Mirror Images: 45 Hollywood Actors And Their Lookalike Stunt Doubles
When we go to the movies or watch TV, we only get to see the final product of a process that takes a whole bunch of people. Actors and actresses are just one part of a large system that needs different parts in order to work. That includes producers, choreographers, sound technicians, camera people, CGI people, makeup personnel, and many others. And stunt doubles are one of these parts that make movies and TV shows what they are. Stunt doubles are easily one of the most overlooked professionals in the television industry. These guys and girls are always doing crazy stunts that could possibly injure them, yet they don’t get the recognition that they deserve. However, some actors and actresses are changing that. Instead of not disclosing that they use stunt doubles, celebrities are now sharing pictures with them! Here are 40+ Hollywood actors and their stunt doubles!
#01: Ellie Kemper
If you have watched Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix, you know how incredibly hilarious Ellie Kemper and the show’s entire cast are. But did you know that she used a stunt double in some scenes? She had two stunt doubles!
Even if the show didn’t have many (or any, really) action scenes, Ellie had two body doubles. They were necessary for scenes where the main character would be seen tripping over her own feet. It’s interesting how they all look alike, isn’t it?
#02: Gal Gadot
Gal Gadot is one of the leading actresses in action movies these days, especially because she is this generation’s one and only Wonder Woman. Because she plays a heroine in the film, the actress has plenty of action scenes, and that’s where her stunt double comes in.
Finding a stunt double for Gal wasn’t easy for the casting directors. The actress is pretty tall, so they had to look for a doppelganger that was about her height. Luckily, they found Christiaan Bettridge, who looks quite similar to Gal.
#03: Scarlett Johansson
Another actress making a name for herself in the action movie industry is Scarlett Johansson. The actress has been featured in popular movies since the beginning of her career, but she gained global recognition upon joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As the iconic Black Widow, Johansson performs fighting scenes for the entirety of her Marvel movies. Naturally, she needs a stunt actor to help her with these scenes, and her lovely stunt is Heidi Moneymaker. As you can tell by the pictures, the two get along pretty well.
#04: Karen Gillan
When she’s not playing the role of Gamora’s sister in Guardians of the Galaxy, Karen Gillan also tries her hand at other action movies. And because Jumanji was an action-packed movie, the actress couldn’t have possibly filmed it without the assistance of her stunt doubles.
For this movie, in particular, the actress had two different doubles. The three may not have the same height, but they certainly have the same body type. If we didn’t know any better, we would have thought that Karen and her stunt doubles were triplets!
#05: Kit Harington
One of the leading stars in HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones, Kit Harington, certainly needed a stunt double to shoot some of his scenes on the show. And no, we are not talking about that particular scene that you’re probably thinking about. That was all Kit!
But for his action scenes, the actor counts on the help of his reliable stunt double. He had to wear a wig to shoot fights and other stunt scenes, but other than that, the stunt double certainly looks like Kit. He almost looks like a wax statue version of the actor!
#06: Maisie Williams
Another Game of Thrones star that needed a stunt actor was Maisie Williams. Throughout the show, Williams’ character became quite a warrior, and she was often involved in fight scenes. As such, producers had to find a skilled and experienced stunt double.
While there is quite an age gap between Maisie Williams and her stunt double, the producers couldn’t have an underage stunt double performing fight and action-packed scenes. But they made the right choice when casting Kristina Baskett, for she does resemble Maisie.
#07: Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron became a global sensation after her Oscar-winning role as Aileen Wuornos, but the actress is now known for being one of the brightest stars in the action genre. The actress has been playing leading roles in action movies for a few years now, and she’s excellent at it.
In the movie Atomic Blonde, Theron’s fight scenes are simply phenomenal. And while the scenes are pretty realistic, it’s not actually Charlize performing the stunts; it’s her talented stunt double, Monique Ganderton. We can’t help but take a double-take to figure out who is who.
