Leslie Hoffman
Encyclopedia
Leslie Hoffman is an American stunt performer, stunt coordinator and actress.
Her early education and training included gymnastics and ballet camps, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
and Herbert Berkoff Studios in New York. She was inspired to pursue stunt acting upon seeing a Universal Studios Tour stunt show; she travelled to California and studied at stuntman Paul Stader
's stunt gym.
Hoffman began stunt work in the mid-1970s with the film Two-Minute Warning
(1976), and several television series, including Police Story, M*A*S*H , a 78-foot high fall into water for The Love Boat
, as well as working on Fantasy Island
, Charlie's Angels, and doubling for the six-foot tall Lainie Kazan
in a circular stair fall for Columbo. She also stunt doubled for Doris Roberts
in the TV series Remington Steele
. Film acting work included Avalanche
(1978), Deadly Friend
(1986), Trust Me (1989) and Naked Acts (1998).
Hoffman played the Hall Guard (Krueger) character in Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and stunted in I Wanna Hold Your Hand
(1978), Motel Hell
(1980), Resurrection
(1980), Clue
(1985), Alien Nation
(1988), Mars (1997), Mystery Men
(1999), and served as stunt coordinator for, and acted in, the ABC
After School Special
Me and My Hormones (1996). She also stunt-doubled for Laurie Metcalf
, who played the killer in Scream 2
(1997).
Hoffman was the first stuntwoman elected to the Screen Actors Guild
Board of Directors, where she served from 1981 to 1985. As a director, she advocated for stuntwomen and stuntpersons of color, toward equal work and representation in the union. She lost her bid for re-election in 1985.
From 1990s onward, she worked as a stunt coordinator and rigger on several films, as well as doubling for several actresses in feature films and television. Her work includes stunt acting roles in multiple episodes of the Star Trek: Voyager
and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
television series. Starting in 2004, Hoffman has been stunt coordinator for fan-fiction episodes of Star Trek: Farragut and the Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II series. Hoffman has provided stunt coordination for student film productions for USC
, Loyola Marymount University
and UCLA.
On Social Security Disability due to trauma to her body during stunt work, Hoffman has advocated for fair treatment for disabled stuntpeople, including correct taxation on residual income.
Her early education and training included gymnastics and ballet camps, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
and Herbert Berkoff Studios in New York. She was inspired to pursue stunt acting upon seeing a Universal Studios Tour stunt show; she travelled to California and studied at stuntman Paul Stader
Paul Stader
Paul B. Stader, sometimes known as Manny Stader , was an American actor best known for having performed stunts for Johnny Weismuller, Lex Barker, Gregory Peck, and John Wayne. He was also the underwater director of the 1978 film The Return of Captain Nemo.-Working with Weismuller and Barker:Stader...
's stunt gym.
Hoffman began stunt work in the mid-1970s with the film Two-Minute Warning
Two-Minute Warning
Two-Minute Warning is a 1976 suspense and action film directed by Larry Peerce and starring Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Martin Balsam, Beau Bridges, Jack Klugman, Gena Rowlands, and David Janssen. It was based on the novel of the same name written by George La Fountaine, Sr...
(1976), and several television series, including Police Story, M*A*S*H , a 78-foot high fall into water for The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
, as well as working on Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
, Charlie's Angels, and doubling for the six-foot tall Lainie Kazan
Lainie Kazan
Lainie Kazan is an American actress and singer.-Personal life:Kazan was born Lanie Levine in Brooklyn, New York City, the daughter of a Russian Ashkenazi Jewish father who worked as a bookie and a Turkish Sephardic Jewish mother, Carole, whom Kazan has described as "neurotic, fragile and...
in a circular stair fall for Columbo. She also stunt doubled for Doris Roberts
Doris Roberts
Doris Roberts is an American character actress of film, stage and television. She has received five Emmy Awards. She began her career in 1952, and may be best-known as Marie Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond from 1996–2005....
in the TV series Remington Steele
Remington Steele
Remington Steele is an American television series, co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on the NBC network from 1982 to 1987. The series blended the genres of romantic...
