Behind The Scenes: Actors With Their Stunt Doubles

Every year it seems like new movies are breaking records at the box office. Many times, it’s not actually the actors doing all the legwork, but a stunt double instead. To prevent putting the actors in dangerous situations, it’s up to the filmmakers to find someone convincing.

The stunt doubles might end up looking nothing like the actor, but if they’re only seen from behind, then all they need is a similar size, shape, and hairstyle. These stunt doubles here don’t all look like the actor they’re playing, but you can still see where the comparisons lie.

Andrew Garfield

When you’re playing a superhero whose face is covered half the time, finding a suitable stunt double shouldn’t be too hard. During Andrew Garfield’s run as Spider-Man between 2012-14, several of his action scenes were played by William Spencer. Given the character was never unmasked when swinging between buildings and fighting the bad guys, all Spencer really needed was to have a similar build to Garfield. From the looks of it, the pair have been hitting the same gym because their bodies are near identical.

Mark Ruffalo

Of course, when it comes to stunt doubles, it’s best if you can find someone who looks exactly like the actor. No-one has been able to pull that off quite like Mark Ruffalo’s stunt double, Anthony Molinari. During the filming of 2013 heist film, Now You See Me, Molinari was used in some of the more dangerous and explosive moments to keep the actor out of harm’s way. From the curly hair to the brown eyes, it’s almost impossible to tell these two apart.

Jennifer Lopez

You would assume that anyone that’s hired as a stunt double would be the same gender as the actor or actress they’re portraying, right? Well, not always. Back in 2012, J-Lo found herself with a male stunt double while filming her music video for Follow the Leader. Although the change of gender is a surprise, it’s clear to see why the man was picked. He shares some remarkable similarities to the famous singer, from the shape of his face to all that hair!

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is known for playing a wide variety of characters, but Captain Jack Sparrow is probably one of his best-known. The suave pirate was the star of five Pirates of the Caribbean films, all of which were filled with intense action scenes from epic sea fights to extravagant escape sequences. While Depp was likely involved with some of them, most of the legwork probably went to his stunt double, Tony Angelotti. We imagine the man spent a lot of time in hair and makeup.

Elizabeth Banks

Many of Elizabeth Banks’ roles haven’t required her to have a stunt double. Her regular appearances in the Pitch Perfect film series and Scrubs were more reliant on comedy than impressive stunts. However, some of her roles have demanded Banks work up a sweat, including on 2017 superhero film Power Rangers. While shooting the movie, she enlisted the help of a stunt double for her portrayal of Rita Repulsa. Thankfully, because of the character design, it was hard to notice differences between the two.

Dwayne Johnson

You’d probably take one look at Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and assume he doesn’t need a stunt double. The man is a mountain, and he could probably easily deal with any action sequences that came his way. However, no-one behind the scenes wants to risk him getting hurt, so they make sure to always have a double on set. Luckily for Johnson, the man that fills in for him is someone he knows pretty well. It’s his cousin, Tanoai Reed! You can see the family resemblance.

Alexander Skarsgård

Alexander Skarsgård has been a very busy man over the last few decades. Unfortunately, a lot of his more prominent roles – such as the 2016 adventure movie The Legend of Tarzan – have required him to push his body to the limits. As you can see, physical fitness isn’t something the actor particularly struggles with, although he can’t do all those demanding scenes by himself. That’s why he has Mark Slaughter around to help out with all the stunts he can’t quite handle.

Zac Efron

Despite not being an action movie star, Zac Efron has racked up quite a few doubles during his career. He had people waiting in the wings during Baywatch and The Greatest Showman, the latter of which was understandable given he had to perform on the trapeze. However, it was his use of a double in the 2016 comedy film Dirty Grandpa that has become the most notable. From performing a handstand to showing off his backside, there was apparently a lot Efron needed assistance with.

Anna Kendrick

Can the real Anna Kendrick please stand up? Ah, this might be a problem. While the actress might not have thrown herself across roofs and driven in high-speed chases for her films, that hasn’t stopped her needing a double at times. In particular, she utilized this stand-in while filming for the drama Cake. We can’t tell how similar their faces are, but from the back, we can’t tell who is who. Which one of these women is the real Anna, and who’s the imposter?

Chris Hemsworth

When you’re chosen to play Norse God Thor, you should know there’s going to be plenty of action scenes in your future. So far, Chris Hemsworth has portrayed the character in seven films from the Marvel Universe, with an eighth soon to come in the form of 2019 superhero epic Avengers: Endgame. Throughout those appearances, he’s had to rely on stunt double Bobby Holland Hanton to occasionally take the reins when things get too intense. We see why this man was chosen for the job.

Robert Pattinson

How many people does it take to play a broody, sparkling vampire in a popular series of romantic fantasy films? Two, apparently. While Robert Pattinson is the man everyone remembers in the role of Edward Cullen, he couldn’t have done the job without a bit of help. That’s where Paul Darnell came in. Although the two don’t look overtly identical, there is a definite similarity in the body shape. We reckon Darnell needs some lessons on pulling off Cullen’s inherent moodiness, though.

