Bud Ekins

James Sherwin Ekins, known as Bud Ekins, was born in Hollywood, California, on May 11, 1930 and died on October 6, 2007. He was an American professional stuntman in the film industry whose work included The Great Escape and Bullitt, and as stunt double for Steve McQueen on The Great Escape he performed one of the most famous motorcycle stunts ever filmed. He was also an accomplished off-road motorcycle racer in motocross and enduro events and helped pioneer desert racing. He began riding off-road in the hills above his home, entered local races in 1949, and by the mid-1950s was the top motocross and desert racer in Southern California. He was inducted into the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1980, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2024, and recognized by the Stuntmen's Hall of Fame.