Painted blue from head to toe
“Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston shared a chilling experience from his time on the set of “Malcolm in the Middle” during an appearance on “The Graham Norton Show.” Cranston explained that his character was in a depression and had to paint, leaving him completely covered in blue paint. As they continued shooting, Cranston began to feel his body shutting down due to the heat being trapped by the paint. The crew quickly realized his predicament and rushed him to the shower to cool down. Cranston emphasized the danger of covering up all the pores and the inability for the body to regulate heat. Cranston remains open to a “Malcolm in the Middle” reunion in the future.
Other stars who faced on-set injuries
Carey Mulligan’s backstage accident
Actress Carey Mulligan suffered a severe injury while performing in a one-woman show, prompting Bradley Cooper to take her to the emergency room. Mulligan was hit on the head by a piece of the set but continued with the performance until it ended, at which point she started crying, fearing the worst. Cooper intervened and accompanied her to the hospital, where she received the necessary treatment. Both Mulligan and Cooper have been nominated for their roles in “Maestro.”
Tom Cruise’s ankle break
Despite his reputation for performing high-risk stunts, even Tom Cruise is not immune to on-set injuries. While filming “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” Cruise broke his ankle while attempting a building-to-building jump. He appeared on “The Graham Norton Show” alongside his co-stars, still in the midst of production. Cruise shared footage of the accident, explaining how the crash went wrong and resulted in his injury. Despite his broken ankle, Cruise persevered and completed the scene.
Buddy Ebsen’s aluminum poisoning
During the filming of “The Wizard of Oz,” Buddy Ebsen, originally cast as the Tin Man, fell seriously ill due to the aluminum dust used in his costume. Ebsen required hospitalization and an oxygen tent but eventually recovered. The production replaced him with Jack Haley, who had a safer experience with the aluminum paste used for the costume.
Harrison Ford’s accident-prone career
Harrison Ford has had numerous on-set injuries throughout his career. During the filming of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” he tore a muscle in his shoulder, causing production to pause for eight weeks. Ford has also suffered a broken ankle, a torn ACL, and a leg injury in various other films. Despite these incidents, Ford remains committed to performing his own stunts, even at the age of 81.
Sylvester Stallone’s dangerous encounter
For the “Rocky” franchise, Sylvester Stallone pushed his body to the limits, even encouraging co-star Dolph Lundgren to throw real punches during their fight scenes. Unfortunately, one of Lundgren’s punches landed with great force, sending Stallone to the hospital for nine days. Doctors revealed that the blow caused his ribs to hit his heart, an injury usually seen in head-on collisions. Despite the severity of the injury, Stallone maintained his sense of humor throughout the ordeal.
These incidents serve as a reminder of the risks and dangers that actors face on-set, even in highly controlled environments. Their commitment to their craft often leads them into precarious situations, but their dedication and determination to deliver exceptional performances remain unwavering.
