1978) 1 chapter in miniseries
• Desperate Women (1978) (uncredited)
• Starsky and Hutch 2-part episode in 1979
• The Billion Dollar Threat (1979)
• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century 2 episodes both in 1979
• The Dukes of Hazzard (1980)
• The Incredible Hulk (1980)
• Vega$ (1980)
• Fantasy Island (1981)
• The Fall Guy 4 episodes in 1981, 1982, 1984 & 1986
• CHiPs (1982)
• The A-Team 2 episodes in 1983 & 1985
• Manimal (1983) (as Robert W. Tessier)
• The Rousters (1983)
• Magnum, P.I. (1984)
• Spenser: For Hire (1985)
• Amazing Stories (1986)
• Sledge Hammer! (1987)
• B.L. Stryker (1989)

External links

• Robert Tessier at the Internet Movie Database
• Robert Tessier at Find a Grave Retrieved on 2008-02-05