Biography
Jimmy has been a stuntman for over 30 years, alongside working on major Hollywood productions as a stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director.
He has formed his set craft working with the best stunt coordinators over many years.
Jimmy lives with his wife, Nora in Kent, UK. He used to be a chef, an airline pilot, a bodyguard, flying instructor, and a hotel owner before becoming a martial artist with five black belts in different arts, holding a 6th degree black belt in Ki-Aikido. He loves riding his BMX cruisers.
Award wins and nominations include SAG, Taurus World Stunt Awards, MTV, plus many from Independent International Film Festivals and Competitions.
Jimmy is a Member of DGA, SAG, British Actors Equity and The Stunt Register.
He is honoured to have worked with Sir Kenneth Branagh as a 2nd Unit/Action Director and Stunt Coordinator for many years. Collaborating on 'Murder on the Orient Express', 'Artemis Fowl', 'Death on the Nile', The Academy Winning film, 'Belfast' and 'A Haunting in Venice'.
Jimmy has had the great pleasure of working with many of the all-time great Directors Hollywood has produced, and has learned from their collective experience, to form his own style of Directing.
A born storyteller, the Multi award-winning Stuntman, Director and Producer ( 'Aping Edwin Porter', 'Gypo' & 'Ruby Blue') , has designed many big action sequences that audiences have enjoyed the world over.
Jimmy hopes to turn his attention to directing at the helm, and brings us a unique short movie in ‘Aping Edwin Porter’, a film which he adapted from an original screenplay by John Whetstone, that tells the tale of four recently graduated film students hoping to get their first feature film off the ground.
“I’ve tried to be bold making this film in the way I have. ..no matter how many times I’ve seen it, it still makes me laugh!” says O’Donnell, “But key for me for my first main unit Directing gig, was to make a movie you didn’t expect from a stuntman!”
'Aping Edwin Porter' finished its World Wide Festival run, earning 153 Award Wins and Nominations.