Steve Daskawisz - "Jason Stunt Double"

Contact Information:
Steve Daskawisz (Steve Dash)
100 New South Rd.
Hicksville, NY 11801

Website: TheRealJason2.com

Biography: Steve Daskawisz (now known as Steve Dash) was the man behind the mask for most of the filming of Friday the 13th: Part 2. He filmed all the scenes except for the end when Jason was unmasked, as that part was played by Warrington Gillette. He was active in stunts in the mid-eighties, but appears to no longer be involved in the film industry.

Quote: "I had been acting since 1977. My very first movie I did was a film called Wolfen, then I had a little part in The Jazz Singer. After that, I got a call from a casting director, saying, “I need another favor. I'm short of people on Nighthawks.' That is where I met Cliff Cudney. Then Cliff had gotten this show up in Connecticut called Jason. He called me and said, 'Can you get up to Connecticut? Guy we hired to do it didn't work out.' I have to tell you, I was excited. A lead role in a film! This was the biggest thing in my life. I was ecstatic. I had to borrow twenty dollars from my brother-in-law for as just to get up to the set in Kent because I had no money.

Then Cliff greets me and takes me in to see Steve Miner and the producer, Dennis Murphy. They looked me up and down and said, 'He looks pretty good - take him over to wardrobe and see if he fits.' So we get over there and he hands me the shoes because we already shot some things walking through the woods.' Then they say, 'Okay, he looks great. Get the bag.' I said to Cliff, 'What's the bag?' He says, 'Oh, I forgot to tell you. You're going to have a bag over your head.' I'm like, 'You're fucking kidding me! I'm going to have a bag over my head? I thought I had the lead role in a film! Nobody's going to see me?' Then Cliff says, 'Well, at the end, they take your bag off and you have this hideous face.' Then they put the bag on and I ask, 'You want to give me a script?' And they say, 'You don't really need a script. There's a lot of grunts and groans and you're chasing people and killing them.' This is unbelievable I have the lead role in a film and I don't have any lines and nobody's going to see my face. Then for the final insult, Steve Miner said, 'There's one more thing. Warrington's agent won't release us from the Jason credit, so we'll have to give you billing as Jason's stunt double.' So I go from lead role to no role. Needless to say, I was disappointed. But I said, 'What the hell?'" - pg. 64, Crystal Lake Memories

Buy Crystal Lake Memories by Peter Bracke for more amazing interviews!

Filmography
Rent Control (1984)
Alone in the Dark (1982)
Ms. 45 (1981)
Nighthawks (1981)
Wolfen (1981)
The Jazz Singer (1980)

Stunt Acting
Sweet Liberty (1986)
F/X (1986)
Night Shift (1982)
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

Where Is He Now?: Steve Dash was recently a supervisor at the Long Island yellow Taxi company. He appeared at the NecroComicon's 25th anniversary celebration of Friday the 13th, and can be seen at other horror conventions around the country. His current career plans are unknown.

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Picture Gallery

Picture (L) courtesy of Crystal Lake Memories by Peter Bracke

Friday the 13th Friday the 13th Part 2 Friday the 13th Part 3 Friday the 13th Part 4 Friday the 13th Part V Friday the 13th Part VI Friday the 13th Part VII Friday the 13th Part VIII Jason Goes to Hell Freddy vs. Jason Jason X