Charles F. Stahelski (born September 20, 1968) is an American stuntman and filmmaker. He is considered a highly-influential figure in the action film genre. He first achieved prominence as a stunt performer and coordinator, notably as the key stunt double for Keanu Reeves on The Matrix (1999), and as the martial arts stunt coordinator on its first two sequels. He subsequently directed the 2014 film John Wick, starring Reeves, and its three sequels.

Biography

Martial arts training Stahelski was born in Palmer, Massachusetts, to Gary and Kathleen Stahelski (née Diamond) in 1968. He began training in martial arts from a young age. He studied Jeet Kune Do under Dan Inosanto, and for a time was an instructor at Inosanto's school in Los Angeles.

Prior to his motion picture career, Stahelski competed in kickboxing and mixed martial arts. He was one of the earliest American competitors in Shooto. He fought Manabu Yamada in a 1993 Shooto event, losing in the first round from a kneebar submission.

Stahelski is an alumnus of the University of Southern California.

Stuntman (1993–2013) Stahelski and fellow stuntman Jeff Cadiente served as stunt doubles for the actor Brandon Lee on the 1994 film The Crow. Accidentally wounded on set on March 31, 1993, by defective blank ammunition, Lee later died in hospital during surgery. Stahelski completed the remaining filming in place of Lee and special effects were used to superimpose Lee's face onto Stahelski.

In 1997, Stahelski co-founded action design company 87Eleven with David Leitch. The company has since split between an action design company and a production company, 87North Productions.

He worked as a stunt double for his future John Wick star Keanu Reeves in The Matrix franchise, and later served as a stunt co-ordinator for the films. Stahelski states that his experience working with martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping heavily influenced his own approach to stunts.

In 2009, Stahelski was second-unit director and stunt co-ordinator on Ninja Assassin along with David Leitch, produced by Matrix directors The Wachowskis.

In 2012, on the set of the film The Expendables 2 for which Stahelski served as stunt coordinator, stuntman Kun Liu was killed by an explosion on set. Liu's family sued Stahelski following the accident.

Director (2014–present)

In 2014, Stahelski made his feature directorial debut when he co-directed the action thriller film John Wick along with Leitch, based on the screenplay by Derek Kolstad. The film starred Keanu Reeves and Michael Nyqvist, and was released on October 24, 2014, by Summit Entertainment, grossing over $88 million. Stahelski acted as sole director for the film's 2017 sequel, John Wick: Chapter 2, and again for the third film, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and fourth film, John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). He also served as the second unit director for the reshoots of Birds of Prey.

In 2021, Stahelski returned to The Matrix franchise for its fourth installment, The Matrix Resurrections, making a cameo appearance as Trinity's "husband".

Upcoming In March 2023, Stahelski clarified that a remake of Highlander as well as adaptations of Rainbow Six, Ghost of Tsushima, Black Samurai for Netflix, and Shibumi for Warner Bros. were the projects he was currently developing to produce and direct.‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Director Chad Stahelski Breaks Down the Ending That Made the Studio Say, “Are You Insane?”

In July 2023, Adult Swim announced Lazarus, an upcoming original anime television series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, with Stahelski designing the action sequences.

In February 2024, Lionsgate appointed Stahelski to oversee the John Wick and Highlander franchises. Stahelski will have creative oversight across film, TV and all multimedia platforms.

Other projects he has been attached to in the past include Analog, and adaptations of Kill or Be Killed, and Sandman Slim.

Personal life Stahelski was married to fellow stunt performer Heidi Moneymaker, but they divorced in 2018.

Stahelski was a friend of Brandon Lee and worked as his double. They trained together at the Inosanto Academy.

Filmography Films Year Title Director Producer Notes 2014 John Wick 2017 John Wick: Chapter 2 2019 John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum 2020 Bruised 2022 Day Shift 2023 John Wick: Chapter 4 2025 Ballerina 2027 Karoshi TBA Highlander Caine Also Story Writer

Second-unit director Year Title Director Notes 2009 Ninja Assassin James McTeigue Alongside David Leitch 2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Guy Ritchie 2012 The Expendables 2 Simon West Safe Boaz Yakin 2013 After Earth M. Night Shyamalan Alongside Jeff Habberstad Escape Plan Mikael Håfström Alongside David Leitch The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Francis Lawrence Also supervising stunt co-ordinator 2015 Hitman: Agent 47 Aleksander Bach Alongside David Leitch 2016 Grimsby Louis Leterrier Captain America: Civil War Anthony and Joe Russo Alongside David Leitch 2020 Birds of Prey Cathy Yan Also stunt coordinator

Stuntwork Year Title Notes 1994 The Crow Brandon Lee-Stunt Double (Reshoots Uncredited) Credited As Chad Storelson 1996 Escape from L.A. 1997 Bean Orgazmo 1998 Recoil Almost Heroes The Hunted Stunts/Stunt Coordinator 1999 8mm The Matrix Keanu Reeves' Stunt Double Wild Wild West 2000 Picking Up The Pieces The Replacements (Keanu Reeves' Stunt Double (Uncredited) The Gift Uncredited stunts 2001 Tomcats Ghosts of Mars Rock Star Corky Romano 2003 The Matrix Reloaded Martial Arts Stunt Coordinator The Matrix Revolutions 2004 Torque Stunt Driver (Uncredited) Van Helsing Fight Coordinator/Assistant Stunt Coordinator Spider-Man 2 Uncredited Cellular Utility Stunts (Uncredited) 2005 Thumbsucker Constantine Fight Choreographer (Uncredited) XXX: State of the Union Mr. & Mrs. Smith Utility Stunts The Dukes of Hazzard Johnny Knoxville-Stunt Double (Uncredited) Serenity Stunt Coordinator Æon Flux Uncredited V for Vendetta 2006 Beerfest Stunt Coordinator 300 Fight Choreographer 2007 Next Live Free or Die Hard Shoot 'Em Up Uncredited I Am Legend 2008 Jumper 2008 Speed Racer Supervising Stunt Coordinator 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine Action Coordinator Ninja Assassin Stunt Coordinator 2010 Iron Man 2 Utility Stunts The Expendables Stunt Coordinator Tron: Legacy Uncredited 2011 Season of the Witch The Mechanic Stunt Coordinator Immortals Fight Choreographer 2012 Safe Supervising Stunt Coordinator Dredd Action Coordinator 2013 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Assistant Stunt Coordinator 2013 The Wolverine Stunt Coordinator (Uncredited) 47 Ronin Homefront 2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Uncredited 2018 Deadpool 2 2024 Deadpool & Wolverine

Actor Year Title RoleNotes 1995 Nemesis 2: Nebula Nebula1995Fight ZoneSki1997 Bloodsport IIIMax Omega 1998 Vampires Male Master No. 4 1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer KulakEpisode: Homecoming 2021 The Matrix Resurrections Chad

Other Year Title Role Notes 2025 Wick Is Pain Himself Also executive producer, documentary film

See also Chad Stahelski's unrealized projects

Notes

References

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