Tom Cruise may be one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, but he also makes sure you get more than your money’s worth. He can even make poor films eventually pick up at the box office purely because his name is such a big draw. Plus, he works really hard on his roles.
Another fact you should know about Tom Cruise is that he likes to do his own stunts. Apparently not all the stunts, as you can see him working with his stunt double in the picture. But believe us when we say, Tom Cruise thrives on dangerous scenes. He likes to do the chasing himself, loves the thrill of jumping across another building, and even piloted a chopper, diving in between mountain ranges in Mission: Impossible: Fallout.
Seriously, We Are Confused
We just love Awkwafina and we think she did an amazing job in the movie "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings", launched in 2021. The people choosing the stunts went all the way here by hiring Awkwafina's twin.
The black polka dots are presumably there for CGI purposes but we aren't sure how exactly they're related to her role in the movie. Besides that, you could never tell them apart.
A Black Black Widow
Black Widow is a 2021 superhero movie starring Scarlett Johansson and a few other great names. Alongside Johanson, the Marvel production hired her stunt double, Heidi Moneymaker. Everyone's blood, sweat, and tears were put into the making of the movie which turned into a huge success.
This photo revealed how close the two were to one another, and any by-passers would accidentally mistake one for the other. One tip for the next production — why not use the two of them? They seem to complement each other so much, that everyone will benefit. Especially the money maker.
And at Night, They Fight Crime
If you're a fan of Marvel movies, you're probably familiar with Sebastian Stan, the moody, pouty guy who plays the Winter Soldier. Here he's standing alongside his stand-in, John Nania. We can't say with all honesty that Nania looks much like Stan, but that doesn't matter all that much when it comes to stunts – especially when it comes to Marvel stunts.
They could probably just put the actor's face on the stunt double. They could probably just whip up a totally CGI character, anyway. What, you thought Chris Evans was a real person?
Sharing a Private Laugh
The ladies of the “Loki” Marvel show are having a big laugh at something that we don't understand, but let's take a look at their doubles. The stand-in for Gugu Mbatha-Raw (who is standing in the left-center) has a pretty good likeness, especially since her coat has plenty of flairs to draw the eye.
The double for Di Martino, on the other hand, looks like she could be an exact duplicate who is crouched a tiny bit. Maybe they're laughing because they all keep switching places, and no one can ever figure out which is which.
Triply Unbreakable
If you've ever seen Ellie Kemper act as the main character in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” then you know the actress is able to display inhuman amounts of energy and enthusiasm for anything and everything. She's like a toddler at midnight. But, it turns out real life isn't like TV – as we can see here, even Kemper needs a little bit of help.
We hardly even realized there are that many stunts on the show unless you count having to work with Tina Fey as a stunt. Most TV stars have to get by with only one stunt double, but Kemper gets a pair.
Two Atoms of Blonde Power
Charlize Theron has recently broken the mold when it comes to actresses. She was Furiosa in “Mad Max: Fury Road,” and her movie “Atomic Blonde” made waves at the box office. Of course, not everybody can do the kinds of things that her characters get up to, so even this veteran actress needs a stunt double to take the fall once in a while.
The woman with Theron in this image is Monique Ganderton, and the two proved it doesn't take superpowers to get a shock from the audience. The action thriller got fans of intense cold-war spy movies hyped.
The Simulacrum
When he isn't playing Dungeons and Dragons or making the rest of us guys look bad, Joe Manganiello finds time for a little bit of acting here and there. He's a big, strong guy, but even that doesn't mean he's able to take on all of his stunts with no problem.
In order to stay safe and make sure the project goes well, he uses stunt doubles like Oliver Keller, and we can see why. The two look like they go to the same stylist. Of course, if you have a big bushy beard, it's a little easier to make it look like another person.
We Need More Information
This picture has Mrs. Angela Bassett, as well as her stunt double for an unknown project. It's likely that the other woman is Angela Meryl, a veteran stuntwoman that has been performing as a stand-in for nearly all of Hollywood's black beauties at one point or another.
She's helped out Angela Bassett a number of times, she got into fights pretending to be Beyoncé, and she was the double for Vivica A. Fox in the “Kill Bill” movies. When she began, she was one of the few black women in the stunt industry. There's more competition now, but she'll always be the best.
Witherspoon and Withouterspoon
Reese Witherspoon has been in plenty of movies, but they tend to be stuff like “Legally Blonde,” “Election,” or “Walk the Line.” We're saying that she isn't fighting off bad guys with a jetpack in most of her movies. We'd like to see that movie, though. Of course, there are still plenty of opportunities for her characters to get into stunts, and that's where the second lady in these pictures comes in.
Her name is Marilee Lessley, and she and Witherspoon are practically identical. Their parents could probably tell them apart, but that's about it. As you can see, it doesn't matter how they're dressed, the two are pretty similar.
Phil Is Back and Better than Ever
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe lost Phil Coulson in the original “Avengers” movie, nobody stays dead for long in comic books. He was back and ready to fight the bad guys once again in “Agents of Shield,” and this time he has some help. His stunt double Dane Farwell might not have the genial crow's feet and easy smile that Gregg does, but there's certainly a resemblance.
