Special - Calling Alpha Control: SANDY GIMPEL

Alpha Control: a Lost in Space Podcast

CALLING ALPHA CONTROL: SANDY GIMPEL

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: We welcome a special guest to Alpha Control; Sandy Gimpel. Best known to fans of LIS as Bill Mumy’s stunt double, Ms. Gimpel has racked up an impressive 50+ year career in show business in a variety of on & off-screen roles. In fact, over the course of that career, Sandy has earned over 130 stunt performance & 37 acting credits on a multitude of television shows & feature films. In addition to her accomplishments in front of the camera, Sandy was the 1st & one of the very few stunt women in the industry to achieve the status of Directors Guild of America ‘2nd Unit Director & Stunt Coordinator’.

SANDY’S BIO: Before we speak with her a little background information on Ms. Gimpel. Born in Los Angeles; Sandy worked her way into show business as a professional dancer performing in the Westinghouse show at a local attraction, Pacific Ocean Park. Her on screen break came when she was picked to work on a 1960 Fred Astaire film, ‘The Pleasure of His Company’; dancing parts in several other movies including 15 Elvis Presley features followed. During these early days, Sandy also worked a variety of Central Casting Extra & small acting parts. The first one of significance to Sci-Fi fans was in 1964 as one of the Talosians in the original pilot for Star Trek, titled ‘The Cage’. Initially, NBC passed on Trek, but after LIS became a hit for CBS in 1965, the Peacock Network decided it needed its own prime-time Space Opera & commissioned an unprecedented 2nd Star Trek pilot ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before’, which led to the series being picked up for NBC’s Fall 1966 schedule. However, the first episode of the series aired was NOT that pilot, but instead a story titled; ‘The Man Trap’, in which Sandy was cast to perform the iconic role of the ‘Salt Vampire’.

Earlier that same year, Sandy was selected as Bill Mumy’s ‘Stand-In’ for the 2nd season of LIS. Shortly after being hired, the series stunt coordinator Paul Stater asked her, if she’d like to also ‘Stunt Double’ for the actor. Her response was; ‘What’s a Stunt?’ With that question a career was started. She went on to train with Stater & began perfecting her craft while working on LIS over the next two years.

That fateful decision to become a stunt performer on LIS opened many doors for Sandy, resulting in a lifetime of achievement in the entertainment industry, for which she has garnered numerous awards & accolades. And thanks to her life-long passion for fitness, she continues to be active in the business today. We’re going to speak with Sandy about her behind the scenes experience working for Irwin Allen, a little Star Trek & her incredible ground breaking career in show business. So sit back & enjoy this engaging interview the amazing Sandy Gimpel.

PODCAST INFO: This interview was conducted on 18 APRIL 2019.

SANDY’S LINKS:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sandy.gimpel

IMBD: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0319831/

SANDY’S WALGREENS AD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGl7rF5E_EA

STANDARD LINKS:

http://www.jacobsbrownmediagroup.com/lost-in-space-collector-set.html

https://www.hulu.com/lost-in-space

http://www.marccushman.com/books.html

https://www.facebook.com/alphacontrolpodcast/

EMAIL: [e-mail]