Random Stunt Performers Share Their Behind-The-Scenes Secrets (23 items)

• (#1) He Has Been Injured Nearly 100 Times

  From Redditor /u/ NickMckinless:

  I have had full paralysis down my left side from a fall onto rocks (found out about 2 weeks later when I couldn't click the fingers on my left hand!).

  On Troy I was burned quite badly and hospitalised for 5 days then got a severe chest infection from such a worn out immune system which lasted for 4 months.

  I could list probably 100 injuries...my back is a mess, hips, feet, ankles, wrists...multiple concussions, whiplash on a consistent basis when doing wire work...it goes on...

  The job isn't for the faint hearted!
• (#21) He Thought He Was Going To Be Trampled By Horses

  From Redditor /u/ NickMckinless:

  In Troy, after Brad Pitt speared me off a horse, 30-50 horses galloped past me. I was hoping that they would all miss trampling me! A few just clipped me. Car stunts are always pretty butt-clenching too!
• (#14) Grateful Actors Will Give Them Gifts

  From Redditor /u/ LauraDash:

  Every once in a while, a child or their parent will give me a little gift as a remembrance. On War of the Worlds, Dakota Fanning had me as a stunt double, along with a child stunt-double, a photo-double, and a stand-in. Because they can only work so many hours, producers sometimes would have the two stand-ins photo-double her as well. So we took a photo together, all four of us, all in costume. She also gave me a nice little remembrance book along with that photo and a nice little letter saying "Thank you for keeping me safe."

  Some kids will hand-make a sign, but it's usually nothing big. Just something thoughtful.
• (#15) She Had To Thread A Needle Between Two Boats

  From Redditor /u/ LauraDash:

  When I was working on Cop and a Half with Burt Reynolds, I did this stunt where we were in a little boat, and the two bad guys were chasing us in a boat. There were these two tugboats, and the idea was we go right in-between the two tugboats. As they passed, the other boats behind us can't make it through. We must have done it like 12 times, and the director kept saying "Closer! Closer!" On one of the takes, one of the tugboat captains said "I had to close my eyes on that one take because I was scared you guys wouldn't make it."
• (#7) Tom Cruise Lives Up To His Fearless Reputation

  From Redditor /u/ NickMckinless:

  Without a doubt the most willing and capable actor I have worked with (and there are many) is Tom Cruise. I worked with him on Edge of Tomorrow and although he had a full-time stunt-double (Chris Gordon) who rehearsed everything for Tom, Tom did 99% of the stunts on that film and on most others, too, and he is now over 50! The guy is driven like no one I have ever seen. Meticulous and brilliant.
• (#9) Falling From A Cliff Is Harder Than It Looks

  From Redditor /u/kellock71:

  The hardest stunts that don't get much credit I would say are the high falls. They aren't done as often in today's movies, but they're still there. Basically a stunt performer falls off a height into an air bag, could be coming out of a window or being thrown in a weird way. High falls are scary in general, and since the camera has to frame out the air bag, you don't get to see the full height as a viewer.

  High falls are also often under-estimated when the performer is doing a 'face-off,' which is where they're flying forwards and down (looking like they're about to face-plant the ground) but have to turn at the last second to hit the airbag with their back. Face-offs are hard because you're supposed to wait until the very last split second, so the camera doesn't see you start turning.

  And that is why there are high falls specialists today!

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