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Paul Baxley (24 September 19234 March 2011; age 87) was a stuntman, stunt coordinator and director who worked as stunt coordinator and regular stuntman on Star Trek: The Original Series. He was one of the stunt doubles for leading actor William Shatner and also appeared in archive footage in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fifth season episode "Trials and Tribble-ations".

Baxley filmed his scene for "Shore Leave" on Thursday 20 October 1966 on location at Africa USA and on Tuesday 25 October 1966 and Wednesday 26 October 1966 on location at Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park, his scene for "Wolf in the Fold" on Wednesday 28 June 1967 at Desilu Stage 9, his scenes for "The Apple" between Thursday 20 July 1967 and Monday 24 July 1967 at Stage 10, and his scene for "Mirror, Mirror" on Thursday 27 July 1967 at Stage 9. He filmed his scenes for "The Trouble with Tribbles" on Wednesday 23 August 1967, Thursday 24 August 1967 and Tuesday 29 August 1967 at Stage 9 and Stage 10. He filmed his scenes for "A Private Little War" on Wednesday 4 October 1967 on location at the Bell Ranch, and his scenes for "The Gamesters of Triskelion" between Friday 20 October 1967 and Tuesday 24 October 1967 at Stage 10. He filmed his scene for "By Any Other Name" on Friday 17 November 1967 at Stage 9, and his scene for "Patterns of Force" on Wednesday 29 November 1967 at Paramount Pictures' "European town" backlot, and his scene for "Assignment: Earth" on Tuesday 2 January 1968 at Stage 9.

Baxley was born in Casper, Wyoming and is the father of stuntman Craig R. Baxley, Sr., the uncle of stuntman Gary Baxley, the great-uncle of Hunter Baxley, and the grandfather of Craig Baxley, Jr.. He is probably best remembered for his work on the action-comedy series The Dukes of Hazzard on which he worked on all seven seasons between 1979 and 1985. Beside being the stunt coordinator on over 120 episodes he also worked as stuntman on the series and was a regular second unit director and director on nine episodes. On this series he worked with fellow Trek stunt performers Bob Orrison, Steve Kelso, Doug Coleman, Hubie Kerns, Jr., Henry Kingi, Sr., Gene LeBell, and Jerry Summers. Baxley also worked as stunt coordinator on the television movie The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood in 2000. On his last known work in the stunt industry, Baxley worked with fellow stuntman Brett Davidson, Craig Baxley, Jr., Tom McComas, and Thom Williams.

Baxley grew up in Los Angeles and was a quarterback and track star at Eagle Rock High. Following his service as a Marine, scout, and sniper in the 4th division in World War II he was awarded with two purple hearts, a bronze star, and a letter of commendation from the president. Following the war he went back to college and also became a quarterback again. In the late 1940s he met stuntman and stunt coordinator Richard Talmadge who brought him into the stunt community and Baxley soon performed stunts in films such as Deep Valley (1947), Pirates of Monterey (1947), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), The Black Arrow (1948), and Comanche Territory (1950, with Fred Carson, Dick Crockett, and Tom Steele), and doubled Robert Douglas in Adventures of Don Juan (1948) and Audie Murphy in Kansas Raiders (1950).

The following years he worked on films including The West Point Story (1950), The Son of Dr. Jekyll (1951), The Crimson Pirate (1952), The Iron Mistress (1952), the Western Shane (1953), as stunt double for Alan Ladd in The Black Knight (1954), Rebel Without a Cause (1955, with Chuck Hicks, Ron Burke, and Carey Loftin), the television series Mike Hammer (with Hal Needham and Ronald R. Rondell), The Vagabond King (1956, with Bob Herron), Giant (1956, with Troy Melton and Paul Stader), Around the World in 80 Days (1956, with Max Kleven, Gil Perkins, Al Cavens, and Dick Crockett), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957, with DeForest Kelley), The Deep Six (1958), Some Like It Hot (1959), and Guns of the Timberland (1960). Baxley also worked as stunt coordinator on Hell Below Zero (1954), Hell on Frisco Bay (1955), Santiago (1956, with Dick Crockett and Bob Herron), and Boy on a Dolphin (1957).

Baxley passed away on 4 March 2011 in Palmdale, California at the age of 87. [1]

Star Trek appearances[]

Stunt double appearances[]

External links[]

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