Most actors aren’t cool with diving off tall buildings or dodging bullets on a motorcycle — even if it’s all technically fake. Stars make the big bucks, of course, but even those fat paychecks don’t include that kind of hazard pay. Thankfully, stunt doubles have the skills — and daring — to do the job, so the actors don’t risk getting hurt.
Stunt doubles are visible to some extent in scenes, so producers do their best to find doubles who look like the actors they impersonate. Sometimes, they look so much like the actors, even the director can get confused. Take a look at some celebrity/stunt double pairs that would make you think you were seeing double if you saw them together off set.
Zooey Deschanel
While New Girl wasn’t written initially with Zooey Deschanel in mind, the actress made it her own. For seven seasons, the actress won the hearts of viewers as teacher Jessica Day. In 2012, she tied with Amy Poehler for Best Actress in a Comedy Series at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards.
Since 2007, Deschanel has worked with a stunt double, Monica Braunger. She got her start working on Cold Case before landing stunt work for American Horror Story, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Green Hornet. Since 2016, she has been married to stunt actor Zach Hudson.
Danny Trejo
Danny Trejo became Hollywood’s new tough guy with roles in From Dusk till Dawn and The Devil’s Rejects. His most prominent role was Isador “Machete” Cortez, which began in the Spy Kids movies. The character earned two successful spinoff films, including 2013’s Machete Kills.
Since 2010’s Machete, Trejo has worked with stunt double Norman Mora. Their recent film together was 2017’s Murder in the Woods. Mora’s performance in Once Upon a Time in Mexico earned him a Taurus Award nomination for Best High Work. He will be featured in the forthcoming films Mainstream and Chuck Hank and the San Diego Twins.
Sebastian Stan
Sebastian Stan’s life changed when he agreed to portray Winter Soldier in the MCU. His work in Captain America: The Winter Soldier earned him an MTV Award nomination for Best Fight. The actor will co-star in the forthcoming Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Stan works with stunt double James Young. Aside from being a stuntman, Young is a fight coordinator for Marvel Studios. “I hit the ground and started to shoot my own fights in my spare time as content for YouTube. Eventually, I got looks from Marvel, and Captain America 2 happened,” he told Military.com.
Margot Robbie
Actress Margot Robbie surprised many with her portrayal of Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. After taking the role, she found herself enamored with the character’s backstory. She will reprise the role for Birds of Prey and 2021’s The Suicide Squad. She is also working on a handful of additional films involving Quinn, including Gotham City Sirens.
Robbie has been working with stunt double Ingrid Kleinig for her Quinn roles. Kleinig has done stunt work in comic book films, including Spider-Man: Far from Home and Superman Returns. She also worked with Brie Larson in Captain Marvel and Kong: Skull Island.
Faye Marsay
Following a slew of minor film roles, Faye Marsay got her big break as Anne Neville in the BBC miniseries The White Queen. The English actress then gained widespread fame as The Waif in the fifth and sixth seasons of Game of Thrones.
For her work on Game of Thrones, Marsay worked with stunt double Casey Michaels. As a third-generation stunt performer, Michaels has worked on some major projects. She worked with Lucasfilm on several recent Star Wars films, including Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Charity Wakefield
Charity Wakefield began her journey as an actress with minor roles in Jane Eyre, Doctors and Sense and Sensibility. In 2012, she landed the role of Marilyn Munster in NBC’s Mockingbird Lane, but the Munsters reboot wasn’t picked up. Fortunately, she found herself a new show on the network with The Player, which starred Wesley Snipes.
While shooting The Player, Wakefield teamed up with stunt double Joanna Bennett. The stuntwoman has doubled for numerous actresses, including Elle Fanning, Jacqueline Toboni and Nicole Kidman. Grammy-winning singer Taylor Swift used her services for her “Bad Blood” music video.
David Mazouz
As a kid, David Mazouz got his start in commercials with Kiefer Sutherland. After some hectic auditions, he landed the role of young Bruce Wayne in Gotham. His performance earned him two Saturn Award nominations for Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television Series.
