The Stuntman and the Wolf

Gary "Montana" Robert is a multi-award-winning stuntman and stunt coordinator who has worked on more than 700 TV shows and films from CHiPs and The Dukes of Hazzard to Forrest Gump, Platoon, Underworld, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and Fast and Furious.

Gary began his career when he was just a teenager and some of his early assignments had him doubling for actors like Robert Urich and Erik Estrada. Gary’s been set on fire. He’s been struck by moving vehicles. He’s flipped cars and jumped over other vehicles while on a motorcycle. Gary has engaged in barroom brawls. He’s jumped out of multi-story buildings and, for many years, held the high-fall record.

Gary is a three-time International Stunt Society Award winner and has been recognized with many other stunt driving and stunt coordinator awards. He has trained others in his own studio and the list of Hollywood stars he’s prepped for stunts on screen reads like a who’s who of the film industry. That list of A-listers includes: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Vin Diesel, Megan Fox, Jack Black and Charlie Sheen.

In a career spanning 35 years, Gary has broken nearly every bone in his body and he’s suffered more than one concussion. The end result of working so long in the profession he so loves is seizures. But now, a special friend—who came into Gary’s life when he was just a pup—provides ample warning when a seizure is about to hit. That friend is a beautiful, blue-eyed Alaskan timber wolf, named Sage, who is not only a trained service wolf but also a wolf actor and model.

In Episode 35, I chat with Gary “Montana” Robert about life in stunt work and life with his dearly loved service wolf, Sage.