Movies

A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television (such as jumping out of a building, jumping from vehicle to vehicle, or other similar actions), and for other sophisticated stunts (especially fight scenes). Stunt doubles may even be used in cases where an actor's age precludes a great amount of physical activity. Stunt doubles are also sometimes referred to as "stunties."

Some well-known actors choose to perform their own stunts, such as Tom Cruise (his audacity was especially noted by the media after he voluntarily performed a battle scene during the production of "The Last Samurai" involving himself and another man charging at each other on horseback, both men wielding swords. Cruise nearly got his head taken off as his head came within merely inches of the blade. He was praised in the media for his tremendously authentic performance (note: a similar event occurred involving Viggo Mortentson during the production of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of The Rings." Viggo got his tooth chipped during a swordfight, and had it quickly glued back on so that they could finish filming the scene.))

The terms stunt double and body double can be used interchangeably for cases where special skills are needed, such as dancing, playing the piano, or competitive skiing.

Stunt doubles are so commonly used in the visual entertainment media, that actors such as Jackie Chan become famous when they do most of their own stunts, often moving from character actor to lead. Many stunt doubles have happy and long production careers by becoming part of a lead star actor's contractual "support crew" along with the star's cooks, trainers, dressers, assistants. Famous stunt doubles for Eddie Murphy, John Wayne, Harrison Ford, Steve Martin and Michael Landon have been associated with their lead actors for decades.

Stunt doubles should be distinguished from stunt performers, who perform stunts for the sake of the stunt alone, often as a career.

"Stunt double" is not the exclusive province of humans; several dog actors are used as doubles, for example Enzo was the stunt double for his aging sire Moose on the sitcom Frasier. Soccer, the dog who portrayed Wishbone, reportedly hated swimming and therefore had stunt doubles.