Stunt Doubles In Hollywood With The Highest Paychecks

Movie/Show: Back to the Future
Production Budget: $19 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $40,000*

As of 2020, Charlie Croughwell has three decades in the business, making him a certified pro. Not only does Charlie look remarkably like Michael J. Fox, but he can move like him, too. For the parts of Back to the Future that required a little more than what Fox was capable of, Croughwell stepped in. 

Back to the Future Michael J. Fox and Charlie Croughwell and team @Kamryn . / Pinterest.com

The actor and the stuntman have a close friendship, which helped when it came to their working relationship. Charlie also doubled as Marty McFly for the following two installments of the Comcast-owned Universal Pictures franchise. It advanced his career in the business and earned him a healthy paycheck.  

The veteran stuntman is often spotted doing interviews and talking about his time working with Michael J. Fox. One of his most recent projects was The Laundromat, a 2019 movie starring Meryl Steep as Ellen Martin, a vacationer-turned-insurance-investigator. The Laundromat won several awards, including a Golden Lion, the Volpi Cup, and more.

Movie/Show: The Amazing Spider-Man
Production Budget: $230 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $75,000*

Next to Toby Maguire and Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield doesn’t always stick out as one of the more memorable Peter Parker actors. However, the star did portray Spidey in The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. To help with all the superhero antics in the Sony movies, production enlisted the help of William Spencer. 

The Amazing Spider-Man Andrew Garfield and William Spencer @onediocom/Pinterest

Spencer started out as a skater before venturing into stunts with great success. There are many great images of Andrew and William practicing their teamwork on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man. Thanks to editing, it all looks seamless. 

Spencer goes by the name “Skate Ninja” on Instagram, and his social media is chock full of him doing seemingly-impossible skateboard stunts. As IMDb put it, Spencer is a “master” at using his “physical creativity…to tell a story.” He certainly seems popular on Instagram, racking up over 87,000 followers on the picture-sharing app.

Movie/Show: Pirates of the Caribbean
Production Budget: $140 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $55,000*

Captain Jack Sparrow is better known for his drunk weaving than he is for awe-inspiring action sequences. However, in Pirates of the Caribbean and its subsequent sequels, Jack did have to escape some scrapes in spectacular style. That’s where Tony Angelotti came in. The stuntman stood in for Johnny Depp on several occasions throughout the franchise. 

Johnny Depp and Tony Angelotti @Valeriephoebe45 / Twitter.com

The two weren’t just coworkers – they were (and still remain) good friends. Depp and Angelotti would sit in Depp’s trailer after filming and share glasses of wine together. Depp even gave Angelotti a gift after the franchise ended. The famous actor commissioned celebrity jeweler Neil Lane to make Angelotti a custom replica of the Dead Man’s Chest’s Ring of Thieves.

Unfortunately, he did end up sustaining some very serious injuries during one particular stunt. Angelotti fractured his pelvis, damaged his bladder, femoral artery, knees, legs, and even suffered internal bleeding while working on the Disney feature. 

Movie/Show: I Feel Pretty
Production Budget: $24 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $40,000*

When Amy Schumer started to transition from the small screen to the big screen, it was inevitable that her movies were going to be as funny as her stand-up and her shows. I Feel Pretty saw Schumer as a woman who finds confidence after suffering a head injury. For the limited stunts in the show, Meredith Richardson took to the floor. Literally. 

I Feel Pretty Amy Schumer and Meredith Richardson @Amy Schumer / Instagram.com

Richardson began training as a stuntwoman in college. She added boxing to her busy college schedule because she wanted to become a stuntwoman. After she finished her college exams, she pursued work in show business seriously. She and Schumer are real-life friends, too, with Amy saying, “[I] couldn’t love her more!” on Instagram. 

As well as performing in the 2018 movie, Richardson has used her talents in blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther, and Jurassic World. As for Amy, she’s come a long way since her Viacom Comedy Central show, Inside Amy Schumer.

Movie/Show: The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
Production Budget: $22 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $80,000*

Lionsgate hit on a winning formula when they decided to produce the sequel to 2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Inventively titled The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is set to be released in 2021. Starring one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars Ryan Reynolds in a leading role, it’s set to be a hit. 

Ryan Reynolds and Jonny James @vancityreynolds/Instagram

Reynolds does his fair share of tough scenes, but for what he can’t do there’s Jonny James. James has had a busy few years, starring in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Angel Has Fallen, and more. When it comes to working with some of the industry’s biggest stars, James isn’t phased and gets the job done.

