Bud Ekins, motorcycle off road racer, stuntman and much more, died Saturday at the age of 77. The name may not be familiar to some of you, especially if you’re a bit younger, but you’ve probably seen him. In the list of movies that every guy seems to like, The Great Escape with Steve McQueen ranks right up there among the best. During that movie Steve McQueen jumps a motorcycle over a barbed wire fence in an attempt to escape from a prison camp. Of course, Steve wasn’t really on the bike, it was Bud Ekins who got the job because of his friendship with the actor.
Ekins also played a part in Bullitt, another of the classic McQueen movies, doing both driving duties in the famous green Mustang during one of the best movie car chases ever and performing a motorcycle crash near the end of the movie.
Bud may be gone but he lives on in those films forever.
Link: Motor Trend
mobilus says
RIP (Ride in Peace)
chappy says
RIP Bud
We also lost Norick Abe on the 7th, RIP Norifumi
Steve H. says
As I read the notice of Bud’s death what do you think is on the Widescreen TV? You got it, “The Great Escape”…
I put in the DVD, just because, a couple minutes ago – so, I’ll let it run through once again and be sure not to miss the famous scene, to see both of these important men of motorcycling.
Thanks, Bud and Steve
OTTO MANN says
Your Love of Motorcycles, Will Never be Forgoten . Rest in Peace My bro”.