Ormer Locklear was born on October 28, 1891 in Greenville, Texas, USA as Ormer Leslie Locklear. He is known for his work on The Skywayman (1920), The Great Air Robbery (1919) and Screen Snapshots, Series 1, No. 7 (1920). He was married to Ruby Graves. He died on August 2, 1920 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
First man to transfer from one plane to another in mid-air.
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Considered Hollywood's first professional "daredevil", he did wheelies on motorcycles and walked on plane wings for fun and attention. He died while performing a daring stunt in only his second motion picture.
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His father was a carpenter and building contractor.
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Was first interested in piloting after seeing an air show in Fort Worth, Texas.
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His first experimental activities with flight came in the form of a home-made glider that he and his brothers built of bamboo and linen.
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His wife Ruby did not approve of his daredevil antics. Their battles over his constant risk-taking led to a highly unhappy marriage.
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He met Harry Houdini in 1916, who had heard of Locklear's motorcycle escapades. Houdini partnered with him in an experiment that had Houdini tied to the back of his motorcycle while the magician tried to break free of his bonds.
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Enlisted in WWI in 1917 in order to learn how to fly.
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Had a romantic relationship with actress Viola Dana.
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Once took it upon himself to stunt fly around the city of Los Agneles flying around and between trees and buildings. Although he was arrested for his antics, it did result in the passage of laws regulating flying in urban areas.
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He is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Texas; PLot 89-9E. Had no children.
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His parents made a claim on his estate and sued his widow, Ruby Graves, in a fight over his legal residence.
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He and co-pilot Milton 'Skeets' Elliott were killed when their plane crashed while performing a stunt for The Skywayman (1920). They were shooting a scene at the De Mille Airfield, which had a number of oil rigs. During night filming there was a scene they were to do a stunt in which Ormer would take the plane into a power dive. Before he stunt he told the crew when he got down toward the rigs that they should cut the lights so he could see and pull out of the dive. Someone forgot to do that and Ormer was unable to pull out of the dive.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Skywayman
1920
Capt. Norman
The Great Air Robbery
1919
Larry Cassidy (as Lieut. Ormer Locklear)
Stunts
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Skywayman
1920
stunt pilot
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Screen Snapshots, Series 1, No. 7
1920
Documentary short
Himself (as Lt. Locklear)
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hollywood
1980
TV Mini-Series documentary
Actor 'The Skywayman'
Known for movies
The Skywayman (1920) as Capt. Norman
The Great Air Robbery (1919) as Larry Cassidy
Screen Snapshots, Series 1, No. 7 (1920) as Himself
$1.1 Million