Keep the hair short and graying, throw on a beaten leather jacket, and have them stand shoulder-to-shoulder, and people might not be able to tell them apart.
Step Into the Ring
If you've ever wanted to go toe-to-toe with Ivan Drago from “Rocky IV” maybe rethink that idea. It looks like Dolph has backup. This is famous Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren posing with his stand-in Ryan Handley on the set of the TV show “Arrow,” and it looks like neither of them is willing to take any backtalk.
It's clear that Handley isn't exactly a dead ringer for the famous strongman, but a little bit of makeup, the right hairstyle, and a tailored suit go a long way toward gaining a look. Bloody up the knuckles, and you're most of the way there.
How I Met Your Mothers
Cobie Smulders, standing on our right, gained fame as Robin Scherbatsky on “How I Met Your Mother,” but she's been able to move right on to bigger and better projects like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,” as we see here.
Her stunt double, Megan Le, looks like she's a dead ringer for the star, with near-perfect heights, hairstyles, and even facial features. It's not a perfect match – it never is – but during the stunts, no one will be able to notice.
The Boys Are Back in the Jungle
These grimy fellows are Alexander Skarsgård and his stuntman Mark Slaughter on the set of “The Legend of Tarzan.” Both of them look like they're having an excellent time dealing with all of the bugs, beasts, and mud that happen in a jungle, but odds are what we're seeing behind them in this picture is just a sound stage.
It must be nice not having to dress just like the actor you're pretending to be – no costume, no problem. And we'd be smiling too if our job was to swing around on vines all day.
Bad Guys Beware This Tag Team
If you thought one Black Widow was bad, wait until the second one appears in the fight. Heidi Moneymaker – yes, that's her real last name – is the stand-in for Scarlett Johansson on the set of the Marvel films. While the height is a bit off and Heidi looks like she has a bit more muscle on her frame, there is definitely a resemblance.
The smile lines around the mouth are quite similar, and of course, the hair looks on-point, even if it is likely a wig for both ladies. In case you're wondering, those dots are for CGI magic.
You've Got Some Red on You
Sigourney Weaver and her stunt double for “The Defenders,” Alicia Vela-Bailey snuggled up for this pic. Weaver – we think that's Weaver, anyway – must have gotten into the set paint, but she seems none the worse for wear in this picture. We don't know why Weaver would have a splash of color on her outfit, but her stunt double wouldn't.
The whole point is that people aren't supposed to notice the switch. If suddenly Sigourney has a perfectly clean outfit when before it was covered in paint, it's going to raise some eyebrows.
Street Rats
The streets of Agrabah are tough for a kid who doesn't have anyone to provide for him. That must be why “Aladdin” actor Mena Massoud decided to get a stunt double. There's lots of jumping from magic carpets, sword fights, and genie shenanigans to deal with while you're trying to woo a princess and save a kingdom, so it's nice to have a little bit of help.
The two look like they could be brothers, but only one of them is being paid to have a pretty face, which means the other one has to take the falls.
Enough Cue Balls for Any Pool Hall
Though Bruce Willis has sadly retired from acting to take care of his health, there are still plenty of great films of his to watch. Aside from those great films, he was also the star in “A Couple of Dicks,” which is a title that tells you everything you need to know.
It's a comedy/cop movie also starring Tracy Morgan, and Willis's increasing age and marketability meant that the movie had to find not one but TWO stunt doubles for the famous bald-headed man. Once again, a certain hairstyle makes it a lot easier – just grab any old guy and put him in the barber's chair.
Two Doubles Are Better Than One
She might have gotten her start as The Doctor's companion across the pond, but Karen Gillan is no less than a bona fide Hollywood star now. She's got the looks, the talent, and the charisma to shine in any role, but rules still say she can't be thrown through the air off a cliff, or whatever goes on in the “Jumanji” remake.
The producers had to find two people who could stand in for Gillan, and they came up with Joanna Bennett and Jahnel Curfman – things were made a lot easier with a few redhead wigs.
Masks Always Make Things Easier
This seems like a little bit of a cheat since all you have to do to get the face of Gamora (played by Zoe Saldana) is to make a green mask, but it's not what you think. Yes, James Gunn tried out green masks to reduce makeup time, but they ended up being unwieldy and, as the picture shows, even a little frightening.
They had to ditch them and go with face paint. It still makes it easier to find the right stunt double, but it's also a lot of work. Even Zoe herself didn't like to see them, and we can understand why.
Somehow, There Are Two of Them
If you ever looked at Melissa McCarthy, you probably didn't think to yourself “now there's a woman who knows how to handle a fall.”
Of course, for a film like “Thunder Force,” which has McCarthy acting as a superheroine, that means she needs to have a stunt double to make sure she isn't laid up in the hospital for a few months. Make sure you don't get those two ladies confused, or we might not be able to see movies like “The Back-Up Plan,” “Identity Thief,” “The Boss,” and plenty of others.
