Stunt Performer Spotlight: Tomar Boyd

Featured Interview With Stunt Performer, Tomar Boyd.

Tell about life before stunts, Tomar!

I was born in the late 70's.  My mother married a marine so I became a "military brat." At a young age I inspired to be a pro athlete, model/actor, and a doctor.  I went to George Washington University for two years and then was offered a scholarship to play basketball at University of Central Florida.  Graduated with a B.S. in Molecular Microbiology.  Went on to study and became an R.N. for 6 years in the emergency department.  I saw some depressing things and needed a break so I went to wrangle for a friend and decided to take the leap of faith to Atlanta and pursue stunts full time.

What inspired you to become a stunt person?

My inspiration was to prove myself wrong.  I am known as a horseback rider.  I figured that I could really train all kinds of things and make myself just a great stunt performer.  I became an equestrian my last couple years in college.  At a dinner show in Kissimmee, Fl.  I learned to ride, drive, jump on and off horses, liberty and to train at a decent level.  My favorite act, I did not even realize was a stunt, we did a re-creation of the Ben-Hur chariot race where the chariot breaks.

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

My greatest skill might just be my ability to listen more than I talk.

What is the best part about being a stunt performer?

The best part of being a stunt performer is the access to different people with different skill sets who are willing to share.  The ability to push myself to do things I never have, or have done little, and get a chance to show and prove.  Also, I am a forward thinker so I am getting to see how things work.  Hopefully, to someday be able to progress further in the business.

Tell your all-time personal favorite stunt story!

My favorite personal stunt story... I was working on a show.  Being the least experienced, it was a crazy scene.  I was matched with a few extras to portray chaos.  Of course, they can hit and what not.  The other performer was instructed to throw a rope around my neck, I try to run away, and he yanks me to the ground.  So I am far away from camera but I'm back there hitting the ground.

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Now they turn the cameras now video village and the cameras are on my side.  They say action.  I do what I have been doing the other 10 times.  The assistant coordinator, director, AD all yell cut and run over to me.  I look up and they are all asking if I'm ok.

I said, "yes."  Coordinator comes and asks if I had been doing that the whole time.  I said, "yes."  He looked at me with a sneaky thumbs up and they all loved it.  Then I thought to myself that I was hitting that ground all that time and no one even noticed - ha!

What advice would you give other stunt people?

Being as early in my career I don't know that I have much advice.  One thing I would say is know your skills and don't lie.  It ruins it for others trying to make a name.