Fans of Game of Thrones may not immediately not recognize his face, but they’ll definitely recall his jaw-dropping stunts. James starred in two eighth-season GoT episodes, including “The Iron Throne” and “The Bells.” James has an Instagram account where he documents his stunt work and life among the stars, going by the handle @jonnyjames61.

Movie/Show: Sudden Death
Production Budget: $26 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $60,000*

Jean Claude Van Damme was once the action king of the silver screen, beating out the competition across the board to bring the thrills. He still has a sturdy reputation as a hard man to this day thanks to roles in movies like Sudden Death. Todd Senofonte has stood in for Van Damme on several occasions. 

Jean Claude Van Damme and Todd Senofone @JCVDworld / Facebook.com

Not only did he appear in the 1995 Comcast movie, but he also performed stunts in The Quest, Maximum Risk, Double Team, Pound of Flesh, Universal Soldier: The Return, Knock Off, Legionnaire, Swelter, and Until Death.

One of his most recent movies was a sci-fi/action thriller called Super Shark, which was somewhat of a Jaws remake with a twist. A beach resort is plagued by a giant monster of a shark that not only hunts them in the water but can also travel on land and by air. Super Shark got a 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Movie/Show: Skyscraper
Production Budget: $97 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $100,000*

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has a very distinctive frame, so finding someone to stand in for him isn’t the easiest job in the world. Thankfully, Johnson has a cousin called Tanoai Reed who is every bit as ripped as he is. 

Dwane 'The Rock' Johnson and Tanoai Reed @TheActionAcademy / Facebook.com

Reed and Johnson first teamed up for WWE Entertainment’s The Scorpion King back in 2002. Since then, the cousins have worked on numerous movies together, including 2018’s Skyscraper. For the latter, Reed brought in an estimated $100,000 for his gravity-defying efforts. Reed hasn’t always got off lightly, having sustained multiple injuries over the years. 

Reed has had significant work outside of Rock’s movies as well. If you’re a Black Eyed Peas fan you’ll recognize him from the music video for “Pump It,” as he played one of the main villains that Fergie fights in the video. The Honolulu, Hawaii native’s other big-name movie credits include Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, Blood and Bone, and American Gladiator.

Movie/Show: Marvel’s The Punisher
Production Budget: $2 million per episode*
Salary of Stunt Double: $75,000 per episode*

Amber Rose Revah took on the challenge as Dinah Madani in Netflix’s The Punisher, but thankfully she had a little help. Aja Frary stepped in to do the fight scenes, making sure that Revah could focus on her acting. 

Amber Rose and Aja Frary @amberroserevah / Instagram.com

Frary first started out in the stunt world working on American Gangster. Now, she’s got an impressive resume with many well-known movies to her name. Just last year, she appeared in Spider-Man: Far from Home, Joker, and Jumanji: The Next Level. When it comes to performing daring and dangerous stunts, Aja isn’t afraid to take the plunge – especially when she’s getting $75,000 per episode for her efforts.   

Frary, a Seattle native, has won a SAG Nomination for Outstanding Performance as a stunt double. Frary’s dabbling with the MCU includes Iron Man 3. She was also a stunt double in The Dictator, Unspoken: Diary of an Assassin, and Unforgettable, the latter of which featured her as Rosario Dawson’s stand-in. 

Movie/Show: X-Men: Apocalypse
Production Budget: $138 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $130,000*

When Olivia Munn was cast in X-Men: Apocalypse, fans were excited to see what the actress would bring to the role of Psylocke. Her performance was solid, but there was some confusion when Olivia revealed in an interview that she performed her own stunts, only to share a photo with her stunt double Julia Rekaikyna some time later. 

Olivia Munn and Julia Rekaikyna @Shadow__Creeper / Twitter.com

Rekainkyna not only performs as a stunt professional, but also works as an actress from time to time. Earlier this year, she appeared as an Amazonian woman in CBS’ Superwoman which airs on The CW. She has also worked on Deadpool and Maze Runner: The Death Cure. 

Rekaikyna has also worked as a stunt double for actress Courtney Ford (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Dexter, Kept Woman, True Blood, Fling, etc.), and Ford has posted about her on social media several times. On Instagram, Ford called her, “My stunt devil queen” and called Rekaikyna “amazing.” Viewers of the performer’s movies can’t help but agree.

Movie/Show: X2: X-Men United
Production Budget: $85 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: Unknown

Hugh Jackman found his stunt double through his sister. His brother-in-law, Richard Bradshaw, has been standing in for him ever since 2004’s NBCUniversal film Van Helsing. One of the more action-packed capers Bradshaw has worked on is X2: X-Men United, where he worked on Wolverine’s stunts.

