Tell about yourself and your background! *
Born and raised in Connecticut grew up racing bmx , skateboarding, snowboarding and playing ice hockey .
What inspired you to become a stunt performer?
Probably the same as many my age I saw hooper and the Fallguy , but was always focused on the action when i watched any movie or tv show
What is your greatest skill as a stunt performer, is there a stunt behind it?
I never considered that I have one greatest skill but do excel at bicycle riding and skating. But if I have to answer I’d say my greatest skill is listening and understand what a coordinator or director is looking for . No amount of talent matters if you can’t make it work . Actually there is . My first non official stunt was a regional commercial for Subaru when I was 14 .. i was filmed in a BMX race then hitting the big table top jump over a Subaru wagon .
What is the best part about being a stunt performer?
So many great things but my favorites are getting to work with so many cool people and every day is different
Tell your all-time favorite stunt story!
So many good ones . Not sure I have a favorite. But I was lucky enough to work with Billy Anagnos and Jery Hewitt from the beginning of my career and every day was a history lesson and life lesson .. I get choked up just thinking about how amazing they were to me as a young Buck in this business.. but my favorite whether it’s true or not is Gene Lebell choking out Steven Segal ..
What advice would you give other stunt performers?
I could use a few pages here . But my one biggest piece of advice is be humble and check your ego at the door .. then get really good at the fundamental skills and know how to make everything work for camera .. 90% of what we do is small fights , gun shot reactions etc. I see so many amazing young physical talents that have no clue how to take a basic punch or squib reaction as a performer I’m just an average athlete with no special fight or gymnastics skills but was fortunate enough to work for some legendary coordinators early in my career who gave me that advice..
Anything else you'd like to tell the community about?
Anytime I get the chance I love to tell people about the nonprofit bmx track and outreach program I run .. Trumbull BMX .. the community has been so supportive with donations and volunteering time to help the kids .
Please share your social media handles and how we can follow you!
Instagram @paidtofall
Facebook chris gombos
Insta @trumbull_track_bmx
