Paul K. Nixon
- Stunts
Paul Nixon was a treasure hunter, stunt diver, Golden Gloves champion boxer, and World War II Veteran. Nixon was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and in his youth, won the amateur boxing title in 1940. He showed great promise as a fighter, but volunteered for the United States Marine Corps, which fostered his love for the sea. He fought on Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. After the war, Nixon moved to south Florida, became a dive-master and started a concessions business renting chairs and umbrellas to tourists visiting Miami's Collins Avenue. He then created a marine exploration business, discovering 20 tons of silver bars off the coast of the Bahamas, and much more. Nixon's skills as a diver, fighter, and ship captain were a valuable asset to the film industry, in addition to his vessel, The Buccaneer. Nixon worked steadily on the 1964 Cary Grant film Father Goose, in many capacities. Nixon was also an underwater fighter and stunt diver in the 007 film Thunderball, starring Sean Connery.