Roy Cameron Jenson (also spelled Jensen; February 9, 1927 – April 24, 2007) was a Canadian-American actor, stunt performer, and Canadian football player.
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Early life and education
Jenson was born in Calgary, Alberta, and moved to Los Angeles with his family as a child. His brother was visual effects artist George Jenson. He was a lumberjack and a construction worker before he joined the United States Navy during World War II.
After the war he graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played football.
Professional football career
Jenson was selected during the 1951 CFL draft, taken by the Calgary Stampeders. He played five seasons with the Stampeders as a Guard. He was a CFL All-Star in 1954. While still playing for the Stampeders, Jenson was recruited as a stuntman for the Calgary-shot Hollywood film River of No Return.
In 1955, he was traded to the BC Lions, where he played for two seasons. He retired at the end of the 1957 season.
Acting career
Film
After retiring from football he moved back to Los Angeles, where he found regular work as a stunt performer. Following a well-received role as a thug in Harper (1966), starring Paul Newman, he began to work regularly as an actor.
A prolific character actor, Jenson appeared in such films as The Missouri Traveler, Warlock, 13 Ghosts, How the West Was Won, Waterhole No. 3, Our Man Flint, Big Jake, Bustin' Loose, Soylent Green, The Getaway, The Way We Were, The Outfit and Chinatown.
He also worked frequently with directors John Milius (Dillinger, The Wind and the Lion, Red Dawn) and Clint Eastwood (Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, The Gauntlet, Every Which Way but Loose, Any Which Way You Can, Honkytonk Man), as well as actor Geoffrey Lewis.
As a stuntman, he notably doubled for Robert Mitchum, Richard Egan, and Aldo Ray.
Television
Jenson guest starred on NBC's television series Daniel Boone during the fourth season (1968–1969); however, he is remembered by many as the first man beaten up by Caine on the television series Kung Fu (1972), for his appearance in the Star Trek episode "The Omega Glory" and as the thug Puddler in Harper, he worked frequently in television in the 1970s and 1980s.
He also appeared in 1966 as “Troy” (a murdering outlaw) in S12E2's “Goldtakers” on the TV Western Series Gunsmoke and "Moonface" (another assassin) on S1E10 of T.H.E.Cat.
He also appeared in 1967 as “Dace Edwards” (a ranch hand) in S3E6's “Ladykiller” on the TV Western Series The Big Valley.
He also appeared in episodes 11 and 12 of Batman in 1966, was the English newspaper printer in Season 5, Episode 136–2 of Bonanza, appeared in an episode of The Silent Force in 1970, and in 1976 guest-starred in an episode of Gibbsville.
Personal life
Jenson was married twice. His second marriage was to Serbian actress Marina Petrova. He had three children, including actor Sasha Jenson.
Death
Jenson died of cancer in Los Angeles, California, aged 80.
Filmography
Stuntman
Note: Jenson went uncredited as a Stuntman in all the films he did.
