Famous Directors Who Escaped Death

May 2024 · 2 minute read

Before Jackie Chan wowed audiences with death-defying stunts, there was Buster Keaton. Perhaps the greatest actor-director of the Silent Era, Keaton loaded his films with jaw-dropping gags, like narrowly avoiding being crushed by a two-ton wall. Of course, when you keep shaking your fist at fate, sooner or later fate is going to strike back.

For example, while filming The General, Keaton was knocked unconscious by a cannon blast. But that's nothing compared to what happened on Sherlock Jr. During one scene, Keaton was running on top of a moving train when he grabbed a rope connected to a water tower. As the train pulled out from under his feet, Keaton was left dangling in the air. As planned, the rope opened a spout which doused him in water, but Keaton wasn't planning on such a powerful blast. The water knocked him onto the railroad track, slamming his head against a rail. While Keaton survived the accident, he realized years later that the blow had actually fractured his neck.

But Keaton's closest encounter with death came while shooting Our Hospitality. In one key scene, Keaton's character must save his girlfriend from plunging down a waterfall. To capture this moment, Keaton actually constructed a fake waterfall, and replaced the actress with a dummy. Keaton then tied himself to a secured chunk of wood, which allowed him to swing back and forth beneath the waterfall until he could grab the dummy. The stunt looked great on-screen, but Keaton swallowed so much water, he nearly drowned. Things were so intense, a doctor was even called to perform first aid.

Of course, the Great Stone Face wasn't going to let a little water keep him down, and he kept on performing stunts well into the 1960s, inspiring the likes of — you guessed it — Jackie Chan. In fact, when asked about his influences, the Chinese superstar responded, "I think [Keaton] is the best."

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