When people ask who played The Fall Guy, they usually get two very different answers depending on whether they grew up with wood-paneled TVs or modern IMAX screens. It’s a trick question. Sorta.
If you’re a child of the 80s, you probably immediately hear that twangy theme song and see Lee Majors sliding across the hood of a GMC Sierra. But if you're looking at the 2024 blockbuster, you’re thinking of Ryan Gosling and his neon-soaked, high-octane romance with Emily Blunt. Both are right. But neither of them actually did the "falling."
Let's be real: the true answer to who played The Fall Guy isn't just the face on the poster. It’s the small army of stunt performers who actually broke bones and flipped cars while the A-listers sat in trailers. This isn't just about actors; it’s about a legacy of Hollywood's most dangerous job.
The Original Colt Seavers: Lee Majors (1981–1986)
Before he was the quintessential stuntman-turned-bounty-hunter, Lee Majors was already a massive star. He’d finished The Six Million Dollar Man, and he brought that same rugged, everyman charm to the role of Colt Seavers.
Majors basically defined the character. Colt wasn't a superhero; he was a working-class guy who couldn't make rent. That’s why he caught bail jumpers on the side. It was a simple, genius premise created by Glen A. Larson. For five seasons on ABC, Majors played the part with a wink and a self-deprecating humor that made the show a top-ten hit in its early years.
But here’s the thing. Majors was in his 40s. While he was athletic and did more of his own physical work than most stars of that era, he wasn't the one launching a truck fifty feet into the air.
The Men Behind Lee Majors
The real heavy lifting in the original series fell to a legendary stunt coordinator named Mickey Gilbert.
Gilbert was the "Fall Guy" when the cameras were at a distance. He was the one taking the hits. Interestingly, the show became famous for its practical truck jumps. They used heavily modified GMC K-2500 Wideside trucks. They went through a lot of them. Because the engines were so heavy, the trucks would often nose-dive and frame-out upon landing. It was brutal work.
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Other key players in the original stunt team included:
- Bob Minor: One of the first high-profile Black stunt coordinators in the industry.
- Henry Kingi: A veteran who helped orchestrate the high-speed chases that became the show's signature.
The Modern Revival: Ryan Gosling (2024)
Fast forward forty years. Director David Leitch—who used to be a stuntman himself (he was Brad Pitt’s double for years)—decided to bring the concept to the big screen. He didn't want a gritty reboot. He wanted a love letter to the industry.
Ryan Gosling took over the mantle of Colt Seavers for the 2024 film. Gosling's version is a bit different. He's more vulnerable. He’s a guy dealing with an injury and a bruised ego, trying to win back a director played by Emily Blunt.
Honestly, Gosling is perfect for this because he can play "cool" and "pathetic" at the same time. He nails the "dogged professional" vibe. But because the movie is literally about stuntmen, the production felt a massive pressure to perform real, world-record-breaking stunts instead of relying on CGI.
The Real Stars: The 2024 Stunt Team
If we are being technically accurate about who played The Fall Guy in the movie, we have to talk about the five different men who shared the role with Gosling. This is where the movie gets meta.
- Logan Holladay: This guy is a legend now. He broke the Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls in a car during production. He flipped a Jeep Grand Cherokee eight and a half times. Gosling didn't do that. Holladay did.
- Ben Jenkin: He was the "parkour" and movement specialist. If you see Colt Seavers getting hit by a car or jumping through windows with a specific fluidity, that’s Jenkin.
- Troy Brown: He handled the massive "high fall." He dropped 150 feet. It was a terrifying stunt that paid homage to the classic era of the 80s show.
- Justin Eaton: He was the martial arts expert. The hand-to-hand combat scenes? That was him.
- Sunny Sun: He handled some of the more technical driving maneuvers alongside Holladay.
David Leitch was very vocal about this. He even brought these guys out during the press tour. It was a rare moment where the "ghosts" of the production were given center stage.
Why the "Fall Guy" Role Matters
The Fall Guy isn't just a character. It's a trope.
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In Hollywood, the "fall guy" is the person who takes the blame or the hit so the lead stays pretty. The irony of the show and the movie is that the fall guy is actually the hero.
When Lee Majors played him, he was an underdog. When Ryan Gosling played him, he was a guy reclaiming his identity. But in both versions, the character represents the blue-collar side of show business. It’s about the people who do the work, get the bruises, and never get their names on the marquee.
Comparing the Two Eras
The 80s show was episodic. You had the "jump of the week." It was campy, fun, and very much a product of the Reagan era—lots of denim, lots of chrome, and a very clear line between good and bad guys.
The 2024 movie is a "maximalist" action-comedy. It’s got a much larger budget, obviously. But it also has a layer of "inside baseball" humor about how movies are actually made. It’s less about bounty hunting and more about the chaos of a film set.
Common Misconceptions About the Cast
People often confuse The Fall Guy with The Six Million Dollar Man.
Yes, Lee Majors starred in both.
No, Colt Seavers does not have bionic limbs.
In fact, the whole point of Colt Seavers is that he is not invincible. He feels every punch. He limps after a jump. That’s the appeal.
Another weird fact? Heather Thomas, who played Jody Banks in the original series, became a massive pin-up star because of the show. She was an integral part of "who played" the team. In the 2024 movie, that role is somewhat mirrored by the various production assistants and stunt coordinators, though Emily Blunt’s character, Jody Moreno, is the romantic lead rather than a fellow stunt performer.
Did Lee Majors appear in the new movie?
Yes. If you stayed for the mid-credits scene in the 2024 film, you saw a massive Easter egg.
Lee Majors and Heather Thomas both make a cameo. They play police officers who arrive on the scene after the final showdown. It’s a passing of the torch. It was a classy move by Leitch to include them, and honestly, Majors still looks like he could probably throw a decent punch.
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How to Appreciate the Craft
If this deep dive into who played The Fall Guy has made you appreciate the stunt world, there are a few things you should check out.
First, watch the documentary Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story. It gives you a perspective on the side of the industry that the Fall Guy franchise often skips over.
Second, look up the "Taurus World Stunt Awards." It’s basically the Oscars for the people who actually play the Fall Guy in every movie you love.
Third, go back and watch the 2024 movie again, but this time, don't look at Ryan Gosling’s face during the stunts. Look at the physics. Look at the way the cars move. Knowing that Logan Holladay was actually inside that car during the eight-and-a-half-roll flip changes the entire experience. It turns a "movie" into a feat of human endurance.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Watch the original pilot: It’s available on various streaming platforms (usually through Starz or for purchase on Amazon). It’s surprisingly well-made for 1981.
- Follow the stunt performers: Guys like Logan Holladay and Ben Jenkin post incredible behind-the-scenes footage on Instagram. It’s way more interesting than standard celebrity PR.
- Support the Stunt Category: There is a massive, ongoing push to get "Best Stunt Coordination" added to the Academy Awards. If you want to honor the real people who played The Fall Guy, that’s the cause to get behind.
Hollywood is built on illusion. But every once in a while, a character comes along that forces us to look at the reality behind the magic. Whether it's the charm of Lee Majors or the charisma of Ryan Gosling, the "Fall Guy" remains one of the most honest characters in cinema history. He’s the guy who falls down so the story can keep moving forward.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
To get a better sense of the technical evolution of these stunts, compare the "jump" sequences from the 1981 pilot episode with the "cannon roll" sequence in the 2024 film. You'll notice that while the technology has changed, the fundamental danger—and the skill required to mitigate it—remains exactly the same. You can also research the GMC Sierra "Fall Guy Edition" trucks, which remain some of the most sought-after collector vehicles for 80s TV aficionados.