His reputation for precision and talent with the most complicated of stunts, earned him the opportunity to become a Stunt Coordinator, beginning with his work on the 1968 British film, FIGURES IN THE LANDSCAPE for Joe Losey, and continuing with epics such as A BRIDGE TOO FAR (1977), YOUNG WINSTON (1972) and the first two SUPERMAN films (1978, 1980), in which he also doubled Christopher Reeve.
His skill made him a popular double for several other leading men, including Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, Timothy Dalton, George C. Scott, Malcolm McDowell, Roger Moore, Richard Chamberlain, George Lazenby, Ryan O'Neal, and Jon Voight. His resemblance to and friendship with Harrison Ford, established on the film RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981), merited Vic the opportunity to double Ford and Stunt Coordinate throughout the "Indiana Jones" film series, making Vic (along with George Lucas) one of only two creative members to work on all three segments of the film's trilogy, plus all three seasons of the "Young Indiana Jones" TV series.
As a Second Unit Director and Stunt Coordinator, his creative vision has lent itself to films helmed by some of the world's most respected and prominent directors, such as Steven Spielberg, Paul Verhoeven, Peter Yates, Sir Richard Attenborough, Roland Joffe, Ridley Scott, Michael Cimino, Irving Kirshner, and Michael Caton-Jones.
It was, in fact, his association with George Lucas, that led him to his directorial debut, on the second season premiere of the "Young Indiana Jones Chronicles." Ironically, it was in that episode that Vic directed Christopher Lee, whom he doubled in the Hammer horror films. In his first directorial feature, the 1994 film, JOSHUA TREE, the casting of George Segal also proved to be an ironic throwback to Vic's stunt days, as he had doubled the veteran actor in the British release, A TOUCH OF CLASS (1973). The international success of JOSHUA TREE proved that Vic's expertise and finesse in creating action sequences are not lost on a worldwide audience. The venture equally established him as a talented principal director, whose guidance illicited a more personal side of the film's lead actor, Dolph Lundgren.
Vic's extensive body of work includes films of all genres and size, including THE MISSION (1986), EMPIRE OF THE SUN (1987), BLACK BEAUTY (1994), JOHNNY MNEMONIC (1995), TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991), AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981), DOUBLE IMPACT (1991), TAI-PAN (1986), DUNE (1984), THE PHANTOM (1996), AIR AMERICA (1990), UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (1992), RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983), BLADE RUNNER (1982), HENRY V (1989) and ROB ROY (1995). His 1997 re-teaming with Paul Verhoeven on STARSHIP TROOPERS proved a great success. Armstrong has been stunt co-ordinator for TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997), ENTRAPMENT and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (both 1999), CHARLIE'S ANGELS (2000), THE FOURTH ANGEL (2001), DIE ANOTHER DAY and GANGS OF NEW YORK (both 2002), WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005), MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III (2006), I AM LEGEND (2007), and THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (scheduled for release in 2008).
Scientific and Engineering Awards (Academy Plaques) 2000: For the refinement and application to the film industry of the Fan Descender for accurately and safely arresting the descent of stunt persons in high freefalls.
1 Scientific/Technical Award