So Similar It's Almost Supernatural
It's amazing what a similar hairstyle, sense of dress, and makeup can do to make people look similar. This stunt double for Jared Padalecki looks more like him than the brother he has on the show, but that's not all that weird – siblings can look quite dissimilar.
But, when you're a famous actor's stunt double, it's your job to look like him. We also can't help but notice the double has quite the evil look on his face – maybe he's tired of getting knocked around while playing second fiddle.
Hardy and Hardy-er
No matter where you're looking, there's probably a Tom Hardy movie playing in that direction. Ever since he made it big as Eames in Christopher Nolan's “Inception,” he's been in one heavily-muscled leading role after another. That means that he can't be spending too much time recovering from injuries – hence the need for a stunt double.
This picture shows him standing with his stunt double on the set of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” in which he plays the titular madman. Both guys look kitted out to tangle, which means they get to stay over there with all their fury.
Taking it to the Next Level
This picture of actress Awkwafina on the set of “Jumanji: The Next Level” is an interesting look behind the scenes of a film that spawned off of the most horrifically scary movie ever. Big pouches? Long scarves? Fingerless gloves? It's a far cry from the board game movie that starred the dearly departed Robin Williams.
We of course have no idea what the movie or the others in the franchise are about since we've avoided anything that has to do with the name “Jumanji” since 1995. Don't talk to us about it, it was a bad night.
Which One is the Real Russian Doll?
We've looked it up, and we're pretty sure it's impossible to actually tell which of these three women is Natasha Lyonne, star of the show “Russian Doll,” and which of the three are her stunt doubles. Stunt triples. You get the idea.
It just goes to show you why shows are able to use stunt doubles so well – slap a curly ginger wig on them and give them an eye-catching outfit, and most viewers (or article writers) won't be able to tell the difference. Send us a postcard if you know which one is the real one.
Jack Blacks and Karen Gillans, Oh My
“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” is the kind of movie that is bursting with star power. Just in this picture, we see Karen Gillan and Jack Black, two household names, standing with their stunt doubles Jahnel Curfman and Michael J. Waitman, respectively.
They're having a good time despite being in the jungle, relaxing between shoots and trying not to think about how they have to stand next to Dwayne Johnson, and thus look tiny and weak. Still, they look like they're enjoying themselves.
Boulder Brothers
There are a bunch of reasons being the Rock's stunt double is a tough time. He's crazy muscled, he's tall, and he's bald. The biggest issue, however, is his rare ancestry – his father was a black Nova Scotian with Irish blood while his mother is Samoan. There just aren't that many people around with that kind of family tree, especially professional stuntmen.
Thankfully, Tanoai Reed (who goes by Samoanstuntman on Instagram) is just the man to pick up the slack. At a first glance, it looks like this picture is just two the Rocks – but on closer inspection, one of them is the real deal and the other is his stand-in.
Not the Hardest Casting Job Ever
Sebastian Stan has rocketed up the Hollywood list thanks to his star-making turn as the tortured and confused Winter Soldier from the Marvel movies, and he didn't even have to do his own stunts. Sure, the stunt double (one James Young) doesn't have to look anything like Stan except for “have a forehead,” but he still has to know how to handle all the stunts and high-flying action that this character goes through.
Get him a lanky black wig and plenty of eye shadow, and they might as well be the same person.
Like Two Heavily-Muscled Peas in a Pod
Bobby Holland Hanson and Chris Hemsworth have been working together almost since the very beginning, and there's a clear reason why. The two have similar facial features, similar builds, heights that are close enough to not matter, and both seem to enjoy working on their shoulders. This pouty pic is from during the filming of “Heart of the Sea,” a 2015 movie that has a whaling ship become the target of an angry sperm whale.
It seems just as fantastical as “Thor,” but it's actually based on events from 1820. High-seas action is one thing, but be sure to take a pic while you're at it.
I'm Thor! No, I'M Thor!
Thor is a big guy with big muscles and a big personality, which means that sometimes even Chris Hemsworth, who has held the title ever since the character first joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sometimes just doesn't have enough power to contain the complicated character. That's where stunt doubles like Bobby Holland Hanton step in so that Hemsworth doesn't have to spend weeks recuperating from a failed stunt because he doesn't know the best way to fall without getting hurt.
This picture comes from a wrap party at the end of “Thor: Love and Thunder,” and it looks like both guys are ready for some much-needed downtime.
There are a Few Differences
Taylor Kitsch, the star of the 2019 movie “21 Bridges” doesn't really look much like his stunt double Dan Mast, but there's a general look they both have. They both have...facial hair, we guess. Really, they don't have much alike, but wardrobe steps in where facial features fail.
A yellow shirt, a leather jacket, and a little bit of slicked-back hair and you could be forgiven for getting these two mixed at a crowded, noisy, badly-lit party. Well, they have to look alike, do they? Mr. Mast just has to take the falls and look sort of like Kitsch from behind.
The Wasp and the Other Wasp
With the help of Ingrid Kleinig, Evangeline Lilly is ready to keep her little corner of the marvel universe safe in “Ant-Man and the Wasp.” Kleinig is a veteran stunt double who got her start at the 2000 Olympics, and since then she's been doing all sorts of work for all sorts of productions.
