Classic action movies are known for their heart-pounding stunts, gripping sequences and high stakes on life and death. The audience is on the edge of their seats as they watch these nail-biting scenes; the chance to live vicariously through these odds-defying characters is too hard to pass up. With Hollywood heavy hitters bringing in some serious cash, some action stars are making every penny of their paycheck. While many actors seize the opportunity to perform their own stunts, some prefer to leave those skills to the experts.
Updated September 20, 2022: If you’re interested in all things action, you’ll be happy to hear that we’ve updated this list to include additional actors who embrace stunt work and those who shy away from it.
Some action stars, even older ones, are determined to perform their own stunts; whether they enjoy the physicality or the overall adrenaline rush, some just can’t get enough. For these nail-biting scenes to really perform, the actor needs to be committed and be completely believable. What better way to impress moviegoers than to perform these stunts themselves?
Tom Cruise
Box office mega star Tom Cruise is no stranger to danger; he has built a lucrative career starring in action movies and insists on performing his own stunts. Cruise has cemented herself as an action star with huge hits like the Mission Impossible franchise, Minority Report, War of the Worlds, and Edge of tomorrow. The actor clearly enjoys the physicality of performing stunts, and during a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Cruise revealed: “The first stunt is nerve-wracking, but also exciting. I’ve been told a few times to stop smiling while shooting a stunt.” Cruise is so committed to getting the shot that he even broke his ankle while filming the latest episode of Mission Impossible.
Jeremy Renner
marvel star Jeremy Renner is celebrated for his portrayal of bow-wielding marksman hero Hawkeye, with the actor eventually getting his own Disney+ series centered on the Avengers character. Although he has devoted himself fully to performing his own stunts in the fan favorite franchise and in action movies such as SWAT, Bourne’s legacy, and Mission Impossible series, it might be surprising to learn that Renner hurt himself while shooting the comedy film Label, after breaking his right elbow and left wrist after falling twenty feet. Anyway, the movie star remains determined to do his own stunts, having said“You spend so much time and money trying to create a world where people can sit in a chair and watch a movie, you don’t want them to be taken out of the movie by a guy in a bad wig trying to do the stunt to do.”
Charlize Theron
The Oscar-winning actress turned herself into the action world with hit films like Mad Max: Fury Road, The Fate of the Furious, Atomic Blonde, and old guard, with the Netflix movie that will soon have a sequel. Clear, Charlize Theron knows how to pack a punch (or two) and is fully committed to her action sequences. Speaking with Howard Stern in 2020, Charlize emphasized her stunt work, saying: “It’s all about having the right team. You don’t need a stuntman to step in and do something. You create it to be something you can do. And that’s what makes it fun.” It’s no wonder the actress has a stunt; she and Keanu Reeves share the same trainer!
Jason Statham
Since he first burst into the action scene with the thrilling carrier trilogy, Jason Statham made a name for himself in Hollywood as the ultimate anti-hero. Trained in Brazilian jiu-jutsu, boxing and judo, Statham’s skills have led him to achieve success with films such as Crank, The Mechanic, The Expendables series and the Fast and furious franchisee. While doing his own stunts, the actor once revealed to: IGN“I’ve never really been afraid to do anything. It’s always a matter of safety that keeps me from doing anything.” Statham has been a big supporter of stunt performers to gain more recognition and praise for their contributions.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves has made quite the action movie resume since his 1989 comedy breakout The excellent adventure of Bill & Ted. The actor isn’t afraid to try every genre, but has received a lot of credit for roles in action movies like speed, the matrix, and the John Wick series. From wild jumps of moving cars to intense fight scenes, Reeves doesn’t shy away from getting his hands dirty in a scene. If we talk about the stunts performed in the John Wick movies, the actor said Today reporter Willie Geist: “All the actions done in the movies are performed solely by me. I do 90% of what happens there. I try to keep the connection with my audience.”
Harrison Ford
Beloved powerhouse Harrison Ford has an extensive and distinguished film career spanning six decades, appearing in classic hits such as the Star Wars saga and the Indiana Jones franchisee. He has portrayed countless heroic characters in the action genre and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Ford enjoys Indiana Jones’ physicality and took pride in training and performing his own stunts. During the iconic opening scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the actor was famous for the rock itself and did so a whopping ten times.
While many actors are willing to risk life and limb for a part, others prefer to exercise caution and leave the stunt work to the professionals. Whether it’s for self-preservation, protecting the production, or just knowing their limitations, these actors refuse to do their own stunts.
Danny Trejo
Renowned actor Danny Trejo is known for his many action movie roles such as Desperado, Con Air, Machete, and the Spying on children series. With his straight face, handlebar mustache and penchant for sharp objects, the actor is known in Hollywood as a rebel. Despite his tough personality, Trejo is honest about his opinion of actors performing their own stunts. Speaking to Yahoo Movies, Trejo said, “We have stunt people who do that sort of thing. And if they get hurt, I’m sorry to say, but they just have to give another Mexican a mustache and we can go on. But if I get hurt. hit it, it’s like everyone is unemployed, so I don’t choose that.”
Ryan Reynolds
Hollywood funny and heavy-hitter Ryan Reynolds is known for his infectious personality and sideways humor. He created the perfect mix of action and comedic roles, and while he enjoyed doing his own stunts, he has since been sidelined. Reynolds was forced to stop performing action scenes after it affected his health. 2012’s safe house was the last film in which he did his own stunts, after breaking his vertebrae in his neck during filming. Reynolds obeys his doctor’s orders and leaves the heavy lifting to his stuntmen.
Drew Barrymore
Hollywood sweetheart Drew Barrymore has been a constant presence in the industry for forty years, gaining huge fame after her role in the beloved Steven Spielberg classic ET the alien. The actress has never shied away from action-based roles as she was famous in and produced by Charlie’s Angels and the sequel Charlie’s Angels: Full throttle.
While filming a scene in the Netflix original series that went way too fast santa clarita diet, Barrymore suffered a concussion and ended up in hospital, and the experience changed her view on stunt work. “I will never do my own stunts again. That was the end of a wonderful era… But I will never do a stunt again because I could have died and it was really scary.”
Liam Neeson
Esteemed Irish Actor Liam Neeson saw a career shift when he took on the role of Bryan Mills in the Taken trilogy. Subsequent casting led Neeson to other action roles, including: Clash of the Titans, The Grey, and A walk among the tombstones. The actor started boxing at the age of nine and used those skills while acting. Despite his willingness to make a fist, Neeson doesn’t perform his own stunts. He has had the same stunt double, Mark Vanselow, since 1999. From this fact, Neeson said:“I do my own fights, I don’t do my own stunts, and there is a difference.”
Samuel L. Jackson
Known for his colorful resume and expressive vocabulary, Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most decorated actors in Hollywood. With a career spanning decades and roles in hit movies like A Time to Kill, Pulp Fiction, The Hateful Eight, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, Jackson is truly an acting chameleon. In recent years, the actor has taken on more physical roles such as: The hitman’s bodyguard, glass, and his appearances as Marvel’s Nick Fury. Despite his dedication to the profession, Jackson knows his limitations and that includes stunt work. “Why should I do that? If you want a long career, you don’t do any of that.”