Stunt people from "Mission: Impossible 2," "Gladiator" and "Charlie's Angels" were the big winners in the inaugural World Stunt Awards, held Sunday night in Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Air Center.

"M:I-2" won awards for best stunt coordinator in both the action sequence and feature film categories, while the Roman epic "Gladiator" and its stunt performers picked up awards for best fight and best work with an animal. "Angels" received nods for best aerial work and best specialty stunt.

The statuette, a 26-pound metal bull with wings called the Taurus, also was handed out for stunt work in "Gone in 60 Seconds" (driving), "Hollow Man" (fire), "The Cell" (high work), "Me, Myself & Irene" (work with a vehicle) and "The Perfect Storm" (water work).

Members of the World Stunt Academy, which is made up exclusively of stunt professionals, selected the winners.

Director James Cameron presented the best action movie star award to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said stunt people were overdue for recognition and dedicated his award to the risk-takers.

"I am in awe of you people," Schwarzenegger said. "You have made me shine on the screen. You make me look heroic."

As Schwarzenegger exited the stage, he stopped and turned back, asking the band to stop the music. He said he had to thank his wife, noting that if he'd have forgotten to, "there would have been no more stunts in our bedroom."

John Woo, who received the action movie director award, said he was hesitant to accept this award because he didn't think he deserved it.

"You see, I am not the one jumping off a motorcycle or diving 150 feet through the air," he said.

Stuntman-turned-director Hal Needham was honored with the lifetime achievement award, which was presented to him by longtime friend and frequent collaborator Burt Reynolds. Needham had a 20-year stunt career before becoming a director of such films as "Smokey and the Bandit," "Hooper" and "The Cannonball Run." He also helped found the stunt organization known as Stunts Unlimited.

The audience was treated with a surprise when animal trainer and stunt performer Randy Miller, who had earlier accepted the award for best work with an animal, showed up on stage with Tara, the tiger that tried to dig its claws into Russell Crowe in "Gladiator."

The massive beast jumped on Miller, snarling and growling, and his assistant ran to help him. Miller, urgency in his voice, yelled for her to back away, leaving the audience wondering if they were watching a stunt go awry. It turned out that the assistant had panicked, thinking the stunt had gone too far, but it was all part of Miller's act.

The show was hosted by Alec Baldwin, and presenters included Michael Keaton, Nicolas Cage, Chuck Norris, Jason Biggs, Ving Rhames, Tia Carrere, Vin Diesel, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum and Lolita Davidovich. There were taped presentations by Jackie Chan, John Travolta and Sharon Stone and a performance by rappers Redman and Method Man as well as pop singer Anastacia.

The afterparty, also held in the hangar, was as lavish as the awards show. Silver-skinned and silver-helmeted muscle men guarded entrances near a water wall. Members of the Balagan troupe twisted above a thousand partygoers, and the West Coast Rhythmic Theatre troupe banged and clanged a "Stomp"-like show. In a special VIP section, an elderly woman rolled fresh cigars that were then handed out by Joe Gomez of El Beso Cigars.