She has a wealth of talents and has doubled for everyone from Margot Robbie to Brie Larson to being a stunt driver on “Mad Max: Fury Road” – if you've seen that film you know that's nothing to sneeze at.
Westworld Belongs to the Ladies
It should come as no surprise that a western show requires some stunts – even one without robots and technology and stuff like that. So here are Evan Rachel Wood and Thandiwe Newton posing with the stunt doubles, Whitney Coleman and Tara Macken respectively.
In this picture, they're all smiles, but you can be sure no one is smiling as they're getting tossed around, firing pistols, and dealing with murderous robots. Look, we've never seen the show, that's just what we picked up from friends. It's like Terminator but in the wild west. That sounds rad.
So That's How She Gets Around so Quickly
Zoë Kravitz, daughter of famous musician Lenny Kravitz, plays stunning jewel-thief Catwoman in “The Batman,” which means of course there has to be someone to help out with the stunts. She's posing here with her stand-in Tara Macken. Given the black leather and face masks, it's pretty easy for these two to look similar.
While there might have been a stunt or two that requires them to be in plain clothes, most of the action these ladies are getting is with their comic book character suits on. So, thankfully, Macken probably doesn't have to look too much like the distinctive Ms. Kravitz.
For a Commercial, Even
Reading through this list, you're going to start to see some familiar names pop up. One of the more well-known doubles in the business is Oliver Keller, who's even won stunt awards for his amazing work. Plus, he gets to work alongside legendary actors like Pierce Brosnan! While this picture isn't from a bond flick, it is from something a bit unique: a commercial.
It was a commercial for the Super Bowl, but a commercial nonetheless. Depending on the kind of ad, they could do everything from having Brosnan jump out of a plane over the mountains to actually, really shooting him into space. We wouldn't put it past them.
North and South America
“Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” introduced us to a few new members of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One of them was America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez. Are there two of her? No, as you might expect, the gal on the left of this picture is a stunt double for some pickups after principal photography was finished.
She's Lorena Abreu, and she has plenty of skills to take her a long way in the stunt double business, including parkour abilities. With the right hairstyle and makeup, she and Gomez look like they grew up together.
Plenty of Power to Go Around
Florence Pugh shows her enemies she isn't one to mess with in “Black Widow” as Yelena Belova, and of course, it's her stunt double doing most of the action. That double is Michaela McAllister, and the picture here proves she's the right gal for the job.
Putting aside the fact that this is a low angle and a bit removed from their faces, the two seem to be no less than identical. Given what we know, it looks like Pugh is on the left and McAllister is on the right, but the only thing we can use to back that up is the slightly different mouth features the two have.
You've Got Red on You
Julianne Moore has been in tons of movies, she's helped produce a few films, and she's even a children's book author, but even she can't do everything. This picture might look gruesome, but there's nothing to fear – it's all just movie makeup magic.
Moore and her stunt double for what looks to be the movie “Carrie” from 2013, Sarah Irwin, look like it's the kind of thing that happens to them every other day, and sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Sure, it takes a little bit of cleaning up, but then you can get back to your day.
Making Money off Marvel Movies
This picture has Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, her stunt double, Marilyn Brett as “Older Lady on Train,” and Brett's double, Heidi Moneymaker. Miss Moneymaker, which is probably the coolest last name ever, does a pretty good copy of Brett, and she has plenty of experience with Marvel movies, too – she was also the main stunt double for Scarlett Johansson when she performed as Black Widow.
It's hard to tell for sure, but it looks like the face of Moneymaker is actually a mask – it's hard to do stunts past a certain age, so a little bit of prosthetic work goes a long way in keeping people safe.
Rizzoli and Rizzoli and Isles
The versatility of a stunt double is something to behold. This picture is of Angie Harmon, one of the leads on the police drama show “Rizzoli & Isles” (she plays Jane Rizzoli), and standing next to her is her stunt double Jahnel Curfman, who is also on this list as a double for a high schooler.
Curfman played both of them with aplomb and if you were a fan of both of those shows (the other being “Cobra Kai”), you likely had no clue whatsoever that she was double for two ladies of very different ages in them.
They've Got the Kicks
When they aren't showing off their karate moves at the local dojo, Peyton List and her stunt double for “Cobra Kai,” Jahnel Curfman, like to kick back with a little bit of tough-girl antics at the local high school. Bullies beware – these girls know how to knock you out.
They have fairly similar faces, and with unique hairstyles and identical wardrobes, these two might as well be mirror images of each other, barring a slight height difference. Karate isn't the kind of thing you can just pick up for a role, so of course a stunt double is necessary.
Good Times at the Sauna
It seems like everything needs a set of stunt doubles these days. If rom-com needs them, then of course cop shows are going to put them to good use. These two guys are Ian Anthony Dale on the right, who plays Adam Noshimuri on the revived “Hawaii Five-O” series, and his stunt double Paul Lacovara.
If the television injuries these guys are sporting are any indication, it was an intense day of shooting, but they're all smiles. After they're done here, they're going to go get their nails done.
