10 Actors Who Did All Their Own Stunts (Then Immediately Regretted It)

Thrilling action movies often feature pulse-quickening instances filled with death-defying stunts that leave viewers breathless. While numerous performers opt to delegate these hazardous sequences to experts, some remain committed to executing them personally, motivated by the pursuit of genuine experience or an adrenaline rush.

Engaging in one’s own stunts in filmmaking can significantly enhance performance, but it often carries a high cost. From fractured bones to brushes with death, here are ten actors who dared to perform their own stunts and swiftly wished they hadn’t. They discovered the hard way that courage can bring about pain.

Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds was an pioneer among action heroes, recognized for doing his own stunts when it was uncommon for leading actors. In the 1972 film ‘Deliverance’, he portrayed Lewis, a tough outdoorsman, and demanded to take on a risky scene involving his character falling over a waterfall.

The maneuver took an unexpected turn when Reynolds collided with a stone, fracturing his coccyx. Overpowered by the current, he lost his garments and came close to drowning. The agonizing wound left him rattled, and he eventually confessed that it was a stunt he regretted not leaving to the experts.

Michael J. Fox

In the movie ‘Back to the Future Part III’ (1990), Michael J. Fox performed an adventurous stunt in a risky hanging scene. To create a convincing close-up, he entered a noose while standing safely on a small platform at first.

In pursuit of a more genuine image, Fox decided to forego using the safety equipment, but the stunt backfired. The noose constricted, obstructing his airway, causing him to momentarily lose consciousness. Fellow crew members quickly intervened, and later, Fox expressed remorse for insisting on that additional dose of realism.

Uma Thurman

In the movie ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2’ (2004), Uma Thurman demonstrated an intense portrayal as Beatrix Kiddo, which included her performing numerous stunts herself. One sequence had her navigating a winding road in a convertible, yet she felt apprehensive, recognizing it might not be secure.

1. Against her apprehensions, she was persuaded to go ahead with it.

2. The car ran into an unforeseen bend, colliding with a tree.

3. For years, Thurman grappled with neck and knee injuries stemming from the accident.

4. She eventually shared her story about the incident, expressing remorse for not heeding her intuition.

Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner, known for his action roles in films such as ‘The Bourne Legacy’ from 2012 and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, isn’t new to high-octane scenes. However, it was the comedic film ‘Tag’ (2018) that unexpectedly caused him distress during a stunt involving running across stacked chairs.

In a surprising turn of events, the chairs gave way, causing Renner to tumble heavily and fracture both his arms. Amazingly, he got back up and attempted another take without fully grasping the severity of his wounds. The accident made him reevaluate his stunt methods, wishing he could go back in time and avoid it.

Daniel Craig

In the role of James Bond, Daniel Craig infused a raw, authentic feel, frequently performing his own stunts in movies such as ‘Casino Royale’ (2006) and ‘Quantum of Solace’ (2008). This dedication, however, didn’t come without its risks. He experienced injuries during a chase scene on a crane and a leap onto a moving bus.

Craig suffered the loss of his two front teeth and underwent surgeries on his shoulder, ankle, and knees. Over time, these injuries accumulated, leading him to doubt whether taking on numerous risky situations personally was the right choice, as he grappled with their physical impact.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan is renowned for his breathtaking stunts, frequently combining martial arts with daring exploits. In the film ‘Police Story’ (1985), he executed an awe-inspiring slide down a pole laden with exploding light bulbs, a feat that left the set hushed in trepidation.

After a successful landing, he ended up tearing the skin on his palms and feeling exhausted afterwards. The intense peril of that instance didn’t truly sink in until later, and Chan acknowledged that in that moment, he had contemplated his own mortality, which now gives him an unsettling retrospective view of the stunt.

Charlize Theron

In movies such as ‘Atomic Blonde’ (2017), Charlize Theron took on action-packed roles and worked diligently to execute her own fight sequences. Drawing inspiration from other action stars, she continually tested her abilities, but a particularly risky stunt – a back handspring – came close to causing an accident.

With the agility of a gymnast lacking, Theron narrowly avoided a broken neck. This near mishap made her lean heavily on her training squad, and she expressed regret for assuming she could perfect such a daring stunt within merely a few months.

Sylvester Stallone

In movies such as ‘The Expendables’ (2010), Sylvester Stallone portrayed tough characters which required high levels of physical exertion. He frequently performed his own stunts to add authenticity to the action sequences. However, during one fight scene, he received a particularly hard blow that exceeded what was intended in the script.

The incident caused a severe neck injury that necessitated extensive surgery on him. Later, Stallone confessed that this incident served as a warning, leaving him regretting his lack of caution and desiring he’d delegated the dangerous stunt to an expert instead.

Dylan O’Brien

In the movie ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ (2018), Dylan O’Brien demonstrated enthusiasm in his performance by attempting a risky stunt – jumping from a moving train onto a vehicle. This scene was intended to highlight his character’s courage, but unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.

In the unfortunate incident, O’Brien lost his footing, leading to a stunt car rolling over him. This accident resulted in a concussion, brain injury, and facial bone breaks. These serious wounds brought filming to a halt, and later, he contemplated on how that instant of courage came dangerously close to taking away everything from him.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise is well-known for his daring stunts in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise, yet even he has experienced instances of remorse. In the film ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018), he attempted a leap between buildings, a feat he had meticulously prepared for.

When he collided, his ankle broke instantly, causing a delay in work for several weeks. Later, Cruise expressed regret to the team, acknowledging that although he enjoys testing boundaries, this incident left him wondering if he had overstepped them.

2025-07-20 02:44