“Peter Parker is not invincible.” That title, recited so recently in entertainment news worldwide, is truer than ever after Tom Holland’s recent stunt gone wrong. Superhero blockbusters may be filled with CGI wizardry, but the actors beneath the masks are far too often receiving real punches and sometimes those punches are more powerful than the scripted ones.
During filming of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Holland’s stunt fall saw him get a mild concussion and had Marvel Studios holding up production. While he should be fine, the accident comes on the heels of a series of on-set injuries that show how Hollywood action is every bit as bad as it looks.
From concussions to near-death medical emergencies, such moments expose the grit beneath the glamour. Let’s take a closer look at seven instances when actors Holland included grimed it out for the sake of the story.
1. Tom Holland’s Concussion During Spider-Man Stunt
While filming at Leavesden Studios in England, Holland reportedly “cracked his head” after stumbling during a failed stunt. The 29-year-old was taken to the hospital and treated for a minor concussion, The Hollywood Reporter wrote. Production was halted, and Sony Pictures convened meetings to rebaseline the production schedule. Holland showed that his recovery was well underway by making a public appearance the following day with fiancée Zendaya at a charity gala.
This is Holland’s fourth solo Spider-Man film, and his refusal to have stunts done for him has been part of the charm. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was recently interviewed by Collider and stated, “We are seeing for the first time… him being a proper Spider-Man… dealing with street-level crime.” That commitment to realism is maybe exactly why things like this happen.
2. Emilia Clarke’s Battle With a Brain Hemorrhage
Before there were superhero stunts, Emilia Clarke fought for real in her own epic battle. In 2011, she suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage a stroke resulting from bleeding surrounding the brain, a potentially deadly event. Clarke described the pain as “unbearable” in her New Yorker essay, and diagnosis was rapid.
After emergency surgery, she experienced aphasia, losing her speaking skills for a while. A second aneurysm later led surgeons to have to drill through her skull to access her brain. Clarke recovered fully but never forgot being so candid about the ordeal, which speaks to the private health battles that actors may suffer and yet continue to deliver powerhouse performances.
3. Hailey Bieber’s Stroke Scare
Hailey Bieber experienced stroke-like symptoms in March 2022 while breakfasting with husband Justin Bieber. Her face began to sag and she was unable to speak a frightening ordeal subsequently diagnosed as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) caused by a blood clot traveling through an opening in her heart.
Bieber’s PFO closure operation was a success at UCLA, and he now describes himself as “great.” The incident serves as a reminder that unexpected health crises can strike even at the dullest of moments, away from the lights of the studio.
4. Jamie Foxx’s Hospitalization under Mysterious Circumstances
Oscar winner Jamie Foxx left everyone speculating after his medical emergency in April 2023. Afterwards, in his Netflix stand-up special What Had Happened Was…, he revealed that he’d suffered a brain bleed that led to a stroke. The experience put him out for 20 days unconscious and unable to walk when he came around.
Foxx credited his sister with quick thinking to get him to the hospital in time. After lengthy rehabilitation in Chicago, he was again in the spotlight, reporting, “I appreciate every prayer… because I needed every prayer.” His recovery says a lot about what it takes to return to work after such a near miss for health.
5. Shailene Woodley’s Ten-Year Health Battle
At around her early 20s, Shailene Woodley struggled with a complicated array of health conditions that rendered her incapable of walking for five minutes or more and experiencing ongoing pain after meals. On the SHE MD Podcast, she talked about losing her hearing and suffering from years of discordant diagnoses.
Woodley blended conventional treatment with other practices, reflective of her herbalism background. A decade later, she claims to be “very healthy” again a testament to persistence in pursuing answers when symptoms cannot be conveniently rationalized.
6. Snoop Dogg’s Daughter Cori Broadus Defeats a Gravely Stroke
Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, suffered a “severe stroke” in January 2024 and immediately alerted her family. They immediately flew to her bedside, but her hospitalization was extended due to complications of lupus and kidney failure.
Broadus recovered the use of her motor functions and is “doing great.” Her case shows how ongoing chronic conditions can complicate acute medical emergencies, making the process of recovery that much more difficult.
7. Adam Devine’s Enduring Childhood Injuries
Comedian Adam Devine’s illness began when he was in an accident involving a cement truck when he was 11 years old. In an interview on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, he detailed how spasms and pain have accompanied him throughout his adult life, with doctors once fearing for his life.
Despite moments of pain, Devine continues to work, proving that even decades-healed injuries can impact an actor’s everyday reality years after.
Behind each blockbuster stunt is a reality rather less thrilling one in which actors endure concussions, surgeries, and decades-long recoveries. Tom Holland’s recent experience is only the most recent reminder that the on-camera price of entertainment has the potential to dilute the line between reality and fiction. These stories are not mere cautionary tales; they are proofs of the endurance, versatility, and sheer will needed to keep the show running no matter what transpires backstage.