Bonus Bana on the Set of Star Trek
Where once Star Trek episodes had philosophical discussions about the meaning of life, the pressures of rule, and tense diplomatic debates, it has now swung more toward action and adventure. Eric Bana plays Nero, a member of the Romulans who turns mad and alters the universe so much that we have an entirely new set of events to play with.
Nero spends most of his time aboard his huge, daunting ship, but he still gets plenty of action, which means he needs a stunt double like Paul Lacovara, who does a pretty good job of looking just like the actor.
Wonderful Women Together Forever
Gal Gadot has made a big name for herself thanks to her time as Wonder Woman in the updated DC Comics movies, but she has plenty of people to thank for helping her join the ranks of famous superheroines. One of them is her stunt double, a woman by the name of Christiaan Bettridge.
Gadot has plenty to say about the woman that helped her get through a couple of intense movies without getting injured, and is incredibly grateful, as we can see from this image. Gadot doesn't even mind that Bettridge has a bunch of black dots all over her face.
Plenty of Villains to Go Around
As one of the newer stars on this list, Isabella Pappas is probably still getting used to the idea of having a stunt double. She's the lead of “The Villains of Valley View,” and she's pictured here goofing off with her stand-in, Taylor Krasne. We've literally never heard of either the show or Isabella Pappas, so we have no idea which is which.
It's a comedy television series on the Disney channel, and it follows a family that are all superpowered villains – they have to go on the run when one of them, Pappas's character, stands up to the head of the league of villains.
Two Helas is Better Than One
Despite wearing motion-capture suits, a bunch of ping-pong balls, and with their faces covered in weird dots (which we assume is also a CGI thing) these two evildoers still look ready to tear up Asgard. They are Cate Blanchett, and she's on the...right? We think?
Anyway, the other one is her stunt double for “Thor: Ragnarok,” Zoe Bell. The two seem to have become close, and just imagine if Thor had to fight against the combined might of both of them instead of just one. That would mess up the story a lot, though.
Speaking With Actions
Jason Momoa, now known as Aquaman to DC comic fans, had to have two stunt doubles on the set of the movie. The Hawaiian actor actually does many of his own stunts, but wisely chose to leave the more extravagant action sequences to his professional doppelgangers. 'I needed help. I'm almost 40 and it's starting to hurt, so there's just so many stunts,' Momoa told the Daily Mail.
Momoa has also expressed how important he thinks his stunts are in a film, as he's never had lengthy speaking roles in the past, 'I don't normally say a lot of things, so I have to speak with my actions.' and that he does, if you've seen his action films.
Mask Off
This photo had the internet gushing with nostalgia when it popped up. You can see Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, and their stunt doubles on the set of the classic film, The Mask in 1994 (feel old?). Any fan of the film remembers this dancing scene. Apparently, the actors didn't have the moves, but luckily they had professional dancers that helped them pull off the iconic scene. The Mask was actually Diaz's breakthrough roll into Hollywood and one of Carrey's most memorable roles.
Perhaps their dancers deserve a little credit for putting them on the map?
The Man in the Suite
Clay Donahue Fontenot was listed among Business Insider's most sought-after stuntmen in the movie industry. He's performed in over 60 films, from Blade to Django Unchained and most recently, Iron Man. Yep, Fontenot is the man in the suit, performing Robert Downey Jr.'s stunts, so much so, that the Iron Man suit was actually designed specifically for the stunt double's body.
As talented as an actor Robert Downey Jr. is, Fontenot is the one doing all the cool moves Iron Man does in the battle scenes we so love. Bravo!
Snake Got Revenge
The early 1980s were inarguably Kurt Russell’s peak. Fans will remember how he embodied the Snake Plissken with the iconic eye patch in Escape from New York (1981). His stunt double Dick Warlock didn't have it easy filing in for Russell.
When filming the boxing match fight scene, the man playing his opponent was, in fact, a real wrestler named Ox. Apparently, Ox didn’t know how to "act" like he was fighting and beat the stunt double to the point that he couldn't do the master shot so Russell had to go ahead and do his own stunts. Lucky for him, it was the scene where Snake finally kills off his opponent because Ox had to lie still while Russell "pretended" to take him out; however, Russel did later admit to avenging his stuntman and hitting a little bit harder than required for an acting scene.
Leave the Stunts for Stunt Doubles
This is a throwback from 2013 of Danny Trejo with his stunt double on the set of Machete Kills. Trejo has expressed his adoration for stuntmen and has even spoken out against actor who attempts to do their own stunts on a few occasions.
Trejo said in an interview "I know that all the big stars hate me to say this, but I don’t want to risk 80 peoples’ jobs just to say I got big huevos on The Tonight Show. He continued "We have stunt people who do that stuff. And if they get hurt, I’m sorry to say but they just need to put a mustache on another Mexican and we can keep going. But if I get hurt, everybody’s out of a job. So I don’t choose to do that.". What do you think? Should actors stick to acting and leave stunts for the professionals?