Henry Cavill

The most recent actor to portray the iconic Superman is Henry Cavill who filled the role three times between 2013 and 2017. However, while the actor might have the body for the part, he doesn’t quite have the same abilities as Superman. That means rather than being able to fly around and do all his stunts, he has to rely on the help of a double. It’s a good thing Paul Darnell doesn’t just look like Robert Pattinson then, isn’t it?

Elijah Wood

The Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful fantasy film series in history. There might have only been three films – excluding the Hobbit trilogy – but they were all huge critical and commercial successes. They made a star out of Elijah Wood, but it took a lot for him to play a convincing hobbit. To get the scale of things right, he had a double in the form of Kiran Shah. The man currently holds the title of the world’s smallest stuntman.

Jennifer Garner

For some people, a stunt double is just there to fill in for the scenes that they’re not able to do. However, many actors and actresses form strong friendships with their replacements, especially if they appear together a lot. Jennifer Garner is one of those people, with the actress becoming close with her double, Shauna Duggins. The two struck up such a firm friendship that they attended the Stunt Awards together in 2003 in identical outfits. Unsurprisingly, they’ve continued to work together on several films.

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa is the man to be right now. Since 2016, the man has portrayed Aquaman four times, with his most recent appearance being in the 2018 film of the same name. The role has launched him into the spotlight, but he wouldn’t have gotten this far if it wasn’t for his stunt double doing all the scenes he couldn’t handle. Or should we say stunt doubles? According to Momoa, there were so many action sequences in Aquaman he needed double the help.

Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra might have started out as a model when she won the Miss World 2000 pageant, but she’s a woman of many talents. In recent years, she’s proven herself as an actress, including in the drama thriller series Quantico. Chopra featured as the lead character throughout its three-season run, although she relied on a stunt double to get her through some of the more intense scenes. At least, she did to start with. Reports suggested she’d ditched the double by the final season.

Ben Affleck

One man who’s no stranger to using stunt doubles is Ben Affleck. Throughout his career, the actor has been pushed to his limits in roles like Gone Girl and the Batman film series, with the latter particularly taxing. Whenever his scenes have become too much to handle, though, he’s always had his double, Rich Cetrone, there to take over. As of May 2018, the man has portrayed Affleck in a total of five movies, including the upcoming action-adventure film Triple Frontier.

Chandler Riggs

Chandler Riggs hadn’t even hit adolescence when he bagged a role that changed his life forever. Between 2010-18, Riggs portrayed Carl Grimes on the post-apocalyptic horror series The Walking Dead, a part that required him to be incredibly active. Still rather young, there were times when the actor relied on a stunt double to get him through his scenes. However, the person who took over might not be who you’d expect. It was apparently a woman named Ashley who was in her thirties!

Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas has been acting since the ‘60s, so it’s unsurprising he’s needed the help of a stunt double at one time or another during his career. He’s had plenty of time to find someone who he enjoys working alongside which is perhaps why he and Mike Runyard have appeared in so many films together. Most recently, the pair teamed up to portray Hank Pym in both Ant-Man and its sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp. We can see why they get along so well.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise has made a name for himself as an action star, so a stunt double is basically a must for this actor. All those incredible sequences in the Mission Impossible films would have been tricky to pull off without a professional taking Cruise’s place. Although the star has always endeavored to do most of his own stunts, he’s no Superman. At 56 years old, Cruise can’t be afraid to ask for help from his double, especially when he risks breaking a bone… again!

Amy Schumer

Known for her comedy more than her acting, stunt doubles aren’t something that Amy Schumer generally needs to worry about. Having someone that looks like her isn’t going to be much help if they can’t tell a joke. However, for her 2018 film I Feel Pretty, Schumer brought in Meredith Richardson for some of the scenes she couldn’t pull off herself. According to the comedian, this was the second time she’d utilized the double, not that the pair look too alike in their appearance.

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis is another actor who’s become synonymous with action films. Throughout his forty-year career, he’s played some of the best heroes in movie history, including John McClane. While Willis likes to do a lot of his own stunts, we expect he’s willing to be a little more relaxed now that he’s in his sixties. The last thing he wants to do is give himself a serious injury. Thankfully, he has a handful of doubles to take his place, including this guy right here.

Shia LaBeouf

When he’s not motivating the world by telling everyone to “JUST DO IT!,” Shia LaBeouf is impressing us with his acting skills. On the big screen, he most notably appeared as Sam Witwicky in three of the live-action Transformers films. It was a role that showed just how compelling LaBeouf could be as an action star, though he couldn’t have pulled it off by himself. All those high-octane moments full of destruction would have been difficult to film without a stunt double.

Taylor Lautner

Robert Pattinson isn’t the only Twilight alum that has relied on stunt doubles during his career. While filming 2015 action movie Tracers, Lautner had to rely on the assistance of a double when things got tough. With fist fights and plenty of parkour, it’s understandable why the actor looked for help from time to time. However, the actor isn’t afraid of doing the hard work himself. After all, he only remained in the Twilight films because he went through the wringer to build up muscle.

