Bud Ekins has passed away at age 77

The man who flew through the air aboard a motorcycle in the superb Steve McQueen flick The Great Escape has died. Bud Ekins passed away Saturday morning, and with him went dozens of movie appearances, hundreds of great films stunts, and at least a thousand even greater stories.

Bud Ekins makes the famous 'Great Escape' jump

Ekins was born in May, 1930, and as such was just two months younger than his lifelong friend, Steve McQueen. His career as a stunt man, action double, movie stunt consultant, off-road racer, and all around motorcycle guru began in 1961 when McQueen strolled into his Triumph dealership in SoCal's San Fernando Valley to look at a bike. Ekins introduced McQueen to the magic of desert racing, and so began a lifelong relationship that impacted them both for decades. Of all the stunt work and doubling that Bud did for McQueen, it was that first instance -- as motorcycle consultant, rider, and stunt double during the making of The Great Escape -- that proved his most iconic contribution to film.

"I'd never done anything like that before" he told me in an intervew for my upcoming book, McQueen's Machines: The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Icon. "Steve just told me 'C'mon, we're going to meet the director. Do you have a suit? Put it on and I'll pick you up." The next thing I knew, I was on my way to Germany." And on his way into the annals of movie history, by nailing the dangerous jump -- which McQueen was probably capable of, but also which the producers wouldn't even let him perform -- on the first and only take. Movie history made.

Ekins also figured prominantly in Bullitt. He was the one who doubled Steve for the scenes where Frank Bullitt, aboard his Highland Green '68 Mustang GT, chased the baddies' black Charger down the hill in San Francisco. And it is Ekins, who near the end of the Bullitt chase scene, layed a bike down in front of the Mustang, causing it to spin out, this time with McQueen doing his own stunt driving.

Bud and Steve prepare for the Stardust 7-11 race

He was one of the pioneers of off-road racing, and was instrumental in the formation of NORRA, the National Off-Road Racing Association, which launched the Baja 500 and 1000, and has since become SCORE. Ekins and brother Dave represented America in the International Six Day Trials motorcycle event several times, ultimately winning a gold medal for an overall win. Bud also raced off-road on four wheels, as seen here (at left) with McQueen in their Baja Boot in preparation for the Stardust 7-11 race in 1968.

Bud Ekins was a man's man, a tough guy who was also thoughtful and articulate. He had a cracking wit, a superb memory, and understood motorcycling, driving, and stunt work like few others. Not many around like him. And now, there's one less.

By Matt Stone.

Matt Stone is Executive Editor of Motor Trend magazine, and the author of
McQueen’s Machines: The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Icon.