Born on a sweltering summer day, July 29, 1956, in the small town of Poteau, Oklahoma, Jackson Burns emerged as a stalwart individual with a rich cultural heritage, boasting part Native American roots. His impressive resume boasts an array of notable projects, including Walker, Texas Ranger, The Con, and Fingerprints, solidifying his reputation as a seasoned stunt professional.
Burns holds the record for the longest fire drag stunt from a vehicle, an astonishing 246 feet, during which he was engulfed in flames and suffered damage to his Nomex fire suit. His impressive repertoire also includes the record for most squib hits at once, an astonishing 22, achieved within a mere 15 seconds. Moreover, he made his mark as a stunt double for George Kennedy in the motion picture The Man Who Came Back, where he was dragged by fellow stuntman Jody Stelzig, doubling for Eric Braeden, for a record-breaking total distance of 282 feet.
Notably, Burns has also been involved in high-risk stunts, such as being hit by a car at 17 mph as stunt double for James Gandolfini on the motion picture Dance With The Devil. This particularly perilous stunt resulted in the car's windshield breaking, with Burns flying over the top of the vehicle and rolling off the back, emerging unscathed. He later performed a similar stunt for the same actor and movie, launching himself from an 18-wheel truck into the windshield of a passing pickup truck before rolling to the ground. Gandolfini reportedly drew inspiration for his stuntman character in Get Shorty from Burns.
Born in an economically depressed region known as Little Dixie, Oklahoma, Jackson was the only child of Luther Jackson Burns and Ermaline Delora Lockhart. His father, Luther, quit school in the 6th grade to support his family, while his mother, Delora, completed high school. Jackson's parents hailed from diverse backgrounds, with his father being of French/Scot-Irish/Cherokee descent and his mother of Scot/Irish/Choctaw heritage.
Despite the challenges faced by his parents, Jackson managed to complete high school, graduating in the Class of 1974 from Heavener High School in Heavener, Oklahoma. He later attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, albeit briefly.
