14 Actors Who Defended or Straight Up Saved a Life of a Costar
Whether you’re about to walk into a helicopter blade, or Patton Oswalt made a sorta weird joke at a Comic-Con, it’s important to know your coworkers have your back.
Queen Latifah Said No to a Cast Weight-Loss Quota
Some bigwigs wanted all four leads on Living Single to lose weight, and Queen Latifah wasn’t having any of that: “We are what women look like. We're not going to lose weight for whoever’s idea of what we’re supposed to look like.”
Jackie Chan Salvaged a Nearly-Fatal Stunt
While filming 1992’s Supercop, Michelle Yeoh was performing an elaborate stunt that involved rolling off a roof onto the hood of a car driven by Jackie Chan. When she landed, her fall was supposed to be cushioned by a shattered windshield, but she bounced right off instead. Chan was able to reach around the windshield, grab her clothes and usher her out-of-control body into a safe landing.
Chris Pratt Threw His Weight Around for Bryce Dallas Howard
When he found out how big the pay disparity between the two of them was going to be for Jurassic World, Pratt lobbied to close the gap: “You guys don’t even have to do anything. I’m gonna do all the negotiating. We’re gonna be paid the same, and you don’t have to think about this, Bryce.” He got reasonably close, too, as she reportedly made $8 million to his $10 million.
A Near-Fatal Miscommunication
Before filming a water scene for 1953’s The Cruel Sea, actor Donald Sinden told an assistant director that he couldn’t swim, but they thought he was joking. For some reason, Sinden still decided to jump into a huge water tank that was simulating a storm. Had it not been for his perceptive co-star Jack Hawkins noticing he never came back up to the surface, Sinden could easily have drowned.
You Got a Problem With Melanie Lynskey? Then You’ve Got a Problem With Christina Ricci
A member of the Yellowjackets production crew confronted Lynskey in an oddly personal line of questioning about her body: “What do you plan to do? I’m sure the producers will get you a trainer. They’d love to help you with this.” Tawny Cypress and Christina Ricci rushed to get her back, and Juliette Lewis wrote a strongly-worded letter to producers.
Jet Li Stopped a Runaway Horse
While filming The Forbidden Kingdom, Li noticed that costar Yifei Liu was having trouble stopping her horse after filming a shot of the two galloping at high speed down a narrow mountain road. Li kicked his horse back into high gear, caught up to Liu and her horse and grabbed the reins, slowing both animals down to a stop.
An Extra Risked It All to Desegregate On-Set Bathrooms
On the set of Gone With the Wind, actor Lennie Bluett brought it to Clark Gable’s attention that the bathrooms were segregated. Gable then delivered an ultimatum to the director: “If you don’t get those goddamn signs down, you don’t have a Rhett Butler on this film.”
Tom Cruise Saved Elisabeth Shue From Getting Diced Up by a Helicopter
While filming 1988’s Cocktail, an aerial photographer came in for a landing to review the shots he’d gotten. Shue began running over to get her notes, but was coming from a dangerous angle that would have put her on a collision course with the still-spinning rear propeller. Cruise tackled her to the ground just in time.
Will Smith Made Up for a Botched Theatrical Roll Out
WarnerMedia ratfucked the talent when they decided to release King Richard (2021) on HBO Max the same day it came out in theaters. Smith reached into his own pockets, which were $40 million deeper because of the film, to pay the rest of the cast some of what they may have otherwise made.
David Harbour Saved Finn Wolfhard From Patton Oswalt
When Oswalt was moderating a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, he introduced Wolfard as “an actor born with the greatest porn name ever.” Wolfhard, who was 17 at the time, seemed unsure how to respond, and Harbour approached and told him to “ignore” the comment.
Dolly Parton Saved a Little Kid
While filming 2020’s Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, a nine-year-old actor stepped into the path of a moving vehicle while resetting a scene, and it took none other than Parton herself to scoop her to safety.
Robin Williams Wouldn’t Abide by Child Labor Law Violations
While filming a water scene for Jumanji, young Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce were exhausted and struggling with the schedule. Producers insisted on working overtime, but Williams drew a line: “No, we are not doing any extra time. You’re going to let everybody out now, and we’re going to come back next week.”
Pierce Brosnan Stopped a Runaway Van
On the set of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Brosnan noticed an improperly parked stunt van jostle loose and start rolling toward a sunbathing Uma Thurman. He sprinted to the van, jumped in the driver’s seat and slammed on the brakes.
Pierce Brosnan Heimliched Halle Berry
While filming a romantic scene for Die Another Day, Berry started choking on a fig that she had been seductively slurping on. Brosnan leapt into action and hugged the fruit out of her esophagus.