On the show, Mazouz had one of the best stunt doubles in Kachina Dechert. The London native also did stunts for Sarah Shahi in Person of Interest and Uma Thurman in The Con Is On. Dechert is currently working on Once Upon a Time in Staten Island and Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Dar Salim
Dar Salim spent years training in New York and London before landing his first acting role in Forsvar. With Exodus: Gods and Kings, he got to act alongside Christian Bale, Sigourney Weaver and Aaron Paul. He recently starred in the Icelandic drama Trapped.
On the set of Exodus: Gods and Kings, Salim worked with stunt double Dan Euston. One of Euston’s biggest career accomplishments was being Oscar Isaac’s stunt double in the Star Wars films. His work on Game of Thrones earned him a SAG Award in 2018. Recently, he completed work on the forthcoming film Wonder Woman 1984.
Rene Russo
After a hiatus from acting, Rene Russo returned to the big screen as Thor’s mother Frigga in the MCU. In 2014, she earned accolades for her performance in the thriller Nightcrawler, which features Jake Gyllenhaal. Russo reunited with Gyllenhaal in the 2019 film Velvet Buzzsaw.
Russo traded places with stunt double Chloé Bruce while shooting the Thor movies. Along with her sister Grace, Chloé competes in the martial arts duo Bruce Sistaz. The recent Star Wars trilogy cast Bruce as Daisy Ridley’s main stunt double. She also worked on the video games Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and Star Wars: Battlefront II.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp had no idea his stint in 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean would lead to a billion-dollar franchise. The film, which was in development since the early ’90s, was nearly shut down due to its rising budget. Despite journalists expecting the film to flop, it earned an impressive $654 million worldwide.
For the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, Depp worked with stunt double Tony Angelotti. The stuntman’s work on the films earned two Taurus Awards for Best Fight. His work was recently seen in The Amazing Spider-Man, which earned a SAG Award nomination.
Jay Hernandez
Jay Hernandez got his start portraying Antonio Lopez in the final three seasons of NBC’s Hang Time. In 2016, he brought DC Comics character El Diablo to life in 2016’s Suicide Squad. In 2018, he landed the title role in CBS’s Magnum P.I. reboot.
Hernandez worked with stunt double Alex Armbruster on The Expense and Suicide Squad. The Canadian native has also worked with James Franco in the Hulu series 11.22.63 and the film Kin. The stunt double will be working on the forthcoming Snowpiercer TV show, which will air on TNT.
CCH Pounder
CCH Pounder has been a mainstay on primetime television with beloved roles on E.R. and The Shield. Her time on both shows earned her two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Currently, the actress can be seen on NCIS: New Orleans.
While shooting the crime drama, Pounder works with stunt double Jazzy Ellis. The stuntwoman was nominated for a SAG Award for her work on Avengers: Infinity War. Ellis has been busy with upcoming work on The Suicide Squad, A Quiet Place Part II and The Tomorrow War.
Adrianne Palicki
After Friday Night Lights, Adrianne Palicki landed her next big TV show with ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. On the show, she portrays Barbara “Bobbi” Morse, who is better known as Mockingbird. The actress’ work led to a potential spinoff titled Most Wanted, but the show wasn’t picked up by the network.
For Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Palicki worked with stunt double Alicia Vela-Bailey. The California native has also done stunt double work for Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Shailene Woodley. She is mostly known for doing stunt work in Avatar and its upcoming sequels.
Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy took over the TV screen with performances in Gilmore Girls and Mike and Molly. It wasn’t long until the Illinois native delivered box office hits such as The Boss and Spy. McCarthy has earned five People’s Choice Awards, including three for Favorite Comedic Movie Actress.
She has partnered with stunt double Luci Romberg since 2013’s Identity Thief. The pair recently worked together in the upcoming film Superintelligence. Romberg’s work on Identity Theft earned her a Best Overall Stunt for a Stunt Woman award at the Taurus Awards. Romberg co-owns the parkour brand Tempest Freerunning.
