This former stuntman-turned-director was raised in rural areas of Missouri and Arkansas. Hal Needham got his first taste of thrill-seeking while working as a tree topper and while serving in the US Army as a parachutist. After his military service, he settled in Southern California and began working as a stuntman in films and TV in the late 1950s. Needham first met long-time collaborator Burt Reynolds while working on the NBC series "Riverboat" in 1959. During the 1960s and first half of the 70s, Needham alternated between stunt work and the occasional acting role, frequently collaborating
