Lived Through This
I Get Paid to Set Myself on Fire
As a stunt performer, I’m trained in the meditative art of staying focused while I burn
I’ve been set on fire a ridiculous number of times — on purpose. It’s my job. I realize that most people — with good reason — don’t want to get too close to a flame, let alone be completely engulfed by one. That approach is logical, smart, and, in many ways, the right idea. But my thought processes around fire are wired somewhat differently.
I’ve been a stuntperson for more than 20 years. I have been “lucky” enough to be hit by cars, fall off skyscrapers, smash through windows, and kill Xena — all in a day’s work. Don’t get me wrong—lucky doesn’t mean easy. My list of severe injuries is long. I’ve been in the hospital more times than I can remember, although that might just be a result of my repeated head traumas. Though most of the stunts I’ve performed included a high degree of danger and excitement, being set on fire sits smugly atop that list for me.
Fire is unpredictable. A hefty blaze seems to have a mind of its own, hell-bent on being exactly where you do not want it. As stunt professionals, we take as many calculated precautions as possible when designing stunts, especially those requiring flames. If Plan A goes wrong, there is…
