BRAD Pitt is the star of the multi-million pound movie epic Troy, but Huddersfield's Buster Reeves is the expert who got him into shape for the role.

The two became firm friends in the process as Buster - actor, stuntman and fight coordinator - notched another big budget production to his cv.

In fact, it seems that every time Hollywood decides to make an action film they send for the lad from Newsome.

His dad Terry says, "He wanted to be a stuntman since the age of 10. You try to dissuade them. You say stay at school and get your O levels and A levels. But look at him now. He's making a fortune."

Buster is 29 and went to Berry Brow Infants and Newsome High School. He travelled all five continents before he was 21, was the first man to win three world martial arts titles at different weights (middleweight, light heavy and heavy) and remains kick-jiu-jitsu undefeated world champion.

"His biggest fan is his brother Gary," says Terry. "He was a kick boxer with Buster and showed great potential."

They ran a martial arts club at Stile Common Junior School and trained together every day. "Gary became a great PR for Buster and helped him in his early days."

But while Gary stayed at home and worked as a bricklayer, Buster went on to fulfil his childhood ambition.

His showbusiness career was launched on Gladiators eight years ago and he notched up television credits in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Bad Girls, Band Of Gold and Band Of Brothers.

His major movies, in which he has been actor, stuntman and stunt double to the stars, include Blade 2, Tomb Raider, The Parole Officer, Highlander 4, The Mummy Returns and Die Another Day.

Before filming started on Troy, Buster went to live with Brad Pitt at the star's Hollywood home.

"He trained him in the use of the sword, mixed in with Buster's own martial arts programme, to help Brad reach peak fitness in five weeks," says Terry.

They became close friends and he was Brad's stunt double on location in Malta and Mexico.

"We went to Malta to see him," says Terry. "We saw him for an hour on the Wednesday and an hour on the Thursday and then they flew off to Mexico. Mind you, we also met Brad, Sean Bean and Peter O'Toole."

Buster again stayed with Brad in Hollywood and attended his 40th birthday party. When they flew to Los Cabos in Mexico, he went with Brad on the Warner Brothers private jet.

Buster is now making the new Batman film, where he is stunt doubling for Christian Bale, in which Michael Caine plays the English butler Alfred.

He has just returned from location in Iceland and is now filming at Shepperton Studios, where brother Gary will visit him at the end of the month, before going to Chicago on location.

His mum Frances says, "When he was four, he was running through the kitchen dressed as Batman saying, Is my cape floating? Now he's doing it for real."