Stunt Performer Spotlight: Ronnie LaCaria

Tell about yourself and your background! *

I was born into a family of five kids; same mom, different dad. My parents divorced when I was 9. I moved from Arizona to California to live with my dad. I went to high school and college there. Came back in the 80's to take care of my mom until she passed, then moved back to L.A. I returned to Arizona in 2010 and started Southern Arizona Casting, a talent acquisition and production services company in Tucson. I have been performing forever. I started playing guitar at 8 years old and haven't stopped yet! I have studied theater since my earliest memory. I have two degrees in theater arts. I've studied theater, improvisation, characterization, stage combat and mime. I've studied on camera techniques and all phases of production from Key Grip to 1st AD.I worked in the IT field for years to make money and still performed at the same time. I worked several jobs to put myself through school but finally made it. (Basically, I crammed 4 years in to 8!) I have also studied Tang Soo Do Kung Fu, Red Cross Life Saving and High Performance Driving with Bob Bondurant.

What inspired you to become a stunt performer?

Hmmm. I don't recall requiring any inspiration to perform. I just started 'acting up' when I was a kid and didn't stop! As far as stunt work, I was a street performer for many years, working in repertory companies, self organized groups and solo performances. I was a clown, a mime, juggler. I learned that I could make people laugh by falling down or running into things or tripping over things or...you get it. When I came back to Arizona when my mom died, I got hired by Old Tucson Studios as a gunfighter/stunt player/actor and worked there from 1987 to 1995. I actually just did a reunion of gunfighters in 2015 with a bunch of old pals, some are on the Stunt Hustle Facebook page. When I started at Old Tucson, my stage experience helped me move right into ground stunts and I had the opportunity to train with the late Jon Reckers, an unsung hero stuntman who taught me high-fall, mini-tramps and roof rolls. I had never really thought about working as a stunt player, but I just fell into it! From that job I got a few gigs on films here and got to meet and work with some great people like Lane Leavitt, Grady Bishop and Terry Leonard. I haven't done as much in the stunt community as a lot of guys here, but I still have a long way to go lol! I wanna be an 80 year old stunt man doing a stair fall!

What is your greatest skill as a stunt performer, is there a stunt behind it?

I am probably one of the best bottom men you'll ever work with! I'm a good top man in a fight but I fall down really good! I look good doing a monkey flip and playing the old whitehaired kung fu master lol.

What is the best part about being a stunt performer?

I think every stunt player would answer the same initially that adrenaline is the thing that gives you that need to perform, but for me, there's also a great feeling of satisfaction I get from perfecting a stunt or particular move. Being a performer, stunt or otherwise, is an ongoing learning experience that can reward you in many ways.

Tell your all-time favorite stunt story!

My best experience was working on The Quick and the Dead with Terry Leonard as coordinator. There was a stuntman from L.A. who was going to do the fight scene with Russell Crowe, doubling me. When time came to shoot, the actor wasn't ready. Director wanted to shoot. Terry hollered 'Where's my man, Ronnie?' He came over to me and said 'The director wants you to take a hit, go to your knees and fall down.' He looked like he was embarrassed to ask me to do such a simple task. I agreed and we did the shot. The director didn't like it. Terry came back to me, walked up and just said 'Go for it.'We reshot the scene, the director LOVED it. After it was over and I was dusting myself off, I heard a voice behind me ask "Are you ok??" I turned around. It was Gene Hackman. I said 'Yes sir, Gene, I'm good.' He said 'Man, it looked like he really clocked you. I swear I heard him hit you!' I just said "Thank you very much, Mr. Hackman!' Nice moment.

What advice would you give other stunt performers?

Keep stretching your abilities. Try different things. Don't get discouraged. Don't go down the road of comparing yourself to other performers. Be you. Don't try to be anyone else!

Anything else you'd like to tell the community about?

I am very lucky to be a part of this community. I'm just a schlepp with some talent who lucked out once in awhile and I'm so happy to be among such luminous company!

Please share your social media handles and how we can follow you!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChmtOUPgXUvRdtJHAip4AtQhttps://www.facebook.com/IXAGR8

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