# Marc Wolff > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Marc_Wolff > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Marc_Wolff.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Wolff > Source revision: 1317143768 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American helicopter pilot This article is about the American pilot. For the Argentine footballer, see [Marco Wolff](/source/Marco_Wolff). **Marc Harold Wolff** (born 25 August 1947) is an American helicopter stunt pilot. ## Early life Wolff was born in [Chicago](/source/Chicago). He grew up and went to school in [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey).[1] ## Career ### Military Wolff was drafted into the [US Army](/source/United_States_Army) and sent to [flight school](/source/Flight_training).[1] At 21 he became the youngest captain in the army.[2] During the [Vietnam War](/source/Vietnam_War), he flew helicopters.[3] In his military career, he won 22 awards of the [Air Medal](/source/Air_Medal), and a [Bronze Star](/source/Bronze_Star_Medal). He quit the army after being posted to [Germany](/source/Germany) and became a commercial pilot.[1] ### Feature films He has worked on many action films as an [aerial coordinator](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aerial_coordinator&action=edit&redlink=1), working on over 170 films. He worked on his first film in 1974. On films, he works with the [second unit](/source/Second_unit). Where an aerial sequence (often found in action and science-fiction films) is required, he coordinates the [aerial shot](/source/Aerial_shot) from a helicopter.[1] In 1979, he shot flying scene on [Hoth](/source/Hoth) in *[The Empire Strikes Back](/source/The_Empire_Strikes_Back)*.[2] ### Flying Pictures He works with [Flying Pictures](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flying_Pictures&action=edit&redlink=1) of the UK, based at the former [RAF Chilbolton](/source/RAF_Chilbolton) in the [Test Valley](/source/Test_Valley) district of western [Hampshire](/source/Hampshire). He began working with them in the 1980s, helping expand the company from a hot-air balloon business to including helicopter filming services.[4] In the 2000s Wolff worked on all of the [Harry Potter films](/source/Harry_Potter_(film_series)).[2] In the [2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony](/source/2012_Summer_Olympics_opening_ceremony), he flew the helicopter for the section flying along the [River Thames](/source/River_Thames), next to [Big Ben](/source/Big_Ben), entitled *[Isles of Wonder](/source/Isles_of_Wonder_(album))*, also known as *Journey along the Thames*. He also flew the helicopter for the pre-recorded sequence known as *Happy and Glorious*, flying it straight through [Tower Bridge](/source/Tower_Bridge), with camerawork by John Marzano. The sequence ended with an [AgustaWestland AW139](/source/AgustaWestland_AW139) flying above the Olympic Stadium, with the Queen portrayed by [Herself](/source/Herself), who appeared to parachute from the helicopter; he piloted this helicopter above the Olympic Stadium. The two parachutists were [Mark Sutton](/source/Mark_Sutton) (James Bond) and [Gary Connery](/source/Gary_Connery) (Queen). A similar helicopter is seen at the end of *[Skyfall](/source/Skyfall)*, which he had helped to film the aerial sequences. ## Personal life Wolff has lived in [Mougins](/source/Mougins) in south-east France since 2001, with his wife and son and daughter. He lived in Cornwall previously for many years, where his children were born.[1] He met his wife while shooting *[Symbiosis](/source/Symbiosis_(1982_film)),* a [Disney Epcot](/source/Epcot) film.[2] ## Filmography - *[The Spy Who Loved Me](/source/The_Spy_Who_Loved_Me_(film))* (1977)[2] - *[The Empire Strikes Back](/source/The_Empire_Strikes_Back)* (1980)[2] - *[For Your Eyes Only](/source/For_Your_Eyes_Only_(film))* (1982), opening sequence at [Beckton Gas Works](/source/Beckton_Gas_Works) on 3 November 1980 - *[Biggles](/source/Biggles_(film))* (1986) - *[Cliffhanger](/source/Cliffhanger_(1993_film))* (1993)[3] - *[Tomorrow Never Dies](/source/Tomorrow_Never_Dies)* (1997)[3] - *[Black Hawk Down](/source/Black_Hawk_Down_(film))* (2001) - *[Skyfall](/source/Skyfall)* (2012) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_1-4) ["Marc Wolff - Helicopter pilot - Riviera Reporter"](http://www.rivierareporter.com/profiles-of-residents/222-marc-wolff-helicopter-pilot). *www.rivierareporter.com*. January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2024-11-17. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:1_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:1_2-5) Peak, James (February 21, 2011). ["TLG talks to legendary film pilot Marc Wolff"](https://www.thelocationguide.com/2011/02/tlg-talks-to-legendary-film-pilot-marc-wolff/). *The Location Guide*. Retrieved November 17, 2011. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_3-2) ["Shoot to Thrill: The Marc Wolff Story"](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/shoot-to-thrill-the-marc-wolff-story/1030028534/). *TVGuide.com*. Retrieved 2024-11-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["History | Flying Pictures"](https://www.flyingpictures.com/home-copy). *www.flyingpictures.com*. Retrieved 2024-11-17. ## External links - [Interview](https://web.archive.org/web/20140508061551/http://www.amb-cotedazur.com/Interviews/marc-wolff.html) - [Flying Pictures](https://web.archive.org/web/20070816004030/http://www.flyingpictures.com/aboutus.php) Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Marc Wolff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Wolff) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Wolff?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.