Although being a celebrity may seem like an endlessly glamorous existence, acting on a film set comes with a unique set of challenges and risks. Some actors perform many of their own stunts, while others are cast in physical roles that can lead to a variety of injuries. Fortunately, the results of most injuries can be overcome with timely medical attention, proper rest, and in many cases, a solid physical therapy treatment plan.
1. Jackie Chan Injured His Brain
By the very nature of what he does for a living, Jackie Chan is continually vulnerable to injury. He does his own stunts on the sets of his movies, so for this exceedingly popular action movie hero, getting hurt is just one aspect of doing business. When he was working on the set of “Armour of God,” he performed a particularly risky stunt that left him with a fractured skull. According to a Fox news Magazine article, he plunged inadvertently from a 25-foot height. The injury required brain surgery, and the actor now has a plug positioned in his skull permanently.
2. Charlize Theron Was Nearly Paralyzed
Fans may associate this celebrity with red carpet poses and press conferences, but Charlize Theron has been known to perform stunts for her roles in certain films. After doing a backflip on the set of “Aeon Flux,” the actress fell on her neck. The result was a herniated disc that cost her eight weeks of filming time and the potential for paralysis. She was fortunate enough to survive the injury while regaining use of her mobility, but she has since chosen to cease doing the stunts for her film roles.
3. Channing Tatum Suffered Various Injuries
The set of “Foxcatcher” was especially perilous for Channing Tatum. The actor believes he may have broken his hand in a wrestling scene while this movie was being filmed. On another occasion during filming for the same movie, he broke through a prop wall with the sheer force of his body (as a result of slamming his head against a mirror). He narrowly avoided serious injury as a result of that stunt. Another physical scene caused temporary damage to his eardrum.
4. Halle Berry Broke Her Arm
When Halle Berry was working on the set of “Gothika,” she broke her ulna in a scene with Robert Downey Jr. She wasn’t performing a stunt at the time, but the scene did require physical interaction between the two actors. When he heard the sound of her ulna snapping, her costar knew she’d been seriously injured. Berry lost three weeks of filming while her arm healed, but she was able to complete the film.
5. Ben Stiller Was Bitten by a Ferret
Ben Stiller sustained an injury that required a rabies shot on the set of “Along Came Polly.” According to an IMDb description of the incident, Stiller was attacked by a ferret that appeared in a scene with him. As he was holding the animal, it turned around and implanted its sharp teeth in his chin. The actor was understandably rattled by the unfortunate event.
Celebrities are envied by countless individuals, but their jobs are not always as glamorous as they appear. According to Patient Sites, who provides resources for those injured on the job, a person might use Yelp to find a qualified physical therapist after being injured on the set or elsewhere. As any medical professional or previously injured person will likely confirm, getting medical attention as soon as possible after an injury is always advisable.
