Michael Edward Tamburro (September 5, 1957 – August 20, 1996) was an American helicopter pilot. His television and film career was prominent in the 1980s-1990s. He was best known for his groundbreaking helicopter stunt work in Die Hard (1988), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), and True Lies (1994).
Early life and education Tamburro was born on September 5, 1957, in East Meadow on Long Island, New York. He was the son of Italian American parents Anthony Tamburro and Eleanor Picerni. Eleanor's brother's, Charles Picerni and Paul Picerni both worked in the TV and movie industry. Paul, Tamburro's uncle was best known for his acting career, particularly in the hit ABC series, The Untouchables. Tamburro had 4 siblings, Charles "Chuck", John, Anthony, and Jerilyn Bayouth. Tamburro often worked closely with his brother, Charles Tamburro on numerous productions. Chuck Tamburro is a noted Vietnam Veteran with many screen credits. His youngest brother, John Tamburro, is also a helicopter camera and stunt pilot, who has been working in the TV and film industry since 1989. Tamburro's sister, Jerilyn Bayouth, was the wife of the late actor and stuntman, Ted White.
Tamburro moved to California with his family when he was 10. He grew up and attended school in Tarzana in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. He graduated from Taft High School in 1975. He earned his Private Fixed Wing pilot's license when he was 18 while attending Pierce Community College. He transferred to California State University, Northridge and graduated in 1981 with a degree in geography. The Michael E. Tamburro Scholarship Fund at Cal State Northridge awards undergraduate Geography students that have transferred from a community college with tuition for four consecutive semesters. Tamburro received his Commercial Rotorcraft helicopter rating in 1983.
Career
West Coast Helicopters Tamburro co-founded West Coast Helicopters with his business partner, Alan Purwin, in 1987. West Coast Helicopters offered full scale operations including: charter, news gathering, organ donor procurement flying surgical teams, frost control, flight school, production work.
West Coast Helicopters was one of the early pioneers of news gathering on air reporting. They provided helicopters and pilots for numerous local stations including KTLA Morning news in the early years. They also provided news ships for national news channels during big news stories like the 1994 earthquake. Much of the aerial footage from these major stories was provided by West Coast Helicopters.
Tamburro's production work became prominent starting in the early 1980s, working with renowned directors like James Cameron on Terminator 2: Judgment Day and True Lies, Ron Howard on Apollo 13, and John McTiernan on Predator and Die Hard.
James Cameron provides commentary alongside co-writer William Wisher describing the innovative and excellent piloting skills performed by Mike and Chuck Tamburro in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
Personal life
Marriage and family Tamburro married his college sweetheart, Tamara Ann Karle, in 1982. The couple had two children, Michael Joseph and Laura Angela. Michael Joseph also went on to become a helicopter pilot in the TV and film industry; he now owns a Production Safety company called Take 2 Risk & Safety.
Death Michael died while co-piloting an AH-1 Huey Cobra helicopter while filming a commercial on August 20, 1996, on the edge of the Mohave Desert in Lancaster, California.
Credits
+Film & TelevisionYearTitleRoleNotes1985Cavegirlhelicopter co-pilot1985Commandohelicopter pilot1986Getting Evenhelicopter pilot1987Predatorhelicopter pilot1987Rampagehelicopter pilot1988The Couch Triphelicopter pilot1988Action Jacksonhelicopter ground coordinator1988Die Hardhelicopter pilot1989Road Househelicopter pilot1989Lethal Weapon 2helicopter pilot1988Vietnam War Storyhelicopter co-pilot1 episode1989Road Housestunts1989CBS Summer Playhousehelicopter pilot1 episode1989Vietnam War Story: The Last Dayshelicopter co-pilot1990Catchfirehelicopter pilot1990Die Hard 2aerial coordinator: second unit, helicopter pilot1990The Adventures of Ford Fairlanehelicopter pilot1991Stone Coldhelicopter ground coordinator1991Terminator 2: Judgment Dayhelicopter pilot1991The Last Boy Scoutstunts1991Timebombhelicopter pilot1992Man Troublehelicopter co-pilot1993Body Snatchershelicopter pilot: second unit1993Hot Shots! Part Deuxhelicopter pilot1993Me and the Kidaerial coordinator1993Fearlesshelicopter pilot1993Father Hoodhelicopter pilot1993General Hospitalhelicopter pilot2 episodes1994Speedhelicopter pilot1994True Lieshelicopter pilot, aerial service co-coordinator1994The Puppet Mastershelicopter pilot: jet ranger1995Outbreakhelicopter pilot1995Apollo 13helicopter pilot: second unit1995Virtuosityhelicopter pilot1995The Crossing Guardhelicopter pilot1995The Immortalshelicopter pilot1996Sgt. Bilkohelicopter pilot1996Barb Wirehelicopter pilot1996The Rockhelicopter pilot: aerial unit1996The Chamberhelicopter pilot1996The Long Kiss Goodnighthelicopter pilot1996Carjackactor1996The Glimmer Manhelicopter pilot1996Dark Breedstunts1997Money Talkshelicopter pilot
References