Saddle up for a trip through entertainment history with a weekly highlight from Santa Clarita’s Walk of Western Stars! This week, stuntman, Loren Janes!

Loren Janes, born October 1, 1931, was an American stuntman notable for his work in Hollywood films, particularly those starring Steve McQueen, including “Bullitt,” “Nevada Smith” and “The Hunter.”  

The stuntman also co-founded the Stuntmen’s Association of Motion Pictures in 1961. In 1956, he was the first civilian to enter the United States Olympic Trials for pentathlon; he also competed in 1964 and is a member of the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame. 

Janes also has a footnote contribution to television, having played the role of Norman Chaney on the TV series “LA Law.”

In the first scene of the first episode, Chaney is found dead, though his name appears for years in the name of the law firm.

Janes lent his athletic skills to many amazing stunt sequences in over 130 feature films. In a career spanning nearly half a century, he has doubled for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Jack Nicholson and even Debbie Reynolds. 

The stuntman contributed his talents to spectacular films such as “The Ten Commandments” (1956), “Spartacus” (1960), “The Magnificent Seven” (1960), “Planet of the Apes” (1968), “The Towering Inferno” (1974) and “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984). 

Janes has also had minor acting roles in over a dozen Hollywood feature films, according to officials. 

In 2001, well-known western actor L.Q. Jones presented Loren Janes with the Golden Boot Award for his lifetime contribution to the western film genre. 

Where is Loren Janes Plaque on the Walk of Western Stars?

In 2004, Janes was honored with a plaque on the Walk of Western Stars. The plaque is on the east side of Main Street, south of Market Street, in front of Newhall Refinery. 

Click here to view last week’s feature. 

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