Biography

Chris Anderson has been a stalwart of the Australian film and television industry for the past forty seven years, having worked on feature film & television productions in every state of Australia and also overseas. He is best known however for the countless productions that he has worked on as a Stunt Performer and Stunt Coordinator in his home state of Victoria.

Chris who has three siblings was born in Echuca, Victoria in 1956 to Don & Janet Anderson who at the time were living on a farm in rural Womboota, New South Wales. When Chris was aged 14 the family moved to Williamstown in Melbourne, where he attended Williamstown High School. One of his teachers was prominent actor Collette Mann (“Prisoner” & “Neighbours” among others).

Chris’s first job after leaving school at age 15 was as a bricklayer’s apprentice. He then moved back to Womboota, NSW where he worked as a Jackaroo. After returning to Melbourne at the age of 17, his mother showed him a newspaper article about stunt training; suggesting that he “give it a go”. Chris was interviewed by Louis Trevonavic a Yugoslavian stuntman, who in Chris’s words, “was very tough and very talented.” After being accepted, Chris started training in the Cranbourne sand quarries and fell in love with stunts that very first day and is still in love with stunt work some 50 years later.

Chris met Anne Pattison in 1978 and they were married on November 23rd 1979. Five years later his son Adam was born while he was working on the television series “Special Squad”. The day after Adam was born he left to work on “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome”, with Chris stating, “I don’t think Anne has ever forgiven me for that!” Three years later he welcomed his daughter Cassidy into the world. Neither Adam nor Cassidy have entered into the Stunt Industry, however both have grown into amazing performers in the entertainment and music industry. His wife Anne is also a sculptor of note in the Victorian Sculpture Society; having trained in Victoria, Queensland and Italy.

Chris’s first feature film was “Eliza Fraser”, starring the late Noel Ferrier, where he performed as a background soldier. Grant Page (Hall of Fame Inductee) was the Stunt Coordinator, with Chris stating that Grant, “was way ahead of his time as a rigger and Stunt Performer.” The next time they worked together was on Mad Max where they rode motor bikes off a thirty foot (approximately ten metre) bridge into a small creek below. All went well with Chris collecting a full day’s payment of $150.00.

After a few years of working as a Stunt Performer Chris became dissatisfied with the way he and others were hired. So with colleague and fellow stunt performer Glenn Ruehland they opened an agency called “New Generation Stunts” to better represent Stunt Performers within the industry. This quickly led to the agency representing the majority of Stunt Performers in Victoria over the next twenty odd years.

It was also during this time that Chris helped build and develop the first Australian made air-bag. Chris loved high falls and of course plenty of time went into falling and creating a name for himself as a specialist high faller. In 1984, Chris set a new Australian high fall record at the Golden Grove Show in South Australia; where he performed a 170 foot (approximately 55 metre) fall into his own designed bag, in front of a live audience.

Another passion for Chris was motor vehicles and in particular cars, so every spare chance he had was spent honing his driving skills. Chris stated, “I fondly remember training with Stunt Coordinator Guy Norris and stunt driver the late Russell Allan at our local kart track, preferably on wet days to see who could do the most spins and drifts.” In 1984 Chris was hired as the full time Stunt Coordinator on the TV series “Special Squad”, where he worked with a different director each week performing many car chases, falls and fights. Which as Chris explained allowed him to understand many other facets of the industry. He said, “I learnt to coordinate which meant planning the different sequences, budgeting and organising everything while ensuring that everyone turned up on time.”

Wind

In Chris’s words, “In 1991 I was Stunt Coordinating a show called “Wind” and had a boating accident which busted me up pretty good. I lost a leg as a result.”

(Forgive me for butting in, however; “ busted me up pretty good and I lost a leg as a result” tells me that Chris Anderson is one very special man who isn’t interested in feeling sorry for himself and just wants to get on with life; looking after his family and getting back to work – Editor: Spike Cherrie).

Chris further clarified that, “Everyone thought this was the end of my career and I was amazed at the support from the stunt and film industry at large as they supported me and helped me find my feet, so to speak.”

Sometime after this Chris moved to Queensland with his family to do a quick stint on a TV series called “Time Trax”, intending to move back to Melbourne straight after - which turned out to be sixteen years later. Chris said, “Those years were a bit of a blur, plenty of work and a lot of stunts. I also learnt a great deal about team work and the importance of communication during this period.”

Editor: Spike Cherrie - “I asked Chris if there is a standout stunt or piece of action from his vast years of experience” and he replied; “Working as the Supervising Stunt Coordinator on a feature film called “The Great Raid” with legendary Stuntman Vic Armstrong as the 2nd Unit Director. Along with 2nd Unit Stunt Coordinator Mitch Deans we created some pretty wild sequences together.”

A year later, Chris explains, “I found myself in Ladakh India working as the 2nd Unit Stunt Coordinator on “Lakshya”, an Indian Bollywood war film and then spent another few years travelling through Asia on many different productions. The last major production I have worked on was “Ricky Stanicky” with John Cena and Zac Efron; directed by Peter Farrelly. It was very satisfying to work with such a professional cast and crew. I couldn’t believe I went home every night with a big smile on my face thinking what a great job I have.”

In March 2023 Chris was honoured by the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance and bestowed a Life Time Achievement Award for services to the film industry and union. Chris has been on several different stunt and National Stunt Grading Committees since he Joined Actors Equity in 1976.

(I was present at that occasion and witnessed the outpouring of love and admiration not only from people present but also from prominent people via video link – Editor: Spike Cherrie).

In closing Chris went on to say, “I have never stopped training people and I’m very proud of every Stunt Performer/Coordinator I have worked with and mentored over the years. I’m still training some 18 year old hopefuls and not much has changed since I started, except I’m now the old bloke watching the smile on the young trainee’s face when they “get” what we do for a living. What a blessed life I have had. After 50 years there’s still plenty more to come, as I’m not done yet.”