A career on the world stage, a legacy at Central

When David Boushey walked across the graduation stage at Central Washington University in 1969, he thought his future might lie in parks and recreation. He never imagined it would take him to the fight choreography of Shakespearean stages, the stunts of Hollywood films, or the founding of internationally recognized organizations that shaped a profession.

“When I was at Central as a student in the late 1960s, I was pursuing a career potentially in the area of Recreation and Park Administration,” Boushey says. “It wasn't until I got out of Central with my degree that I, just by happenstance, got into acting because I was also involved in a lot of stage productions.”

That “happenstance” turned into a life’s work. Boushey followed theater to England where he studied classical acting at East 15 Acting School. There, swordplay training for Shakespearean roles sparked a new passion.

“All of a sudden here I am, really focusing on swordplay, because no one in the U.S. was doing that at that time. Swordplay was something no one talked about. You might have stunt people out of Hollywood, but they really didn't have the skills in that particular area. When I came back to the U.S., I realized there was a real need for someone who had a knowledge of combat.”

He returned to the U.S. with a skill no one else had mastered. His first production was Hamlet at Seattle Repertory Theatre with a young Christopher Walken. Reviews praised the show’s fight choreography, and David soon found himself in demand across the country. 

“I started working at the various Shakespeare festivals around the country, and I was sort of the guy to do any kind of swordplay or weaponry. So I worked everywhere,” Boushey says.

Once he saw the need in this area, Boushey founded the Society of American Fight Directors, an organization dedicated to promoting safety and excellence in stage combat. This soon became an internationally recognized group that shaped the standards of the profession.

“I found myself switching from acting to swordplay or to combat for theater, and from theater, I eventually found my way into film,” Boushey recalls. “I was getting a lot of notoriety, and so I eventually moved more into film where I was called a stunt coordinator.”

As a stunt coordinator, he expanded his skills far beyond stage combat, coordinating fire burns, car chases, and high falls. His versatility earned him respect in Hollywood, where he became known not only for his technical ability but also for keeping performers safe.

Boushey’s expertise was formally recognized when he became one of only 14 Fight Masters in North America. He was also inducted into the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame, an honor reserved for those who have made lasting contributions to the craft. He also received the Los Angeles Critics Award for Best Fight Choreography in 1981, 1985, and 1991, underscoring his influence in theater.

Wanting to pass his knowledge to the next generation, he founded the International Stunt School, which trained thousands of students and became known as the foremost stunt school in the world.

To cap it off, he shared his journey in print. His book, Lessons from the Maestro, reflects the nickname colleagues gave him throughout his career. For many, he was not only a choreographer or coordinator, but also a teacher and mentor whose lessons reached far beyond the stage or screen.

“I had a career where I was really fortunate in that I worked both in theater and film and I loved both,” he says. “I was just very fortunate and got to be in theater and film for 45 years.”

Giving Back Where It All Began

Even as his career reached international recognition, Boushey stayed connected to Central. In 2009, he received the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He also served on the College of Arts and Humanities Advisory Board and continues to visit campus to talk with students about possibility, grit, and ambition.

“I love going over to Central and seeing my old stomping ground because that's where it all started,” he says. “I try my best to get over there to just talk to kids about living their dreams and doing something they may have never imagined could be possible. With a lot of hard work and a lot of grit, they can make it in this world.”

His belief in education led him to create the David L. Boushey Endowed Scholarship at CWU in 2024, which supports students majoring in theater or film. For him, it’s not just about supporting future stage fighters; it’s about giving students the chance to follow their dreams.

“When I give a scholarship, it's not so somebody can go be a stage fighter,” Boushey says. “It’s so somebody can live their dream and pursue something they've always wanted but maybe they just don't have the financial backing to pursue it.”

He knows firsthand that careers rarely follow a straight line, and he wants current students to know that it is okay to change course in life.

“Any person going to Central, or going to any university, should never assume that there is a limit to what they can do,” Boushey says. “Never sit back and say, ‘Oh that's impossible. Nobody can do that.’ That's not true. You can do it if you've got the courage and the willpower and the talent. You can do anything in this world.”

Looking back, Boushey sees his life as proof. “It’s been a long career—going from this kid who went to Central Washington University thinking that he might be a park ranger or something in that arena, to eventually finding my way into theater and film, and moving from there into stunts and action and stunt coordinating.”

His legacy is not just the stages and sets he transformed, but the doors he opened for those who will follow.

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This article appears in the annual Impact Report, produced by CWU University Advancement.