Little Frodo
At 5.5 ft (1.68 m) Elijah Wood is shorter than the average American male, but in order to portray his Hobbit character, Frodo, he needed to scale down a lot more. That's when his scale double, Kiran Shah, came to the rescue.
According to the Guinness World Records Kiran Shah is the world's shortest stuntman, and has appeared in nearly 40 films as a stuntman or body double. His resume includes blockbuster films like Superman I and II, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi, Aliens, Braveheart, and Titanic where he stunt doubled all the children in the film.
The Gladiator to the Rescue
Angelina Jolie's stunt double on the set of her movie "Salt" back in 2009, was nonother than stuntwoman, Eunice Huthart, the first female TV Gladiator. The duo first met on the set of the Tomb Raider movies, when Jolie portrayed Lara Croft. Huthart then continued to double for her in several films, and after 11 years of working alongside the A-lister, she had only good things to say about her. Huthart, said in an interview “Honestly, I wouldn’t have worked with her for as long as I have if she was some Hollywood idiot, but she isn’t... She’s just brilliant and such a nice person.”
Huthart admits to having her fair share of injuries in the past and having her husband worried while visiting her at the hospital, but she loves what she does and tries to be as careful as possible. And we have to admit, she makes Jolie look really cool in all her roles. It's amazing how hair, makeup, and matching outfits can have viewers completely fooled, you think Jolie is a true stunt woman herself.
"Golfing Buddies"
Michael Douglas is actually good friends and golfing buddy with his stunt-double, who has been doing amazing stunts for him for 26 years now. Not only are the similarities striking between them, but they share the same first name as well, Michael! Michael Runyard has also doubled for Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Adam Sandler, and Christopher Walken in the past.
Runyard officially began working with Douglas in 1988 on the set of the film "Black Rain," and they remained friends. Here you can see the "twins" on the set of Ant-Man.
The Incredible Hulk(s)
In this photo, you can see Manny Perry a popular American stunt coordinator and stuntman who started his career in the bodybuilding world and won the titles of Mr. USA, Mr. America, and even Mr. World. He later transitioned into stunt performing, with his starring role in The Incredible Hulk, which was beautifully captured in the photo below, alongside Lou Ferrigno (left) and Frank Orsatti (center), who was Bill Bixby's stunt man in the series.
Perry was one of the few African American stuntmen in the business, and today has over 200 stunt and stunt coordinator credits to his name and has gone against some of the top names in action films for over 30 years.
Winslet Needed Help Too
Kate Winslet and her double on the set of the classic film Titanic. You may be thinking to yourself, as the damsel of distress in the movie, what stunts did her double have to fill in for, but think about all of the running around, and the water scenes, all that can be a lot for an actress especially during soots that last for several hours, if not all day, for several days.
Winslet's double looks the role and was physically fit to do anything needed to truly emulate the actress while staying true to the film's character, Rose.
Like Sisters
Jamie Alexander and her stunt double, Kylie Furneaux, in the drama series, Blindspot, look as though they could be sisters! Perhaps the fact that they've been working together for over 10 years, things started to rub off on one another. The two are very close offset, and have a lot in common, well except for the fact that Furneaux knows Kung-Fu and can jump out of planes.
Whenever Alexander lands a gig she always calls up her friend, so if you see her doing something extraordinary in a film or TV show, you can be sure Furneaux is behind all the cool tricks.
The King and Her Queen
You've probably already noticed that in order to be a stunt double, you don't have to look exactly like the actor you're portraying, adults stand in for children actors, and male stuntmen stand in for female actresses. But in this case of Regina King and her stunt double on the set of Southland, they absolutely nailed it.
With similar skin tones and eyes, it looks like the stunt woman could easily pass as King's sister.
"I Got This"
The beloved Indian actress, singer, and former Miss World (2000) took on Hollywood by storm and remains one of the most influential figures in the industry. When she took on an action role, she got stunt double Aja Frary to give her the moves. In this photo it looks as though Chopra is giving her body double a few fighting tips, did Chopra have a fighting past that we didn't know about?
In Quantico season 3, Chopra performed some of her own stunts. Perhaps she felt inspired by Frary, or maybe she felt as though she could do it better herself? We're sure she just wanted to try something new.
Masts' Transformation
You can see Mark Wahlberg on the set of "Transformers: Age Of Extinction" posing next to his "shadow", stuntman, Dan Mast. When Business Insider asked Mast about how he managed to obtain Walberg's iconic physique he said that the hardest part was actually finding a place to work out during filming. "It was hard finding a gym close enough because we were living out of hotels," said Mast. "And hotel gyms are awful."
Once Mast found a proper gym he got on his mission to bulk up, his regime included following an intense weight lifting program: an hour a day, 5-6 days a week, and a rather boring but steady diet that consisted of plenty of protein shakes. The rest was hair and makeup, and the result is pretty epic!
The Woman Behind Some of the Biggest Names in Hollywood
Natascha Hopkins is one of the hardest-working stuntwomen in the business. She's doubled for a long list of African American actresses in film and singers for their music videos. Her impressive resume includes working with actresses like Kerry Washington, Zoe Kravitz, Halle Berry, and Queen Bey, Beyonce.
