Leslie Hoffman

Leslie Hoffman (born 21 January) is a former American stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actress.

For the American painter, see Harry Hoffman.
Leslie Hoffman
Hoffman in 2010
Born
Leslie Gail Hoffman[1]

Saranac Lake, New York
OccupationFormer stunt performer
Former stunt coordinator
Permanently disabled due to continuous physical trauma as a stuntwoman
Years active1976–2002
Websitewww.stuntrek.com

Career

Hoffman's early education and training included gymnastics, ballet camps, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Herbert Berkoff Studios in New York.[1] She was inspired to pursue stunt acting on seeing a Universal Studios Tour stunt show. She traveled to California to study at stuntman Paul Stader's stunt gym.[1]

She began stunt work in the 1970s with the film Two-Minute Warning (1976),[1] and several television series, including Police Story and M*A*S*H. She performed a 78-foot high fall into water for The Love Boat, and did some work on Fantasy Island and Charlie's Angels.[2][3] She was the double for the six-foot tall Lainie Kazan in a circular stair fall for Columbo.[1] She also stunt doubled for Doris Roberts in the TV series Remington Steele. Film acting work included Avalanche (1978),[4] Deadly Friend (1986),[5] Trust Me (1989) and Naked Gun (1988).[6]

Hoffman played the Hall Guard (Krueger) in Nightmare on Elm Street (1984),[6][7] and performed stunt work in I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), Motel Hell (1980), Resurrection (1980), Clue (1985), Alien Nation (1988), Mars (1997) and Mystery Men (1999). She served as stunt coordinator for, and acted in, the ABC After School Special Me and My Hormones (1996).[6] She performed as the stunt-double for Laurie Metcalf in Scream 2 (1997).

Union Involvement

Hoffman was the first stuntwoman elected to the Screen Actors Guild Board of Directors, where she served from 1981 to 1984. As a director, she advocated for stuntwomen and stuntpersons of color, advocating for equal work and representation in the union.[8] She served as the Co-Chair and the Chair on the National Stunt and Safety Committee. She was the Chair of the Stuntwomen Committee under the Stunt National Stunt and Safety Committee. Being interested in the safety of young Actors, she was the Co-Chair of the Young Performers Committee. The Screen Actors Guild, along with Barrie Howard the Chair of the Committee, sent them up to Sacramento told talk about the Twilight Zone accident.

She lost her bid for re-election in 1985.[9]

Hoffman was also the first stuntperson elected to the AFTRA Los Angeles Local Board and the AFTRA National Board. With the help of Frank Maxwell, AFTRA President and Howard Caine, AFTRA Board Member, the category of Stunts was created.

From the 1990s onward, she worked as a stunt coordinator and rigger on several films, as well as continuing to double 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. Hoffman provided stunt coordination for student film productions for USC, Loyola Marymount University[10] and UCLA.[11]

Leslie became disabled in 2002, ending her career as a stuntwoman and stunt coordinator. Now on Social Security Disability due to trauma to her body doing stunt work, Hoffman advocates for fair treatment for disabled stunt performers.[12]

SAG Pension & Health lawsuit

Hoffman has been involved with a lawsuit against the Screen Actor Guild Pension and Health Plan for over 8 years.[13][14][15] [16][17] Her most recent victory came against the Plan, January 4, 2019, when the 9th District Court overturned a Lower Court ruling against her for the second time.[18]

November 2019, two Lower Court Judges either ruled against her or did a Summary Judgement. Then two 9th District Court Hearings have overturned the Lower Court decision, stating that the Judge "erred" Now the third Lower Court Judge appointed to the case has chastised the Screen Actors Guild Pension for all the violations they did, but unfortunately wants the Trustees to review the case.

On January 4, 2019 the 9th District Court of Southern California overturned Judge Manuel's Summary Judgement and sent it back down to the Lower Court. . It was then ignored by Judge Real until Hoffman's Attorney sent a motion to Real. Real then decided that the case should go to arbitration. Real died before the Arbitration Judge could hear it and the arbitration date was removed from the schedule.

Judge Gary Klausner was then appointed to the case and the SAG Pension and Health Lawyers asked that the arbitration happen, which was approve. No settlement was reached so Judge Klausner had to make a decision on a case that had already been overturn twice by the 9th District Court. He ruled in favor of Leslie Hoffman by remanded it back to the SAG P&H Trustees for a decision.

January 15,2020 Judge Klausner was replaced by Judge Cormac Carney (no explanation given). Judge Carney has issued a statement that the SAG P&H must pay Ms. Hoffman all back Pension Payments and future ones. Though this seems as a victory the SAG P&H could always appeal this.



References
  1. Rutkowski, Gary (March 10, 2003). Leslie Hoffman interview, Chapter 1 (video). Television Academy Foundation.
  2. Leslie Hoffman at IMDb
  3. Meyer, Norma (May 19, 1977). "Her Secret: Very Carefully - Human Torch Is a Brunette". Los Angeles Times. p. SF1.(subscription required)
  4. "Avalanche cast and crew". Turner Classic Movies.
  5. "Deadly Friend cast and crew". Turner Classic Movies.
  6. "Leslie Hoffman Filmography". Turner Classic Movies.
  7. del Barco, Mandalit (October 3, 2005). "O.J. Simpson Verdict Leaves Lasting Legacy". NPR.
  8. Saravia, Jerry (May 4, 2011). "SAG's McCarthyism on a Stuntwoman". LaborUnionReport.com.
  9. Bernstein, Harry (November 6, 1985). "Patty Duke Is Elected President of Actors Guild". Los Angeles Times.
  10. "LMU Handbook : Stunts and Coordinators". Loyola Marymount University. p. 65. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-22.
  11. Barnett, Peter J. (1997). "Mulligans! Cast and Crew". UCLA.
  12. Robb, David (November 3, 2010). "Disabled Workers of the World Unite!". HollywoodToday.net. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  13. Robb, David (18 June 2015). "Former SAG Board Member Leslie Hoffman's Toughest Stunt: Getting Her Union Benefits". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  14. Robb, David (24 June 2015). "SAG Pension & Health Plans Strips Disabled Stuntwoman Of Her Pension". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  15. Robb, David (28 October 2016). "Judge Dismisses Stuntwoman's Lawsuit Seeking SAG Disability Payments". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  16. Robb, David (20 January 2017). "Department Of Labor Finds $750,000 Misappropriated From SAG Pension & Health Plans". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  17. Robb, David (21 June 2017). "SAG Records Dispute Claim That Stuntwoman Worked While Receiving Disability Pay". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  18. Robb, David (4 January 2019). "Disabled Stuntwoman Leslie Hoffman Wins Major Appeals Court Ruling In Suit Against SAG Pension Plan". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 October 2019.

Further reading
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