Stunt performer

A stunt performer, often referred to as a stuntman or daredevil, is someone who performs dangerous stunts, often as a career. The French word that describes it is cascadeur; and it is used as-is in other languages (e.g., in Greek, it is called κασκαντέρ)

Overview

A stuntman typically performs stunts intended for use in a motion picture or dramatized television. Stunts seen in films and television include car crashes, falls from great height, drags (for example, behind a horse) and explosions.

There is an inherent risk in the performance of all stunt work. The most risk exists when performing stunts in front of a live audience. In filmed performances, visible safety mechanisms can be removed by editing. In live performances the audience can see more clearly if the performer is genuinely doing what they claim or appear to do. To reduce the risk of injury or death, most often stunts are choreographed or mechanically-rigged so that, while they look dangerous, safety mechanisms are built into the performance. But however well choreographed exercises they appear to be, stunts are still very dangerous and physically testing exercises.