Lila Shanley; Veteran Stuntwoman

Lila Shanley, a pioneering Hollywood stuntwoman who performed swimming and diving stunts for Dorothy Lamour in the 1937 classic film “The Hurricane,” has died.

She was 86.

Shanley, who worked in motion pictures for almost six decades, died Friday in St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica.

Under her professional name, Lila Finn, she appeared in more than 100 films. She was also the stunt double for Vivien Leigh in “Gone With the Wind,” for Paulette Goddard in “Unconquered,” and for Donna Reed in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

More recently, she performed stunts in such films as “Earthquake” and “The Naked Gun” series.

In 1993 Shanley was recognized with a lifetime achievement award from Women in Film. She was founding president of the Stunt Woman’s Assn. and was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild.

A lifelong resident of the Santa Monica Bay area, Shanley was an accomplished athlete and was a member of the U.S. women’s volleyball team from 1955 to 1960, playing in two world championships. At age 50, she won a silver medal in the 1959 Pan-American Games in Chicago.

She is survived by her son, attorney Barry E. Shanley of La Canada Flintridge, and two grandchildren.