Stuntman Mike Justus
LAKE HAVASU CITY – Harrison Ford, John Travolta, and Ben Affleck are three big name actors with one person in common, stuntman Mike Justus. Justus paid a visit to Lake Havasu on Friday, October 25 at Shugrue’s Bridgeview as Clothes Closet’s keynote speaker for the nonprofit’s fundraising event. With the fundraiser’s title being “Hopeless to Hopeful Hero,” the private seasoned stuntman shared intimate details of his childhood and journey to Hollywood success.
Justus grew up in the beach community of Goleta, California. Given away by his parents at a young age to his grandparents, Justus’s childhood from that point on was anything but nurturing. Justus spoke of his grandfather who mistreated him due to Justus not being biologically related to him. By age 15, Justus found himself running away from home in search of a better life.
While supporting himself by working at surf shops, Justus was discovered by a television commercial director who came into his job. As an avid motorcyclist, Justus provided the director with tips on how to perform stunts. It was a conversation that led him to his first stuntman role in a televised commercial.
From that point on, his career flourished into remarkable dream roles for some of Hollywood’s most notable blockbuster hits such as Titanic, Terminator 2, and Ironman. While preparing for his performance for 1999’s biographical boxing film Hurricane, Justus met Sandro Schnieder, the owner of several boxing gyms in Malibu California. With their love of motorcycles and surfing, the two immediately hit off with a friendship lasting for nearly three decades.
In later years, Schnieder moved to Lake Havasu where he regularly teaches boxing classes. It just so happened owner of Clothes Closet Christine Watson, was one of Schnieder’s students. Watson was looking for an influential speaker for their upcoming dinner party fundraiser. It was suggested by Schnieder that Justus would be the perfect fit. The Hopeless to Hopeful Hero event was well attended with affluent community leaders and organizations. There was a cash bar and Italian buffet dinner for guests to enjoy. Tickets were sold at $100 per person.
When Justus agreed to make an appearance, he donated 50 pairs of brand new Vans shoes to the nonprofit. For Justus, there was a reason behind providing brand new shoes to Clothes Closet. As a child, Justus never received new shoes for 13 years, causing unhealthy growth of his feet. Now retired from the film industry, the California resident spends his days surfing, and occasionally visiting Lake Havasu to spend time with longtime pal Schnieder.
All proceeds went towards Clothes Closet so that they can continue to rebuild wishes, value, and civility for families and families in need of shoes and clothing. Justus is the prime example of what Clothes Closet stands for, which is that anyone can turn tragedy into triumph.
Phaedra Veronique
