Nick Gillard is an English stuntman and stunt coordinator. He is best known as the lead lightsaber fight and stunt coordinator of the Star Wars prequel trilogy films (1999–2005).
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Early life
Gillard was born in Brighton, England. At the age of twelve, he ran away from military school to join the circus where he performed as bareback horse rider. Over the next few years Gillard worked with several circus's including Circus Althoff in Germany and Los Muchachos Circus in Spain. Gillard was invited to do stunts on The Thief of Baghdad. He enjoyed it, and later left the circus to perform stunt work in films, including the original Star Wars. Gillard was Mark Hamill's first choice as his stunt double for Return of the Jedi, though he only doubled for Hamill in the subsequent Britannia Hospital.
Career
As a stuntman, Gillard held the world record for longest fire stunt, with a fire burn without air for over two minutes on Alien 3. He also performed a 200-foot power boat jump over two bridges in the film Amsterdamned, and was set on fire over 100 times.
Among Gillard's movie credits are Sleepy Hollow, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Gillard was the fight choreographer of the Star Wars prequels. He had a cameo appearance in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith as Cin Drallig ("Nic Gillard" spelled backwards). His likeness was used for the character with a larger role in the accompanying video game, for which Gillard choreographed the combat animations.
Filmography
As stunt coordinator, arranger or performer
2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (Also likeness as Cin Drallig)
As actor
1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark – German Soldier (uncredited)
1989: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – Periscope Soldier (uncredited)
1990: King of the Wind – First Sailor
1990: Frankenstein Unbound – Man No. 2/Man No. 3
2003: Cheeky – Taxi Driver
2005: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – Cin Drallig
2014: Vampire Academy – Kenneth (uncredited)
1979: Premiere – Angel
1982: The Jim Davidson Show
1985: Mr. Palfrey of Westminster – Alec Thompson
1989: Ticket to Ride – Brother Paul
1989: Streetwise – Heavy
1990: EastEnders – Restaurant Manager
1990: TECX – Luke/Luc
1991: Bottom
1994: Minder – Queen