Harrison Ford
It’s hard to imagine Harrison Ford not portraying Indiana Jones, but George Lucas originally rejected the idea of giving him the title role. Lucas didn’t want to rely on Ford for his franchises. Tom Selleck landed the role, but he left the film for other projects. After some talking, Lucas decided to cast Ford.
While Ford loved doing his own stunts in the Indiana Jones films, Vic Armstrong was there for the impossible ones. Armstrong also worked with Ford in Blade Runner, Patriot Games and The Mosquito Coast. His last project was a pair of Penny Dreadful episodes.
Chris Hemsworth
With the role of Thor, actor Chris Hemsworth became an international superstar. Aside from teaming with the Avengers, Thor’s three solo films have earned big bucks for Marvel Studios. 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok made an impressive $854 million worldwide at the box office.
For years, Hemsworth has worked with stunt double Bobby Holland Hanton. “We’re the same age, have the same kind of personality and we laugh at the same things,” Hanton told news.com.au. Hanton was also the stunt double for Christian Bale in the 2012 blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises.
Amy Schumer
After years of standup comedy, Amy Schumer got her big break with Inside Amy Schumer. The series earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series in 2015. The star also found herself on the big screen with starring roles in Trainwreck and I Feel Pretty.
For her movie roles, Schumer turned to stunt double Meredith Richardson. The SAG Award-winner also worked with actress Kate McKinnon in the films The Spy Who Dumped Me and Ghostbusters. She is currently working on The Tomorrow War, Thunder Force and Laugh. Love. Karaoke.
Léa Seydoux
Léa Seydoux nearly ruined her audition for the part of Dr. Madeleine Swann in Spectre. Her first reading resulted in her forgetting lines. Fortunately, she was given another chance to show why she was perfect for the role. Seydoux will reprise the role in No Time to Die.
While filming Spectre, she worked with stunt double Gemita Samarra, who played her double in the film. Samarra has also worked on Game of Thrones, 24: Live Another Day and Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Dilan Gwyn
Swedish actress Dilan Gwyn first got her start in the 2007 short film Workshopen. After heading to the U.S., she landed her first major gig as Yana on Da Vinci’s Demons. In 2016, she landed the role of Willa Frost on the drama series Beyond.
While shooting Beyond, Gwyn worked with stunt double Julia Rekaikyna. “This is my stunt double Julia Rekaikyna. She is hella strong and super cool,” Gwyn said in a Twitter post. She used her talents in several major films, such as X-Men: Apocalypse and Deadpool. Her last project was 2018’s Maze Runner: The Death Cure.
Chris Pratt
Following Parks & Recreation, Chris Pratt was launched into box office fame as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. His work on the Marvel Studios film led to him jumping to the Jurassic World franchise. Following years in front of the camera, Pratt will make his directorial debut in The Tomorrow War.
Pratt has worked with stunt double Tony McFarr for both the MCU and Jurassic World. He also did some work in Captain America: Civil War and Ant-Man and the Wasp. So far, he has earned three SAG Award nominations for his performances.
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg took the role of Cade Yeager in the Transformers films because of his children. As avid Transformers fans, his four children played minor roles in Transformers: Age of Extinction. The Transformers films also found the actor reuniting with Pain & Gain director Michael Bay.
While Wahlberg did 90% of his stunts in Age of Extinction, he needed help for the rest. Stunt double Dan Mast worked with Wahlberg on the film and its sequel, Transformers: The Last Knight. Mast also worked on the films Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Amazing Spider-Man.
Jared Padalecki
Jared Padalecki has been a mainstay on The CW since Gilmore Girls. In 2005, he landed his most recognizable role as Sam Winchester in the long-running series Supernatural. The actor has earned two Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi.