In an interview, Natascha Hopkins explained what a difficult job she has, she must maintain maximum muscle strength, which she needs in order to safely and effectively perform all the stunts she does, all while remaining as petite as possible in order to resemble the actresses she doubles for. Like most physically demanding jobs, the stunt world is male-dominated, leaving fewer opportunities for women, so Hopkins knows she must always stay on her A-game if she wants to grab a role.
Not as Young as He Used to Be
Another action star who's known for doing many of his own stunts but at 54 years it's only normal to pump the breaks a bit and leave some of the action to the younger guys.
In this photo, you can see Reeves saddled on a horse next to his wigged stunt double, on the set of the movie John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. Fun fact: The John Wick movie franchise was directed by one of Reeves's former stunt doubles, Chad Stahelski. Yes, stuntman turned Hollywood movie director. Who knows where this stuntman will be 10 years from now?
Chandler Riggs's Stunt Double Is the Complete Opposite Of Him
If it freaks us out to witness look-a-likes working a scene together, imagine how the 19-year-old American actor, Chandler Riggs, must have felt when he realized his stunt double is a 33-year-old woman. It must have blown his mind.
Emily Brobst has been working on the set of the hugely popular TV series, The Walking Dead, where Chandler Riggs plays the character, Carl Grimes. She gets the job done effectively, which proves that a stunt double doesn’t have to be of the same sex as the actor. In fact, female studies are common when doubling for younger actors. Structure-wise, men stuntmen are bulkier. Younger males that haven’t reached puberty yet look more identical to and are better represented by adult female stunt doubles. Stunts men or female doubles aren’t just employed to work on movies or in TV series. In the case of actress, Jennifer Lopez, she had one work for her in a music video.
Double Trouble
George R.R. Martin’s mind must be filled with scary characters, some of which have successfully surfaced in his epic novel, A Song of Ice and Fire; adapted into an HBO series titled Game of Thrones. Among the most blood-curdling characters are The Hound and Brienne of Tarth.
If you’ve watched season four of the series, where Arya refused to go with Brienne, so the latter and The Hound fought to the death; this photograph was taken after that shoot. Imagine meeting these four in a real-life scene, all by yourself. It would be double the fear and danger.
Like To Do His Own Stunts
Tom Cruise may be one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, but he also makes sure you get more than your money’s worth. He can even make poor films eventually pick up at the box office purely because his name is such a big draw. Plus, he works really hard on his roles.
Another fact you should know about Tom Cruise is that he likes to do his own stunts. Apparently not all the stunts, as you can see him working with his stunt double in the picture. But believe us when we say, Tom Cruise thrives on dangerous scenes. He likes to do the chasing himself, loves the thrill of jumping across another building, and even piloted a chopper, diving in between mountain ranges in Mission: Impossible: Fallout.
Uma Thurman's Fierce Stunt Double, Zoe Bell
Uma Thurman plays the part of the Bride in the movie Kill Bill, who travels to Japan to take revenge against the assassins who tried to kill her and her unborn child. There she would take on the likes of O-ren Ishii, and Vernita Green.
You really wouldn’t want to mess with her or, better yet, stay away from her stunt double Zoe Bell who’s the real deal behind all the incredible fighting scenes. She’s also noted for her role doubling for Lucy Lawless in all the extreme scenes of Xena.
Not Completely Identical
John Travolta and his double don’t really look much alike in this picture, The style is different But other than that, the guy can sub for Travolta at different indirect angles. They seem to move with the same gait, and they have similar body shapes.
Again, the similarities don’t really have to be so close for the tandem to work. But we wonder if he has the same dance moves as Travolta.
What's Better Than One Thor? Well, Two Of Course!
It’s tough enough to deal with Thor and his hammer, let alone another one who’s hard to distinguish from the main star. Bobby Holland Hanton has been Chris Hemsworth’s long-time double. Unlike Chris, Bobby has a wild streak to him, and he’s known as a bad boy.
Both have been working for quite a while now, and this longevity has helped draw the spotlight a bit to Bobby Holland Hanton. And why not? Since he has the looks and the build of Chris Hemsworth. A quick visit to his Instagram account will reveal that he has 108k followers and growing.
Ingrid Kleinig, All-Star Stunt Woman
Margot Robbie started to emerge as a lead actress in 2015. She played Jane Porter Clayton in The Legend of Tarzan, then Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. During the filming of the latter movie, she started to work with her stunt double, Ingrid Kleinig, whose entry into the world of stunts commenced while she was performing 140 feet above the arena during the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics.
Ingrid Kleinig also doubles for actress Evangeline Lilly and has subbed for the Canadian actress in filming The Hobbit and Ant-Man. She can drive a truck and hold her breath underwater for over five minutes.
Stunt-Triples
Michael J. Fox’s character Marty had to avoid meeting his former or future self when running across time. A short brush with one of his younger or older versions would result in a proliferation of unpredictable repercussions in all possible dimensions. However, on the set of Back to the Future, Marty wasn’t played by Michael J. Fox alone.
