Robert Tessier was a famous actor and stuntman who played many roles as a tough and menacing villain in movies and TV shows. He was known for his shaved head, muscular physique, and intimidating presence. He starred in films such as The Longest Yard, Hard Times, The Cannonball Run, and The Sword and the Sorcerer. He also appeared in popular series such as Kung Fu, Magnum P.I., The Fall Guy, and The A-Team. But what was the cause of his death? How did he succumb to cancer at the age of 56?
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Robert Tessier’s Early Life and Military Service
Robert W. Tessier was born on June 2, 1934, in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was of Abenaki and French descent. He served as a paratrooper in the Korean War, earning both a Silver Star and a Purple Heart for his bravery and injuries. According to IMDb, he won these medals for saving the lives of several wounded soldiers under enemy fire.
Robert Tessier’s Career as an Actor and Stuntman
After the war, Tessier became an accomplished motorcycle rider and circus stunt performer. These skills helped him secure his first film role in The Born Losers directed by Tom Laughlin in 1967. He played Cueball, a member of a biker gang that terrorizes a small town. With his menacing looks, Tessier was never short of on-screen work, often turning up in several movies a year playing gang leaders, bikers, convicts, fighters, and other murderous thugs.
He appeared alongside Burt Reynolds on three occasions: in The Longest Yard (1974), where he played Connie Shokner, a violent inmate who joins Reynolds’ football team; in Hooper (1978), where he played Amtrac, a rival stuntman who challenges Reynolds’ character; and in The Cannonball Run (1981), where he played a biker who tries to stop Reynolds’ team from winning the cross-country race.
He also played alongside Charles Bronson, as a bare-knuckle fighter in the film Hard Times (1975) and as a main villain in Breakheart Pass (1975). He also starred as Kevin, a treasure hunter who clashes with Jacqueline Bisset and Nick Nolte in The Deep (1977). One of his most memorable roles was as Chief Thor, an alien warrior who helps Marjoe Gortner and Caroline Munro fight an evil emperor in Starcrash (1979).
Tessier also had roles in fantasy and horror films such as The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982), where he played Verdugo, a loyal henchman of an evil sorcerer; The Lost Empire (1985), where he played Koro, a cult leader who kidnaps women for sacrifice; Avenging Angel (1985), where he played a tattoo artist who helps Betsy Russell fight crime; Nightwish (1989), where he played Stanley, a professor who conducts experiments on dreams; and Fists of Steel (1991), where he played Saylor, a corrupt businessman who hires a cyborg assassin.
Tessier also appeared in many TV shows such as Kung Fu (1974), where he played an Aztec warrior; Little House on the Prairie (Survival, 1975), where he played Chief Jack Lame Horse; The Last of the Mohicans (1977), where he played Magua; Centennial (1978–1979), where he played Rude Water; Starsky and Hutch (1975), Magnum P.I. (1980), The Fall Guy (1981), and The A-Team (1983).
Tessier formed “Stunts Unlimited” with fellow noted stunt performers Hal Needham, Glenn R. Wilder, and Ronnie Rondell Jr. He was also an accomplished furniture maker, often making pieces for his co-stars.
Robert Tessier’s Death from Cancer
Tessier died of cancer on October 11, 1990, aged 56. He was survived by his six children, mother, and two sisters. According to Wikipedia, he died in Lowell, Massachusetts, his birthplace.
Robert Tessier was one of the most recognizable faces of Hollywood’s villains. He had a distinctive look and style that made him stand out from the crowd. He was also a talented actor and stuntman who could perform various roles with ease. He left behind a legacy of memorable performances that will always be remembered by his fans. He was Robert Tessier, the bald and muscular villain of Hollywood, who died of cancer.