#08: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Many people don’t know this, but even the Terminator himself needs a stunt double from time to time. Arnold Schwarzenegger is an icon in the action genre, but the actor didn’t always perform his stunts. And it’s incredible to look at his stunt double:
At a quick glance, you can’t even tell who Arnold Schwarzenegger is in this picture! The actor and his double look way too similar — to the point that one might even think that they’re father and son or even siblings!
#09: Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy recently joined the Marvel universe, but he’s been participating in action films for way longer. Like every other actor, he also needs a stunt artist. And it’s interesting to note how Hardy and his stunt double don’t actually look alike:
Except for the shape of their ears, these two don’t look that similar. However, you can’t tell the two apart when they are in front of the camera. And even if they don’t look like twins, both Tom Hardy and his stunt double look fantastic, and that’s all that matters.
#10: Joe Manganiello
You probably have noticed that some of the stunt actors don’t actually have to look like the actors they’re performing stunts for. But that is clearly not the case with Joe Manganiello and his stunt double, who look like twins:
Can you even tell which one is Joe and which is the double? If you’re not too familiar with the works of Manganiello or you’re not used to seeing the usually clean-shaven actor looking like a homeless person, Joe is the one on the right!
#11: Ian McKellen
In Lord of the Rings, Sir Ian McKellen played the role of Gandalf, a leading character in the franchise. One of the most interesting things about LOTR is that the main actors needed more than one stunt look-alike for different reasons.
If you can’t tell, McKellen is the one in the middle. The man to his left is his regular stunt double for the action scenes. Now, the tall guy to his right is his size double. The size double was used whenever Gandalf interacted with hobbits and dwarves so that he would look taller.
#12: Zoe Saldana
Usually, producers have stunt doubles wear wigs and outfits that look just like the ones that the actor/actress is wearing. However, high-budget movies often try different techniques to make stunt doubles look as similar to the actual actor as possible.
When Zoe Saldana joined Marvel as Gamora, she needed more than one stunt actor. Her character is often involved in fights, so the actress mustn’t have one but two stunt doubles. It’s interesting how they’re all made to look together thanks to masks.
#13: Cobie Smulders
Even though Colbie Smulders rose to fame thanks to her role as Robin in How I Met Your Mother, the actress is also part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Smulders joined the cast of SHIELD, which is an action-packed show.
While her role as Robin didn’t have stunts at all, her role in the action show is quite the opposite. The actress has a permanent stunt double (rather than having different look-alikes), and they get along really well on and off camera!
#14: Ken Stott
When you first look at the following picture, you’ll think you’re looking at a mirrored image of the same person. We are here to tell you that no, that’s not it. That’s actually actor Ken Stott and his stunt double on Lord of the Rings!
It wasn’t hard for producers to cast a stunt double for the actor. Once they found someone of the same height, all they had to do was put him in a wig and fake beard. On top of that, the prosthetics team also made special nose prosthetics for the actor and his stunt double. They look like the same person, honestly!
#15: Reese Witherspoon
Unlike Zoe Saldana or Ken Stott, Reese Witherspoon and her long-time body double don’t need prosthetics in order to look alike. As you’ll see in the picture below, the actress and her body double naturally look like twin sisters. We honestly are not sure which is which in this photo.
While Witherspoon is not mainly known for portraying roles in action movies, the actress relies significantly on her body double, Marilee Presley. The two have collaborated for almost 20 years and are good friends outside of the film set as well.
#16: Jenna Fisher
If you watch or have watched The Office, you know that there aren’t many action scenes on the show. Some scenes could require the assistance of stunt doubles, but they weren’t many. But that didn’t stop Jenna Fisher from feeling grateful for her stunt double.
In one particular episode, the characters were having a picnic. Different activities were happening at this picnic, and the actress couldn’t shoot her scenes due to an injury. This is where her stunt double came in. The two look like sisters!
#17: Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey is a national treasure. Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, his movies were everything! And one of Carrey’s most iconic movies/characters is Ace Ventura. This hilarious movie had quite a few scenes that Carrey couldn’t film himself.