. Film acting work included Avalanche
Avalanche (1978 film)
Avalanche is a 1978 American disaster film, directed by Corey Allen and starring Rock Hudson, Robert Forster, Mia Farrow and Jeanette Nolan...
(1978), Deadly Friend
Deadly Friend
Deadly Friend is a 1986 science fiction horror film directed by Wes Craven. It is based on the novel entitled Friend by Diana Henstell, which was adapted for the screen by Bruce Joel Rubin.-Plot:...
(1986), Trust Me (1989) and Naked Acts (1998).
Hoffman played the Hall Guard (Krueger) character in Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and stunted in I Wanna Hold Your Hand
I Wanna Hold Your Hand (film)
I Wanna Hold Your Hand is a comedy film directed and co-written by Robert Zemeckis, which takes its name from the 1963 song "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles. It was produced and co-written by Bob Gale. The film is about "Beatlemania" and is a fictionalized account of the day of the...
(1978), Motel Hell
Motel Hell
Motel Hell is a 1980 horror comedy film directed by Kevin Connor and starring Rory Calhoun as farmer, butcher, and meat entrepreneur Vincent Smith...
(1980), Resurrection
Resurrection (1980 film)
Resurrection is a 1980 film which tells the story of a woman who survives the car accident which kills her husband, but discovers that she has the power to heal other people...
(1980), Clue
Clue (film)
Clue is a 1985 comedy mystery film based on the board game of the same name . The film is a murder mystery set in a Gothic Revival mansion, and is styled after Murder by Death and other various murder/dinner parties of mystery...
(1985), Alien Nation
Alien Nation (film)
Alien Nation is a 1988 American science fiction film directed by Graham Baker and produced by Gale Anne Hurd, Richard Kobritz and Bill Borden. The storyline was based on a screenplay written by Rockne S. O'Bannon. It stars James Caan, Mandy Patinkin, Terence Stamp, and Kevyn Major Howard...
(1988), Mars (1997), Mystery Men
Mystery Men
Mystery Men is a 1999 comedy film based on a Dark Horse comic book series feature in Flaming Carrot Comics by Bob Burden, directed by TV commercial director Kinka Usher. It stars William H. Macy, Ben Stiller, and Hank Azaria as a trio of lesser superheroes with fairly unimpressive superpowers who...
(1999), and served as stunt coordinator for, and acted in, the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
After School Special
After school special
The American Broadcasting Company coined the term after school special in 1972 with a series of made for television movies, usually dealing with controversial or socially relevant issues, that were generally broadcast in the late afternoon and meant to be viewed by school age children, particularly...
Me and My Hormones (1996). She also stunt-doubled for Laurie Metcalf
Laurie Metcalf
Lauren Elizabeth "Laurie" Metcalf is an American actress. She is widely known for her performance as Jackie Harris on the ABC sitcom Roseanne, Mary Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, the voice of Mrs. Davis in the Toy Story film series and as Debbie Salt in Scream 2...
, who played the killer in Scream 2
Scream 2
Scream 2 is a 1997 American slasher film created and written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schreiber, released on December 12, 1997 as the second installment in the Scream film series...
(1997).
Hoffman was the first stuntwoman elected to the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
Board of Directors, where she served from 1981 to 1985. As a director, she advocated for stuntwomen and stuntpersons of color, toward equal work and representation in the union. She lost her bid for re-election in 1985.
From 1990s onward, she worked as a stunt coordinator and rigger on several films, as well as doubling for several actresses in feature films and television. Her work includes stunt acting roles in multiple episodes of the Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
television series. Starting in 2004, Hoffman has been stunt coordinator for fan-fiction episodes of Star Trek: Farragut and the Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II series. Hoffman has provided stunt coordination for student film productions for USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
and UCLA.
On Social Security Disability due to trauma to her body during stunt work, Hoffman has advocated for fair treatment for disabled stuntpeople, including correct taxation on residual income.
External links
- StunTrek - Hoffman's website.