David R. Ellis

David Richard Ellis (September 8, 1952 – January 7, 2013) was an American film director and stunt performer born in Santa Monica, California, in 1952. His credits included dozens of films and television series including National Lampoon's Vacation, Baywatch, Lethal Weapon, and Patriot Games.

He also served as second unit director on blockbuster action films like Waterworld, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Matrix Reloaded, and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. His feature directorial credits included the action thriller Snakes on a Plane and two entries in the Final Destination film series.

On January 7, 2013, Ellis was found dead in his hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa. The cause of his death remains unknown.

Career Following a successful career as a junior pro surfer, David Richard Ellis began his career in the film industry as a supporting actor in juvenile roles making his big screen debut in 1975 in the Kurt Russell film The Strongest Man in the World. In 1978, he received a promotion to stunt coordinator on The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. After several successful years in this position, he worked from 1986 onwards as a second unit director before making his debut as a director in the Disney live-action film Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco. He served as the Co-Director in Final Destination (2000) and directed two best known Final Destination Films. In 2006 film Snakes on a Plane, which became an Internet phenomenon.

As a stunt man he was best known for his work in the movie Scarface. Other notable works as a stunt man include Fatal Attraction, Lethal Weapon, the television series Baywatch, and Patriot Games. As a second unit director he worked on a number of well-known movies that include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Matrix Reloaded, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and Cop Out. At the time of his death, two works involving Ellis were still in post-production: 47 Ronin and R.I.P.D. while another, Winter's Tale, was still being filmed. R.I.P.D. was released in July 2013, 47 Ronin was released in December of that year, and Winter's Tale was released in February 2014.

He was perhaps best known as a director with seven titles under his belt. Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, Final Destination 2, Cellular, Snakes on a Plane, Asylum, The Final Destination, and Shark Night. At the time of his death, he was in pre-production for a live-action version of the violent anime Kite. Ralph Ziman became the film's director.

Ellis was nominated for the Taurus Award along with Glenn Boswell and R. A. Rondell in 2003 for his stunt coordination work on The Matrix Reloaded. Ellis was a member and served as vice president for an elite stunt performance organization known as Stunts Unlimited located in Sherman Oaks, California.

Personal life David R. Ellis was the father of producer Tawny, photographer Cheyenne Ellis, and UC Irvine English Instructor, Tagert Ellis. He was the son of Richard and Andrea Ellis, the grandfather to Kodiak and Ridge Ellis, as well as the brother of Annie, Lori, and Chenoa Ellis. He is survived by his widow Cindy.

When Ellis was once about to be carjacked, trapped between two other cars, he used his stunt-driving prowess to whip his car out of the tiny gap and face the carjackers, revving his engine, scaring them enough to get back into their cars and drive away.

Death On January 7, 2013, Ellis's body was found in the bathroom of his hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was preparing to direct Kite at the time.

Filmography

Director Year Film Budget Worldwide gross 1996 Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco $32,772,492 (USA) 2003 Final Destination 2 $26,000,000 $90,941,129 2004 Cellular $25,000,000 $57,678,321 2006 Snakes on a Plane $33,000,000 $62,022,014 2008 Asylum $11,000,000 Direct-to-video 2009 The Final Destination $40,000,000 $186,167,139 2011 Shark Night $28,000,000 $41,363,927

Second unit director Film Year Project Director Notes 1986 Condor Virgil W. Vogel as David Ellis 1987 Fatal Attraction Adrian Lyne uncredited 1989 Warlock Steve Miner 1990 The Last of the Finest John MacKenzie 1991 Life Stinks Mel Brooks uncredited 1992 Kuffs Bruce A. Evans as David Ellis Thunderheart Michael Apted as David Richard Ellis Patriot Games Philip Noyce Whispers in the Dark Christopher Crowe Forever Young Steve Miner 1993 Body of Evidence Uli Edel Sliver Philip Noyce Made in America Richard Benjamin Beethoven's 2nd Rod Daniels 1994 Iron Will Charles Haid My Father the Hero Steve Miner as David Ellis Blank Check Rupert Wainwright Clear and Present Danger Philip Noyce The Jungle Book Stephen Sommers 1995 Waterworld Kevin Reynolds 1997 The Devil's Own Alan J. Pakula Dublin - as David Ellis 1998 Desperate Measures Barbet Schroeder Sphere Barry Levinson as David Ellis The Negotiator F. Gary Gray Los Angeles - as David Ellis Holy Man Stephen Herek Soldier Paul W.S. Anderson as David Ellis 1999 Deep Blue Sea Renny Harlin Ride with the Devil Ang Lee Blue Streak Les Mayfield 2000 The Kid Jon Turteltaub The Perfect Storm Wolfgang Petersen 2001 Exit Wounds Andrzej Bartkowiak as David Ellis Just Visiting Jean-Marie Gaubert Rock Star Stephen Herek Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Chris Columbus 2003 The Matrix Reloaded The Wachowskis USA - as David Ellis Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Peter Weir 2010 Cop Out Kevin Smith 2013 R.I.P.D. Robert Schwentke Posthumous release 47 Ronin Carl Erik Rinsch 2014 Winter's Tale Akiva Goldsman as David Ellis; posthumous release; final film

