An Arizona Man Inspired This Hollywood Classic

Arizona has fed Hollywood star power for more than a century now. Award winning actors, directors, and screenwriters have all called the Grand Canyon State home, but films typically aren't based on the lived experiences of Arizona residents.

There's one massive exception, however, and his influence can't be understated.

Meet the Cyclone Cowboy

When there's a storm brewing, you can bet your bottom dollar that Warren Faidley will be there. He's a storm chaser, travelling across America to capture the violence mother nature is capable of. Whether it's tornadoes in the Great Plains or Hurricanes striking Southeast Florida, Faidley will be there.

As one of the best, and notably, FIRST in his profession, Faidley has come into a considerable amount of fame. He's written books sold the world over and starred in a Miller Lite commercial, but these days, he prefers to spend time at his Tucson home reflecting on his monumental career.

His most popular accomplishment will never rest.

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Twister (1996)

As Faidley's career took off in the late 1980s, storm chasing soon became a popular career for adrenaline junkies and amateur meteorologists. As the profession continued to grow, the idea for a film based on the wild life of storm chasers began to develop.

Twister, the hit blockbuster, follows storm chasers in Oklahoma in the midst of a huge storm. Despite being adapted from a Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park) book of the same name, much of the film is based directly on Faidley's life experiences. His biggest addition to the film, however, was capturing the shot that would become the iconic poster for the film.

While he's semi-retired now, the Cyclone Cowboy can still be found whenever trouble's brewing in the air.

[azcentral]

[Warren Faidley]