Jim Carrey’s stunt double was not only handsome but also skilled. The comedian couldn’t decline a picture with the guy. While they don’t look that much alike, you can’t even tell that there is a stunt double when you watch the movie.
#18: Harrison Ford
When we watch action and adventure movies, we may not notice that there are stunt doubles at work, but we do know this. After all, actors and actresses can’t risk having an injury that could potentially mess up the shooting schedule.
Harrison Ford brought some iconic characters to life, including Indiana Jones. In this movie franchise, his character was always involved in action shots. As such, the actor needed not one but two stunt doubles to help him out during shooting!
#19: Sebastian Stan
There are times when casting directors and producers can’t find a stunt double that looks exactly like the actor or actress they’ll be doubling for. Luckily, times have changed, and technology allows for them to cast any stunt double that has at least the same physique.
As you can see, Sebastian Stan’s stunt double doesn’t look like him. However, the two have the same body type. When the costume designers put them in the same outfit, they can shoot their scenes, and then the staff responsible for editing the film can easily do their job.
#20: Charlotte Kirk
As we were saying, sometimes an actor and their stunt double won’t share facial similarities. However, all they need to have in common is their body type, basically. They just need to wear similar makeup and the same outfit from then on.
You can see that Charlotte Kirk and her stunt double have pretty different faces. However, once you put the stunt double in a wig and in the same outfit as Charlotte’s, the two could easily pass as sisters or twins!
#21: Ayden Mayeri
It is interesting to see how stunt doubles and actors develop such a good relationship when working together. That’s because they spend quite a lot of time together, planning their scenes and sometimes even choreographing moves for these scenes together.
You can tell how Ayden Mayeri and her stunt double, Tara Macken, were having fun on set. The two were even joking as they posed for this picture. According to the caption, this is the face one makes when they see someone wearing the same outfit as them at a party!
#22: Mike Moh
Bruce Lee was a legendary Asian actor. His movies changed the action industry, and he also inspired thousands to learn different martial arts. It’s no wonder that there have been many biopics dedicated to Bruce Lee over the last years.
Mike Moh was the leading star of one of these biopics. He played Bruce Lee in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. While the actor is a black belt in Taekwondo, he still needed a stunt double, and Bryan Cartago did a great job at doubling for him.
#23: Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Lyonne is known not just for her amazing vintage style or for her incredibly raspy voice. The actress has starred in iconic Netflix-produced shows, including Orange Is the New Black and, most recently, Russian Doll, which she also produced.
We don’t want to give you spoilers, but Lyonne’s character on the show dies several times, in multiple different ways. She’s stuck in a loop. And to shoot her countless death scenes, Lyonne had the help of two stunt doubles.
#24: Ben Affleck
While some actors and actresses work with different stunt doubles over the years, some prefer to work with only one person. This is great for their performance when they have to shoot action scenes, and that’s what Ben Affleck does.
While the actor is not always involved in action projects, he has worked with the same stunt double on all of them. As you can see, they look similar, so maybe that’s why he chose to stick with one stunt actor only.
#25: Evan Rachel Wood and Thandiwe Newton
HBO is well-known for producing some of the most critically acclaimed TV shows ever. One of these shows is Westworld, an action-packed show that combines futuristic sets with Western sets. In each of the scenes, there’s a lot of action.
Evan Rachel Wood and Thandiwe Newton play two of the most important characters on the show, and in the later seasons, they’re getting involved in plenty of fights. And it seems like the actresses and their stunt doubles get along pretty well off-screen too.
#26: Kiana Madeira
Netflix is constantly releasing new movies and TV shows, and they recently achieved a lot of success with their slasher franchise Fear Street. Kiana Madeira plays the leading role in the film, and it’s safe to say that her character goes through a lot.
It would be impossible for Kiana Madeira to shoot all three saga movies without at least one stunt double. She had multiple stunt doubles (four doubles, to be exact), and she spent a lot of time with all of them.
#27: Zachary Levi
As we mentioned earlier, stunt doubles don’t have to look exactly like the actor they are doubling for. In the past, that was probably essential, but nowadays, CGI experts can simply alter the stunt double’s face to make them look like the actor.
