Ernie F. Orsatti, was a stuntman who is best known for his unforgettable 30 feet fall through a glass skylight in the 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure. In addition to receiving four Academy Award nominations, “The Poseidon Adventure” was a runaway box-office smash, earning $84 million worldwide. It is through disaster film ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ that Orsatti got his start as a stuntman while acting as Terry, the date of Pamela Sue Martin’s character. The film’s producer, Irwin Allen, informed... moreErnie F. Orsatti, was a stuntman who is best known for his unforgettable 30 feet fall through a glass skylight in the 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure. In addition to receiving four Academy Award nominations, “The Poseidon Adventure” was a runaway box-office smash, earning $84 million worldwide. It is through disaster film ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ that Orsatti got his start as a stuntman while acting as Terry, the date of Pamela Sue Martin’s character. The film’s producer, Irwin Allen, informed Orsatti the day before the stunt was scheduled that he was to perform it, even though he had no experience in the field. The dangerous stunt was his first major task, and asked him to let go from an upside-down table to fall 32 feet onto a skylight in the ballroom of the ocean liner. After consulting with the film’s stunt coordinator, he decided to take the momentous fall, and was hooked. Although he was knocked by the plunge, he later admitted he was “scared to death” by the stunt, but it made his career, and he later was a fan favorite at gatherings surrounding the film.
Ernie Orsatti was born in Beverly Hills to opera singer Inez Gorman and Ernie R. Orsatti, a former professional baseball player and double for Buster Keaton in Sherlock Jr. (1924). The younger Orsatti became a model and competitive swimmer before breaking into show business with appearances in the 1968 film The Acid Eaters and in The Green Berets, starring John Wayne. After “Poseidon,” Orsatti landed roles in the 1970s classics “The Towering Inferno,” “Viva Knievel!” and “The Swarm." Although he continued to act into the ’80s, most of his jobs involved stunt work. Orsatti went on to accumulate 140 stunt credits, including in the 1981 pilot for “Hill Street Blues,” three “Death Wish” films, “I’m Gonna Get You Sucka,” “Alien: Resurrection,” “NYPD Blue,” “Charmed,” “Cheaper By The Dozen,” “The Closer,” “Nip/Tuck,” “Entourage” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Big Love.” His last stunt coordinator credit was for the 2010 film “Furry Vengeance” starring Brendan Fraser.
Several members of Orsatti’s family have followed in his footsteps as stunt performers, including Noon, his half-brother Rex Pierson and grandson Rowbie who has appeared in the blockbusters Escape Plan and Avengers: Endgame.