Television Year Project Episode Notes 1989 Baywatch as David Ellis 1990

Actor Year Film Role Notes 1975 The Strongest Man in the World David (Student) 1977 Heroes Bar Patron #1 1978 Wonder Woman Ludwig TV Series Flying High Quarterback TV Series 1979 Boardwalk Bath attendant 1982 Rocky III Opponent #7 1987 Anna Daniel's Father 1988 Guns of Paradise Lester Bradley TV Series 1989 The Mighty Quinn Jersey Blind Fury Ski Lodge Killer #3 1990 The Bounty Hunter Townsperson (final film role)

Stunts Film Year Film Director Role 1976 Baby Blue Marine John D. Hancock uncredited Bound for Glory Hal Ashby as David Ellis 1977 Smokey and the Bandit Hal Needham uncredited 1978 Game of Death Bruce Lee motorcycle stunts - as David Ellis Deathsport Allan Arkush Hot Lead and Cold Feet Robert Butler as David Ellis Hopper Hal Needham Invasion of the Body Snatchers Philip Kaufman Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis 1979 Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider Steve Carver motorcycle stunts - as David Ellis 1980 Carny Robert Kaylor Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis Smokey and the Bandit II Hal Needham as David Ellis 1981 Back Roads Martin Ritt Stunt Coordinator King of the Mountain Noel Nosseck Take This Job and Shove It Gus Trikonis as David Ellis Nice Dreams Tommy Chong Stunt Double for Tommy Chong - as David Ellis S.O.B. Blake Edwards as David Ellis Return of the Rebels Noel Nosseck Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis Taps Harold Becker as David Ellis Sharky's Machine Burt Reynolds 1982 Megaforce Hal Needham The Beastmaster Don Coscarelli Fast Times at Ridgemont High Amy Heckerling Lookin' to Get Out Hal Ashby Airplane II: The Sequel Ken Finkleman Stunt Coordinator 1983 Second Thoughts Lawrence Turman Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis Private School Noel Black National Lampoon's Vacation Harold Ramis as David Ellis Scarface Brian De Palma Gorky Park Michael Apted Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis 1984 Fooling Around Richard T. Heffron 1985 To Live and Die in L.A. William Friedkin 1986 Out of Bounds Richard Tuggle A Fine Mess Blake Edwards as David Ellis The Wraith Mike Marvin 1987 Critical Condition Michael Apted Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis Lethal Weapon Richard Donner as David Ellis Burglar Hugh Wilson Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis Fatal Attraction Adrian Lyne Real Men Dennis Feldman as David Ellis 1988 The Presidio Peter Hyams 1989 Gleaming the Cube Graeme Clifford as David Ellis Dead Bang John Frankenheimer She's Out of Control Stan Dragoti Warlock Steve Miner Stunt Coordinator Road House Rowdy Herrington as David Ellis Star Trek V: The Final Frontier William Shatner as David Richard Ellis Tennessee Waltz Nicolas Gessner Fight Coordinator - as David Richard Ellis Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge Richard Friedman as David Ellis 1990 Everybody Wins Karel Reisz Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis The Last of the Finest John MacKanzie Catchfire Dennis Hopper Impulse Sondra Locke Stunt Coordinator Days of Thunder Tony Scott as David Ellis Ghost Dad Sidney Poitier The Freshman Andrew Bergman Stunt Coordinator Misery Rob Reiner Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis 1991 Life Stinks Mel Brooks Stunt Coordinator - as David Richard Ellis Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken Steve Miner Stunt Coordinator The Addams Family Barry Sonnenfeld Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis 1992 Kuffs Bruce A. Evans Patriot Games Philip Noyce Stunt Coordinator Forever Young Steve Miner Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis 1993 Body of Evidence Uli Edel Sliver Philip Noyce Made in America Richard Benjamin Stunt Coordinator The Man Without a Face Mel Gibson Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis Warlock: The Armageddon Anthony Hickox as David Ellis 1994 The Jungle Book Stephen Sommers Stunt Coordinator: USA - as David Ellis 1996 Harriet the Spy Bronwen Hughes as Dave Ellis 2009 Hotel for Dogs Thor Freudenthal as David Richard Ellis

Television Year Film Episode Role 1984 V: The Final Battle Stunt Coordinator - as David Ellis V 1989 Baywatch 1990