In Zachary Levi’s case, that’s what happened during the shooting of Shazam. His stunt double had the same body type, and the two had the same height. All that was left was to digitally change the stunt actor’s face with the aid of those black spots.
#28: Aubrey Plaza
Tara Macken is one of the leading names in the stunt actor industry. The actress has doubled for multiple (and we mean multiple) famous actresses, including Evan Rachel Wood, Zoe Kravitz, Ana de Armas, Aubrey Plaza, and many others.
When Tara and Aubrey are standing side by side, you can see why Tara was cast as her double. The two actresses do look alike. And yes, that is Zac Efron photobombing the two of them as they pose for a picture on set!
#29: Cedric Joe
The team behind Space Jam recently came out with a second installment of the franchise, years after Michael Jordan’s original movie. Cedric Joe played an essential role in the film, and he had to perform some basketball moves during shooting.
While Joe was performing his stunts in several scenes, he counted on the help of Lucky Davis. Despite his age, Davis is already a professional stunt actor, and he did a great job doubling for Cedric Joe. The two look almost identical in this picture!
#30: John Travolta
While one might think that actors don’t interact with their doppelgangers, that is far from true in reality. Because they spend so much time working together, it’s not unusual for actors to actually become friends with their stunt double.
In this photo shared by John Travolta’s stunt double, the two actors work side by side to plan their next scene. This is a common sight in film sets. Sometimes, the stunt double is also a stunt coordinator/choreographer, so they work closely with the actor to help them rehearse their moves.
#31: Dwayne Johnson
All of Dwayne Johnson’s movies are action-packed. This former WWE wrestler turned Hollywood star is one of the leading names in this genre. And even if Dwayne is also known as The Rock, he’s only human like the rest of us.
As such, directors and producers can’t have Johnson sustaining an injury because of a stunt. Even The Rock has a stunt double, and it’s safe to say that the two could easily pass as brothers! It’s incredible how they managed to find a stunt professional with the same body type as Dwayne.
#32: Clark Gregg
Clark Gregg is a well-known name among Marvel fans. He plays a vital role in the cinematic universe, and given how many action segments there are in these superhero movies, it is no wonder that he needs a stunt double.
What is interesting to note about Clark and his stunt double is that the two look almost like the same person. From this angle, it’s even hard to tell who Clark is and who is the stunt actor. Even their hairlines are almost the same!
#33: Tom Hardy, pt. 2
Earlier in this article, we showed you a picture of Tom Hardy and his stunt double, Jake Tomuri. The two have collaborated on different movies, including the Venom movies and Mad Max: Fury Road. However, we mentioned how they didn’t look alike.
Well, it turns out that the angle of the photo tricked us into thinking that Hardy and Tomuri don’t look alike. As you can see in this picture, they look just like each other. Nevertheless, we’d like to reiterate what we said before: they both look amazing!
#34: Chris Hemsworth
When you look at a big man like Chris Hemsworth, you probably think he doesn’t need a stunt double. However, having a stunt professional on the set is not something that is based on whether an actor has or doesn’t have a good enough physique.
No matter how big and strong they are, performers don’t have the same training and experience as stunt actors. Plus, they can’t risk getting injured and not being able to film the movie. That’s why even Hemsworth needs a stunt double working by his side.
#35: Elijah Wood
Nowadays, CGI is way more developed than when The Lord of the Rings movies came out. Today, actors might not need size doubles as they did before — the CGI team can easily put the actor’s face on the body of a hobbit.
However, back then, they still needed size doubles for scenes where Elijah’s character had to interact with bigger characters than him in size. It’s pretty interesting to look at this picture of Big Frodo and Little Frodo together!
#36: Emma Watson
The Harry Potter movie franchise helped its three protagonists become global sensations. Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint will forever be remembered for their roles in the franchise, and that’s a fact. For their action scenes, each actor had a stunt double.
Except for Emma Watson. The young actress had three stunt doubles rather than just one. That’s because she played a really important role in the franchise’s last couple of movies, and her character went through a lot. It is quite incredible to see 4 Hermoine’s hanging out together.
