The Truth About Ryan Gosling’s Stunts: 5 Key Facts That Prove He’s Not A Typical Action Star

Ryan Gosling is one of Hollywood's most versatile leading men, transitioning seamlessly from romantic dramas like The Notebook to high-octane action films like Drive and, most recently, the stunt-centric blockbuster The Fall Guy. With his latest role as Colt Seavers, a professional stuntman, the question of how many of his own dangerous sequences he actually performs has reached a fever pitch. The answer, as of late 2025, is a refreshing and highly respectful 'some,' but not the most dangerous ones, a stance that sets him apart from other action heroes.

The reality is that while Gosling undergoes intense physical training and performs all the necessary fight choreography and smaller action beats, he maintains immense respect for the professional stunt community. He has been candid and humble about relying on his team of doubles for the record-breaking, life-risking sequences, using his platform to shine a light on their work, rather than taking credit for it.

Ryan Gosling: Full Profile and Biography

Ryan Thomas Gosling is a Canadian actor, musician, and producer, known for his ability to navigate a wide range of genres, earning him three Academy Award nominations and a Golden Globe Award. His career spans from his early days as a child star to becoming one of the most respected and bankable actors of the 21st century.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

• Full Name: Ryan Thomas Gosling
• Date of Birth: November 12, 1980
• Place of Birth: London, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: Actor, Musician, Producer
• Notable Films (Action/Stunt Related): Drive (2011), The Nice Guys (2016), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), The Gray Man (2022), The Fall Guy (2024)
• Major Accolades: Golden Globe Award, three Academy Award nominations (for Half Nelson, La La Land, and Barbie)
• Early Career: Began as a child on The Mickey Mouse Club (1993–1995) alongside Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake.

The Surprising Truth from ‘The Fall Guy’ Set

The 2024 film The Fall Guy, directed by former stuntman David Leitch, serves as the ultimate answer to the question of Gosling's stunt work. The movie is an homage to the stunt industry, and Gosling used his role as the stuntman Colt Seavers to highlight the professionals who make movie magic possible, rather than claiming their work as his own.

1. The Candid Confession: “Almost None of My Own Stunts”

At the film's SXSW premiere, Ryan Gosling made a statement that few actors of his stature would ever utter. He proudly announced to the audience that he performed "almost none of his own stunts" in the movie.

This confession was a deliberate effort to give credit where it was due, acknowledging the "real sacrifice and achievement" of the stunt performers, whose work is often invisible to the public. This level of humility is a significant shift from the typical narrative where actors boast about their physical feats.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

2. The Record-Breaking Stunts Were Performed by His Doubles

For the truly dangerous, high-risk sequences in The Fall Guy, Gosling relied on a team of four to five highly skilled stunt doubles.

• The Cannon Roll Record: The film features a world-record-breaking cannon roll—where a car is flipped multiple times using a projectile device—achieved by Gosling's stunt double, Logan Holladay. Holladay completed 8.5 cannon rolls, setting a new Guinness World Record. This is a feat of extreme precision and danger that no studio would ever allow a leading star to attempt.
• The 150-Foot Fall: Another one of Gosling's doubles, Troy Brown, performed a terrifying 150-foot fall, a stunt that requires specialized training and years of experience.
• The Fire Burn: Stuntman Ben Jenkin was responsible for the full-body fire burns and the sequences where the character is hit by a car.

These performers—including Justin Eaton, Troy Brown, Logan Holladay, and Ben Jenkin—are the true heroes of the film's action.

The Stunts Ryan Gosling Does Perform: Training and Fight Choreography

While he defers to professionals for the life-threatening moments, Ryan Gosling is far from a passive actor when it comes to action. His commitment to the physical demands of his roles ensures that he is believable on screen and can handle the close-up action sequences.

• The Surprise Vegas Wedding And Shared Grief 5 Shocking Details Of John Schneider And Dee Dee Sorvinos Whirlwind Romance Ohirf

3. Intense Stunt and Physical Training

For his role as Colt Seavers, Gosling underwent a rigorous training regimen. This was a significant physical transformation from his previous role as Ken in Barbie.

• Muscle Gain: He gained 15 pounds of muscle in just 16 weeks to achieve the physique of a working stuntman.
• Stunt Skills: His training included learning real, practical stunt skills and extensive fight choreography, incorporating small bits of different martial arts. This preparation is essential for the scenes where the audience needs to see his face during a scuffle.

4. Performing the 'Closer' Action Beats

Gosling does perform the "in-camera" stunts that are less about extreme danger and more about physical acting and maintaining continuity. These are often the smaller, character-driven action moments. For example, he performed a sequence in The Fall Guy involving a spicy margarita, a bad decision, and a big stunt, which was featured in promotional footage.

He also recalled feeling "very real terror" while rehearsing or being part of the setup for a 12-story fall sequence, emphasizing that even the preparation for these massive stunts is mentally and physically taxing.

Beyond ‘The Fall Guy’: Stunt Work in Other Films

Gosling’s involvement in the physical aspects of filmmaking is not new; it’s a hallmark of his career in action and thriller genres.

5. The Physicality of ‘Blade Runner 2049’ and ‘Drive’

In his neo-noir film Blade Runner 2049, Gosling was heavily involved in the fight choreography as Officer K. During one intense scene, a stunt went slightly wrong, resulting in co-star Harrison Ford accidentally punching him in the face. This incident highlights that even in carefully choreographed sequences, the actor is right in the thick of the action.

However, even in this film, the visual effects team (VFX) had to step in. In a major fight scene between Officer K and Luv, a digital version of Gosling's head was used to replace the stunt double’s head, allowing the stunt performer to take the full impact of the action while ensuring Gosling’s face was visible for the close-up.

Similarly, in Drive, while the incredible car chases were handled by professional drivers, Gosling's character, Driver, required him to master the intense, silent physicality and precise movements of a getaway driver, demonstrating a dedication to the character's unique action skills.