Hugh Jackman and Richard Bradshaw @MrBushman1 / Twitter.com

Bradshaw began working as a stunt double in the mid-nineties. Before that he was part of the British fencing team from 1982 until 1985. Then he worked as a diver for oil rigs traveling through the North Sea. Comparatively, his work as a stunt double must have seemed rather boring when he entered the profession in 1994.

As well as teaming up with Jackman, Bradshaw had the pleasure of working on James Cameron’s epic movie, Titanic. In the Oscar-winning feature he was one of dozens of stunt performers tasked with jumping off of the ship into the water, attached by just a piece of rope.

Movie/Show: Transformers: Age of Extinction
Production Budget: $163 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $125,000*

It’s been a long time since Mark Wahlberg was busting a move onstage as one Tencent’s Universal Music Group’s acts with The Funky Bunch, but he’s still in great shape. Wahlberg left his career behind a while ago to transition into acting. 

Mark Wahlberg and Dan Mast @villasoma95816 / Twitter.com

He’s known for his ability to handle action scenes, but even Mark needs a hand every now and then. For Transformers: Age of Extinction, Wahlberg’s stunts were performed by Dan Mast. Mast may not be a seasoned pro (he was in his early 20s at the time) but he still got top dollar for his performance. The movie itself was the only feature to take over a billion at the box office that year.

Mast has been nominated for awards, thanks to his on-screen time. He was nominated for two Taurus Awards, something he jokes about on his Instagram, calling himself a “2x Taurus Award-Losing Stunt Man.” The daredevil is in his early thirties but he has already made a huge name for himself in Hollywood. 

Movie/Show: Titanic
Production Budget: $155 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $90,000*

James Cameron’s Titanic was an epic feature that will forever be known as a legendary example of ‘90s filmmaking. The movie made Kate Winslet a star, but she had the help of Sarah Franzl. Franzl helped Kate get through some of the tense underwater scenes. 

Kate Winslet and Sarah Franzl @MrBushman1 / Twitter.com

Sarah would have netted around $90,000 for her work on the Oscar-winning flick. At that time, Franzl was already well-known in the business. Since then, she’s worked on a host of movies, including Christpher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, dubbed “grimly intense” by The New York Times.

However, The Dark Knight isn’t the only DC Comics project on which Franzl has worked. She also appeared in Wonder Woman in 2017. Her other movie credits include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Fast & Furious 6, and Les Miserables, all of which were huge blockbuster hits in the 2010s.

Movie/Show: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Production Budget: $282 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $300,000*

News Corp’s HarperCollins may run the official J.R.R Tolkien book shop now, but back in 2001 Lord of the Rings fans were looking to the screen to get their Frodo fix. Peter Jackson’s imagining of the literary work saw Elijah Wood cast as our favorite hobbit on a mission across Middle Earth. 

Elijah Wood and Kiran Shah @Cultura_blog / Twitter.com

Jackson championed the use of CGI, but there were some things that computers couldn’t do. For that, there was Kiran Shah who served as Wood’s scale double. Shah holds the distinction of being the world’s shortest stuntman. He has appeared in dozens of movies since starting his career in 1977. 

Shah, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya, has appeared in an impressive 31 films as an actor. The 4’2” thespian has additionally appeared in 37 films as a body double or stuntman. He became interested in movies as a teenager in India, and, when his family moved to America, he got involved in Hollywood. He wrote a book about his experiences in show business, titled Small Voice, Large Thoughts. 

Movie/Show: Black Panther
Production Budget: $155 million*
Salary of Stunt Double: $135,000*

When Black Panther was released in 2018 fans could barely contain their excitement. The Marvel character had been waiting in the wings for some time. When the movie hit theaters, reviews were positive. Gannett’s USA Today called it a “visual joy to behold.” 

Michael B. Jordan and Aaron Toney @NaTasha Kilgore / Pinterest.com

Part of that visual delight was down to the expertise of stuntman Aaron Toney. While Michael B. Jordan trained ferociously to be Killmonger, there were still some things that Toney could do better. Not only did he stand in for Jordan, but Toney also helped with stunts for Chadwick Boseman’s titular character. 

He has been nominated for a SAG Award for his excellent work as a body double. Toney in addition to dazzling fans of the MCU with his high-flying stunts, has also appeared in huge blockbusters like Captain America: Civil War, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, TRON, Out of the Furnace, and Wolf Warrior 2.