#37: Mena Massoud
When casting directors can’t seem to find a stunt actor that looks exactly like the actor or actress they’ll double for, they have to settle for someone that at least shares some characteristics. And that’s what happened when they had to find a stunt actor for the Aladdin movie.
Mena Massoud and his stunt double don’t look alike if you look at their faces. However, they share similar body types and even have the same height. If you watch the movie, you’ll notice how you can barely see Aladdin’s face during his stunts. That’s a technique they used to hide the fact that Mena and his stunt double didn’t look the same.
#38: Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher was a legend in Hollywood. Everyone loved the actress for her incredible portrayal of Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise and because she was an extraordinary human being. You can see how nice she was just by this picture:
That’s Carrie and her stunt double when she was shooting the Star Wars movies. As you can see, the actress and her stunt double became very close friends on the movie set. Despite her fame, Fisher was lovely with everyone on scene, including the professional doubling for her.
#39: Sophie Turner
These next images will probably give you whiplash. Sophie Turner and her stunt double in Game of Thrones look so alike that it is hard to tell who is who. If you show this picture to anyone who’s seen Turner on the big screen, they’ll feel the same way:
The girl on the right is Sophie Turner’s stunt double. The two look so alike that probably even the two of them agree that they look like a pair of sisters. One might even think that this is a “before and after” picture!
#40: Jason Momoa
We all know that Jason Momoa is a big guy. However, the actor is not known simply for his muscles and height. The actor has a remarkable beard and hair, and it’s not easy to find a stunt actor that shares all of those characteristics with the actor.
While his stunt double doesn’t exactly have the same body type — we can tell that Momoa is bigger than him —the two of them do look alike. And in case you’re wondering, those are fake tattoos on the stunt double.
#41: Lynda Carter
Having a stunt double on the set of a movie or show is not something that was created recently. Back in the good old days, actors already counted on the help of their stunt doubles. The only difference was that there wasn’t a lot of technology, so actors and their stunt doubles had to look alike by default.
Gal Gadot is doing a great job as Wonder Woman — but Lynda Carter was one of the best portrayers of the role. The Wonder Woman show on TV was iconic, and many people still remember it. In this picture, we can see how Lynda and her stunt double also loved it!
#42: Melissa McBride
Melissa McBride is a popular name among The Walking Dead fans. The actress was on the show from the very beginning and even starred in one of the spin-offs. And you don’t have to watch the show to know that it has quite a lot of action scenes.
Every actor on the show has a stunt double, and so does Melissa McBride. In this picture, we can see the two of them posing for a selfie side by side, and they look almost like the same person. If you don’t know, McBride is the one on the right.
#43: Faye Marsay
In the show Game of Thrones, many vital characters meet their deaths in horrible ways. When they are not suffering, they are involved in violent battles. And that is precisely why the actors on this show need stunt doubles.
Faye Marsay was on Game of Thrones for two seasons, and she counted on the help of her stunt double on both of them. In this picture, the actress and her double are posing together, and it looks like they’re a pair of twins straight out of a thriller movie!
#44: Angela Bassett
Most people think that stunt doubles are the only types of doubles that exist, but that is not correct. As you’ve seen in this article, there are size doubles as well. In addition to that, there are also body doubles.
A body double will lend only their body (not their face) to an actor or actress. Their work is essential when there are nudity scenes, and the actor doesn’t want to shoot it themselves for multiple reasons. In this picture, we see Angela Bassett and her body double, and they both look stunning.
#45: Nicholas Cage
Finding a stunt double for some actors is not an easy job, especially if they have a very particular body type. For instance, finding a stunt double for actors such as The Rock or Jason Momoa is not an easy task.
It was also hard to find a stunt double for the one and only Nicholas Cage. Not because the actor has a different physique, but because it was hard to find someone that shares his facial characteristics. Luckily for the actor, his character wore a helmet during his fights, so it was easy to use a stunt double wearing the same outfit and helmet.