"Felt quite matrixy": When 9-1-1 star Oliver Stark opened up about doing his own stunts in the hit Fox procedural

Among the popular police procedurals is 9-1-1, a drama that centers on the lives of emergency responders in Los Angeles. What makes the story unique is how the TV show balances to focus on these fighters, including all the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and 911 call operators.

9-1-1 isn't just about these heroes managing risky situations, but also a drama that dives into their personal lives, highlighting what happens when the emergencies end. One of the central and fan-favorite characters is firefighter Evan “Buck” Buckley, played by actor Oliver Stark.

Fans don't just love Stark because he plays Buckley and offers an authentic portrayal, but also how smoothly this actor performs his stunts in 9-1-1. In one of the past interviews, Oliver Stark even mentioned that in one stunt scene, he felt like Keanu Reeves' The Matrix, a film known for impressive action. The actor said:

"It's a part of the show that I tend to try and embrace... Sometimes I think I look a bit cooler than I actually do... A new reference, you know.. Keanu Reeves, I felt quite Matrixy..."

Stark explained that he felt like he got a lot of airtime, like he was in the air long enough for the camera to circle around him in slow-mo, which is exactly the kind of shot you’d see in The Matrix. But then he laughs at himself and says that when he finally watches the finished scene on-screen, it doesn’t look as amazing as he imagined.

Keep reading to explore more about Stark's character.

When 9-1-1 star Oliver Stark shed light on performing his own stunts in the drama

One of the breakout characters in 9-1-1 is undeniably Evan “Buck” Buckley, portrayed by British actor Oliver Stark. His journey started off as a rebellious and thrill-seeking firefighter, the kind of guy who breaks rules but means well. But as the series progresses, we see a transformation in Buck.

Stark has portrayed Buck through some very dramatic storylines. For instance, there’s a scene where Buck gets struck by lightning, leading to serious health issues. He’s also gone through legal battles, faced career-threatening injuries, and had to rethink what being a firefighter truly means to him.

To ensure an even more engaging portrayal of the character, Oliver Stark also performed some of his stunts all by himself. In the same interview, the actor explained that when he filmed intense scenes, he tried to fully go along with the vibe of the show.

The 9-1-1 star mentioned filming a scene where he was hanging on a building, around "140-150 feet up in the air", and he safely came down. But at the same time, there were moments when he looked down and thought:

"If something breaks here, I've got nothing... I'm gone... But I try to push that out of my mind as quick as I can."

The actor does almost everything to play Buck in the best possible way, and this is why he's among the beloved characters on the show. Despite the show's success, Fox cancelled 9-1-1 after Season 6, but ABC picked it up for more episodes, ensuring the drama continues.

Trending

Also Read: What happened to Doug on 9-1-1? Character and his arc, explored

Continue exploring SoapCentral for regular updates on TV series, films, and more!

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback