Bob Yerkes, a celebrated stuntman hailing from Los Angeles County, California, embarked on a remarkable adventure at the impressionable age of eleven, when he initially started practicing tumbling routines at the legendary Santa Monica Muscle Beach. As his enthusiasm for acrobatics continued to intensify, Yerkes made the courageous decision to flee his home at the tender age of fifteen, opting instead to join the prestigious Clyde Beatty Circus, where he swiftly became an indispensable component of an acrobatic act.
Notable figure in the world of film, Yerkes made a seamless transition back to Los Angeles in the late 1940s, marking the beginning of an illustrious career that would span several decades. As a stuntman, he left an indelible mark on the industry, doubling for a diverse range of iconic personalities, including the esteemed Paul Newman, the versatile Robert Duvall, the action-packed Arnold Schwarzenegger, the multifaceted Christopher Lloyd, and the incredibly talented Della Reese.
Not only did Yerkes excel as a stuntman, but he also utilized his vast expertise to educate and instruct a plethora of celebrities on various circus acts, featuring prominently in several "Circus of the Stars" television specials that aired throughout the 1980s.
Furthermore, Yerkes selflessly imparted his vast knowledge to aspiring stunt performers, hosting training sessions in the tranquil surroundings of his Los Angeles backyard, thereby fostering the growth and development of the next generation of skilled stunt professionals.
