Robert Tessier

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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 and of Algonquin descent, 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. Curiously, he was an accomplished furniture maker and made pieces for his co-stars.

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

[edit] 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 Yard1974
• How Come Nobody's on Our Side? 1975
• Doc Savage:The Man of Bronze 1975
• Hard Times 1975
• Breakheart Pass1975
• The Deep1977
• Another Man, Another Chance1977
• Hooper 1978
• Starcrash 1979
• The Villain1979
• Steel 1979
• 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

[edit] 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

[edit] External links

• Find-A-Grave biography