For eight seasons, Mike Carpenter did stunt work for Padalecki. Just like the actor, Carpenter found most of his success on The CW. He also did stunt work on Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow and The Tomorrow People. On the big screen, he has been featured in The Incredible Hulk and See No Evil 2.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson was so determined to portray Black Widow that she dyed her hair red before her audition. Her portrayal of the Marvel Comics character boosted her popularity and her paychecks. Sadly, the actress will bid farewell to the character with the film Black Widow.
Johansson has been working with stunt double Heidi Moneymaker since Iron Man 2. “[Heidi and I] got to create this side of the character and expand on it over this past decade,” Johansson told The Hollywood Reporter. The aforementioned Black Widow film will be their eighth movie together.
Daniela Ruah
Daniela Ruah has been a main player on NCIS: Los Angeles since its 2009 debut. In fact, the actress, who plays Kensi Marie Blye, is one of three stars to appear in every single episode. Before her casting, the character’s name was originally Kensi Lo.
On the show, Ruah works with stunt double Kimberly Shannon Murphy. The stunt actress previously did work with Wendi McLendon-Covey on The Goldbergs and Kaitlin Olson on The Mick. Murphy previously worked alongside actor Will Smith in Bright, Men in Black 3 and I Am Legend.
Michael Douglas
As an actor, Michael Douglas has earned accolades for his work on Wall Street, Behind the Candelabra and Fatal Attraction. As a producer, he won the Oscar for Best Picture with his work on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In 2018, Douglas earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
For most of his career, he has worked with stunt double Mike Runyard. They began working with each other for 1989’s Black Rain. Over the years, they have teamed up in the films A Perfect Murder and Ant-Man. The two have become best friends through their shared love of acting.
Tom Hardy
In 2001, English actor Tom Hardy hit the ground running with supporting roles in Band of Brothers and Black Hawk Down. In 2012, he turned into the iconic villain, Bane, in The Dark Knight Rises. His work in The Revenant earned him his first Oscar nomination.
Since Mad Max: Fury Road, Hardy has been working with stunt double Jacob Tomuri. They have worked on a handful of films together, including 2018’s Venom. Tomuri got his break doing stunts in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Recently, he did stunts in Mortal Engines and the upcoming Mulan.
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner became a household name with the action thriller Alias. The actress had to audition for the role of Sydney Bristow five times before landing it. Garner’s performance earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama.
Since Alias, Garner has worked with stunt double Shauna Duggins. Their last stint together was the 2018 film Peppermint. Duggins’ work in Glow earned her two Emmys for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or a Variety Program. She is currently working on the upcoming series Never Have I Ever.
Carla Gugino
Carla Gugino became a box office star with her role as Ingrid Cortez in the Spy Kids franchise. She continued dominating theaters with performances in Sin City, Watchmen and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. With 2015’s San Andreas, Gugino reunited with her Race to Witch Mountain co-star, The Rock.
On San Andreas, she teamed with stunt double Tara Macken. The stuntwoman has spent most of her time working with MCU favorites Zoe Saldana and Tessa Thompson. Her work has earned her two SAG Award nominations. She is currently working on the Mortal Kombat and Space Jam reboots.
Hugh Jackman
For many comic book fans, no one else can play Wolverine better than Hugh Jackman, but he wasn’t the first choice for the character. Russell Crowe was offered the part, but he suggested Jackman for it instead. Outside of X-Men, Jackman has won two Tony Awards and one Emmy.
He began working with stunt double Eddie Davenport on X-Men: First Class. Their working relationship blossomed with collaboration on Real Steel and Logan. Davenport has also done stunt work in Star Trek: Into Darkness, Hot Tub Time Machine and Captain America: The First Avenger.
The Rock
The Rock took his infinite charisma from the wrestling ring to the big screen with 2001’s The Mummy Returns. The former professional wrestler has since become the biggest name in Hollywood. The star will continue his momentum with upcoming roles in San Andreas 2 and Black Adam.
The Rock turned to his own family for the best stunt double ever. His cousin Tanoai Reed has been working with him since 2002’s The Scorpion King. Reed has also done stunt work for You, Me and Dupree and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
