Lynda Abbott

Lynda's stepmother was actress Sigrid Gurie (married to Lynda's dad, Lynn Abbott). In 1978, when the production crew for "Fast Charlie" came to Lawton, OK to film the movie, Lynda was the drama teacher at Lawton's MacArthur High School. Her husband, Robert Plumb, the Lawton Community Theater director, was first contacted by Steve Carver, the director of the film, who needed local actors and extras. Robert was tied up with the community theater's big summer musical production, and Lynda was available since school had just let out for the summer, so Robert recommended that Steve hire Lynda as his local casting liaison. Lynda did all the local casting -- over 300 extras (all present in the race-day scenes), plus local actors such as the young boy, Whit Clay (who played Brenda Vaccaro's son, Wesley) as well as Hal Early (retired military, father of Broadway and soap opera actress Candace Early) and Jack Brennan (a local community theater regular). Steve Carver reserved two small speaking roles for Lynda and Robert as well. Lynda played the waitress who ducks beneath the table for David Carradine's order (about halfway through the movie), and Robert played the tall man talking to David Carradine in the bar scene (at the beginning of the movie).