Margot Robbie

She might have started her career on an Australian soap opera, but Margot Robbie has come a long way from those humble beginnings. In the last few years, she’s been bagging some of the biggest roles at the box office, including as Harley Quinn in the superhero movie Suicide Squad. While the film might not have been raved about, the world went crazy for Robbie’s character. It’s all because she and her stunt double, Ingrid Kleinig, did such an excellent job of portraying her.

Mark Wahlberg

Shia LaBeouf might be the one most people remember from the Transformers films, but after the actor left, it was up to Mark Wahlberg to keep the series going. The movie didn’t receive the best reviews, but there were plenty of explosions and action-filled sequences to keep diehard Michael Bay fans happy. With so many dangerous stunts to carry out, Wahlberg needed a helping hand from a body double. Thankfully, the producers found a man with just as much muscle as the iconic movie star.

Adrianne Palicki

When Adrianne Palicki got the casting call for Barbara “Bobbi” Morse on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., she probably expected there would be many stunts awaiting her. Thankfully, she didn’t have to go through with them all by herself. Alicia Vela-Bailey was on hand to do some of the trickier action scenes, and it’s clear to see why. Putting the two women together, it’s hard to tell that they’re not related. As pairings go, this is definitely one of the more believable.

Reese Witherspoon

Another duo that looks pretty alike is Reese Witherspoon and her double, Marilee. The actress featured her companion on her Instagram back in August 2018, revealing that the pair had been working with one another for years. At the time, they were filming drama series Big Little Lies, which Witherspoon appears on with Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley. While stunts might be far and far-between in the show, there have certainly been times when the actress needed to bring in a double.

Megan Fox

She might get a lot of attention for her looks, but Megan Fox is just as capable an actress as she is a gorgeous model. Her work in the Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films have shown that, with Fox unafraid to take on roles a little more action-oriented. Of course, with that decision comes the need to perform stunts. Fortunately, Fox had Stacey Carino and Maria Papathanasiou to rely on for that. The latter is pictured here on the set of TMNT.

Karen Gillan

Karen Gillan’s come a long way in the last decade. Before being cast as the main companion during the Matt Smith era of Doctor Who, she was just a young Scottish actress hoping for her big break. Now, she’s had roles in big hits like Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, and Jumanji, all of which required her to be stunt-ready. This was so crucial while filming Jumanji that Gillan enlisted two women to help with the role, both of whom pulled off her look expertly.

Dave Bautista

WWE pro wrestler Dave Bautista was tapped for the role of Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. He had to have acting classes, but since he had the right physique, he was chosen for the role. Despite his wrestling experience, Bautista still had a stunt double, Robert de Groot, doing his complicated stunt work.

Carrie Fisher

Princess Leia in the gold bikini is one of the most iconic outfits in film history, but what’s rarely been seen is Fisher’s stunt double rocking the same iconic swimsuit. Here are the two sunbathing together in between takes, as their costumes are perfect for catching a tan.

Chandler Riggs

Chandler Riggs portrays Carl Grimes on hit TV show The Walking Dead. While Riggs is currently 21 and took on the role when he was teenager, his stunt double may surprise you. That’s because his stunt double is a woman named Emily Brobst, who is in her 30s.

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen is perhaps best known to most people as Gandalf the Grey (and later Gandalf the White) in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, later reprising the role for The Hobbit trilogy. His character is meant to tower over the hobbits, so he had some help from one of his stunt doubles in the height department.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger had a legendary career in body building before his acting career, which explains his impressive physique. Therefore it goes without saying that finding a stunt double for him required finding someone with just as an impressive body, luckily Commando producers were able to find Peter Kent for this job.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz is known for the fact that she wanted to tackle her stunts on her own. However, she knew that some would be too extreme for her to handle, like when she was filming Knight and Day alongside Tom Cruise. During the bike scenes, her stunt double Kimberly Shannon Murphy took over the complicated bike stunts.

Lynda Carter

Lynda Carter brought the beloved character of Wonder Woman to life in the 1970’s. She worked alongside her stunt double Jeannie Epper to bring the character to life. Crazily, Epper was only paid $250 per day to get hit by cars and jump off of buildings.

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox portrayed the lovable Marty McFly in the Back to the Future film franchise. He didn’t have just one stunt double, but three in order to help him out with the trickier scenes. Kevin Holloway, Robert Bennett, and Charlie Croughwell all got to wear futuristic jackets while helping with the stunts.

Uma Thurman

We tend to forget that a lot of hard work goes into filming crazy action fight scenes, and that many times those who are behind the impressive moves are not the ones that appear on billboards. Supporting Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2 was stunt double Zoe Bell.

Chris Pratt

Chris Hemsworth isn’t the only Hollywood Chris out there with a stunt double that looks almost exactly like him. Chris Pratt teamed up with his stunt double Tony McFarr while filming Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, and Avengers: Infinity War.