Many people dream of a life in the spotlight, specifically the Hollywood spotlight. The truth is, there are many ways you can reach this position apart from being an actor, and that is being a stunt double. And while the life of a stuntman is not as glamorous as that of real actors, their role in the industry is indispensable.
Such was the life of retired Hollywood stuntman Preston Corbell. He recalls when he started his career in the industry by modeling for mall gigs and taking up opportunities to work in different TV series. By the time he was a teenager, he had scored significant roles as a professional stuntman in many movies. You might be surprised that he has been in many Tv series and movies that are popular today, such as the Vampire Diaries, One Tree Hill, Doom Patrol, and Daredevil.
Preston’s role in most of these jobs was to pay his life down and act as the stand-in for the actor on screen as he performed dangerous and potentially life-threatening stunts for the camera. So it should be no surprise that being a stunt performer has its fair share of downsides, the most dangerous being the injuries.
However, Preston’s life as a professional stuntman and enduring all those painful injuries did not dampen his soul. What it did instead for him was make him stronger mentally and physically. For him, these incidents are fun stories to tell and life lessons to learn. He carries them like his badge of honor.
As a stuntman and actor, Preston has always been up for anything the job demanded. He learned early on that this was how he wanted to earn his living. So without a second thought, every day was like a challenge for him to improve his job, and he did his best to make the scenes look the best.
His dedication, coupled with the passion he shared with the movie producers for filmmaking, was enough to fuel his fire and make him one of the most successful stunt performers in the industry.
After retirement, he has taken on a different path in his life. With more than 20 years of experience in his line of work, it only made sense that he utilized his knowledge for something positive. This is why he studied to become a psychologist specializing in pain management.
Now he works with athletes and helps them through their mental health journeys. For Preston, the most valuable thing he can take away from his life and career as a professional stuntman is the understanding that mental and physical health go hand in hand.
The message that Preston Corbell wants to leave fellow and upcoming youngsters in the industry is to pay more attention to mental health no matter who or what. He has learned from a decade’s experience that there’s nothing more important than taking care of your mental peace when working in such dangerous environments every day.
If you want to know more about Preston Corbell, follow him on Instagram, or you can check out his website here. He also recently started a YouTube channel where he shares information about his life as a stuntman and helps others through the process.