When the cameras were shooting riskier scenes, Michael J. Fox was substituted by Charlie Croughwell (stunt double). He is pictured here with his other doubles, Kevin Holloway (photo double), and Robert Bennett (his stand-in). Watching all of them together makes you think dimensions have crisscrossed in real life.
Holy Cow, There Is More Than One Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt started his acting career as early as the 2000s. He started to become popular when he took up TV roles, having received acting awards for his character, Andy Dwyer, in Parks and Recreation. But 2014 would turn out to be a big year for him.
This is when Chris Pratt would successfully emerge as a leading man. This also meant that he would need a stunt double to work with him closely moving forward. Tony McFarr has done a great job at that so far, as they both kicked it off in The Guardians of the Galaxy. Their initial success would lead to more movies together: Jurassic World, and Avengers: Infinity War. Here’s hoping for more.
Mark Ruffalo's Doppelganger Wasn't Very Hard to Find
Stuntmen’s facial features may not be as strikingly similar to the actors they try to portray. Perhaps they would need a haircut or a bit of makeup, a slight change of hair color, and that would suffice for a quick stunt double scene.
Anthony Molinari, in fact, has been a stuntman for popular actors George Clooney and Jeremy Renner, although they are barely look-alikes. But as you can see in this photograph, he is best suited to work for Marc Ruffalo, where even the minimal effort on his part to look like him would probably do the trick for some.
Ben Affleck's Stuntman
Ben Affleck’s stand-in, Rich Cetrone, looks a tad older than him but makes up for it with his similar beard, identical height, and body structure; close enough to that of the Hollywood actor to fill in during quick action scenes. After all, you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody to fit in as Affleck’s double.
Luckily for Rich Cetrone, he doesn’t have to work too hard in the gym for the movie they’re working on. They’re said to be in Hawaii filming Triple Frontier, and this selfie came out during a party Affleck hosted for his 500-person crew.
Bond, James Bond
Daniel Craig is known for doing his own stunts. Maybe not all of them, but he certainly takes on a good number of them to make his acting look more credible. When asked about this, he said that he didn’t work out just to look good and take off his shirt. He wants to learn the special skills stuntmen have to undergo to earn a living.
The stunts he performed during the making of Casino Royale are deemed one of the best Bond stunts ever. When he’s not jumping from one building to the next, he can be seen taking tips from his double, practicing their moves.
It Looks Like There Is Someone Just as Ripped as Schwarzenegger
Filmmakers and casting directors always go for actors that draw big crowds, with an appeal worth the bucks to sustain their project. They picked the right guy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to lead in the movie "Commando", which turned out to be a huge success, and ranked the 7th highest-grossing movie back in 1985.
This decision also meant they had to scour the country for someone who could work as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stunt double. It’s not easy to look for a guy as jacked as the former Mr. Universe but, believe it or not, they were able to find Peter Kent who was all too ready to grab the opportunity. Both look like huge mountains side by side.
Where's the Rest of Spiderman's Uniform?
Not all heroes wear capes, they say, but Spider-man wearing a pair of casual pants in action can be a bit too much to digest. This photograph was taken during the making of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, a film that performed below commercial expectations in 2014. And who knows why Spidey’s stunt double was wearing pants? What was he up to?
This movie was initially planned to be the beginning of several spin-offs, however, those had, at the time, been canceled—Venom, and Sinister 6—and an iteration was immediately planned instead with Tom Holland taking the role of Spider-man.
Sometimes Stunts Go Terribly Wrong
The role of a stuntman can’t be taken for granted. The action scenes you witness in movies made for everyone’s viewing pleasure are a product of hard work and, most of the time, at the risk of someone else’s life or limb. That “someone else” being the stuntmen and women working behind the scenes.
For example, Tony Angelotti almost died while performing a “human yo-yo” scene working as a double for Johnny Depp. While filming for Pirates in the Caribbean, Angelotti almost died or sustained permanent injuries, which prompted him to sue Walt Disney for his mishap.
Are We Seeing Double?!
Brad Pitt and his stunt double stand shoulder to shoulder in the making of the crime-thriller film, The Counselor. This was shot in 2013, and Pitt played the role of a drug dealer, which means a lot of action for his stuntman. His unnamed double looks a little bit like him, although he’s a few inches shorter.
Both Brad Pitt and his double seem to show concern over how a particular stunt should go in this photograph. The stairs are quite steep, and Pitt didn’t want his stuntman to be hurt in the process. They checked out the spot, tested a few moves, and conferred about it. Both are said to have been working together for some time already.
Harrison Ford Appreciates His Stuntman
Some actors can be full of themselves, knowing the full strength of their drawing power in making a film a top grosser. But you can take out the veteran actor, Harrison Ford, from that list. He knows from direct experience how important his stunt double, Vic Armstrong, has been to him in the shooting of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
He went out of his way to thank Armstrong by sending him a photograph of them both with a short message, showing his gratitude. When Harrison Ford couldn’t work the scenes after sustaining an injury, Vic Armstrong had his back and did a few acting scenes for him while he recovered.