Paul Dallas; Film and Television Stuntman

A memorial service for stuntman Paul Dallas, who died after suffering massive head injuries while performing a stunt last week, will be held Saturday.

Dallas died early Saturday at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills after he fell three stories from a platform--missing the air bag that was to break his fall--while filming a stunt for the television series “L.A. Heat.” He was 34.

Born Sept. 1, 1961, in Levittown, Pa., Dallas was always interested in the entertainment industry, his family said. During high school, he began to focus on stunt work and acting, and he later studied directing and producing at UCLA.

In 1982, Dallas visited Los Angeles, where he had his first lessons in stunt work. By 1984, he had moved to Los Angeles to begin his career.

After a period of struggle, Dallas’ career began to flourish. During his career, he racked up more than 50 feature film credits, including “Stargate,” “Major Payne,” “Sister Act 2” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Dallas’ television credits include “Melrose Place,” “Dark Justice” and “Walker, Texas Rangers.” He stunt doubled for actors Timothy Hutton, Jan-Michael Vincent, Eric Roberts and Matthew LeBlanc, among others.

In addition to his work as a stuntman, Dallas was a successful businessman. In 1986, he founded Calculated Risks, a safety equipment company that specialized in developing, designing and renting--ironically--air bags and other stunt-related equipment.

Dallas is survived by his parents, Joe and Anne Dallas of Levittown; a sister, Patricia Dallas Sharkey of Wilton, Conn.; two brothers, Joseph Dallas Jr. of Levittown and Michael Dallas of Wildwood, N.J.; and two nieces.

Burial will be in Levittown.

The family requests that any floral arrangements be sent to James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, 2200 Trenton Road, Levittown PA 19057.

Saturday’s memorial service will be at 10 a.m. at Eternal Valley Mortuary, 23287 N. Sierra Highway, Newhall. Memorial donations may be made to the Paul Dallas Memorial Fund, c/o Joseph Dallas Sr., 20 Quakerhill Road, Levittown, PA 19057.