12 Actors Who Immersed Themselves Too Far In Movie Scenes

One of the few actors who never used a stunt double for even the most intense action scenes was the silent comic, Buster Keaton. In fact, while filming Sherlock Jr, he was the stunt double for the other actors... even though he was the lead!

In one scene in this 1924 classic, the titular character dashes on the rooftops of several train cars. As he reaches the last one, he grabs hold of the funnel of a water tower. As his weight causes the funnel to lower him to the ground, water suddenly gushes out of it, knocking Sherlock to the ground.

Although falling off the train seemed like the biggest concern, Buster was nearly killed while filming this scene... by the water! When the water was released, it hit Buster with so much force, it fractured his neck and left him with blinding migraines for nearly a decade.

Because Buster was the director, he could've easily set the pump to hit him with less force but he refused because he wanted it to look authentic when the water knocked him off his feet. Considering Sherlock Jr was a massive box-office bomb, it wasn't worth Keaton risking his literal neck for his work.