13 Actors Almost Killed While Making Movies

11. Tom Cruise - The Last Samurai

The Last Samurai
Warner Bros. Pictures

Tom Cruise is no stranger to putting himself in harm's way for our entertainment, though it led to the star very nearly losing his head on the set of Edward Zwick's 2003 period actioner The Last Samurai.

Cruise spent eight months in martial arts and horseback training before shooting started, though that did little to prepare him for malfunctioning mechanical horses when filming started in earnest.

During a fight scene with co-star Hiroyuki Sanada, the prop horses didn't stop as commanded, causing Sanada's sword to lunge towards Cruise's neck. Sanada thankfully managed to exhibit some fast thinking and stopped the blade an inch short of parting Cruise's head from his body.

Hilariously, Sanada added that "Tom never blinked." Clearly the experience hasn't deterred Cruise from chasing an adrenaline rush, as evidenced by, well, the entirety of Mission: Impossible - Fallout.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.