Pete Davidson revealed that he suffered two concussions in less than three weeks while performing his own stunts for an independent film, saying the injuries happened after he decided not to rely on a stunt double.
The 32-year-old actor and comedian discussed the injuries during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he explained why he had recently been wearing sunglasses. Davidson said he sustained both concussions within a three-week period while filming.
Davidson said he chose to perform the stunts himself because the stunt double assigned to the production looked noticeably different from him. He explained that the double was around 6-foot-6 and had a much larger build, making the substitution obvious on camera.
After suffering the injuries, Davidson visited a doctor to determine the severity of the concussions. He recalled being given a simple memory test involving several unrelated words that he was asked to repeat.
Davidson said he struggled to remember the words during the test, which led the doctor to tell him that he had suffered brain injury. He recounted the experience humorously during the television interview, despite the seriousness of the injuries.
As part of his recovery, Davidson said he has been instructed to avoid bright lights until around mid-November. He wore sunglasses during his television appearance because of the medical advice.
The actor did not identify the independent film in which the injuries occurred. His recent projects include the upcoming movie Tommy Karate, in which he portrays real-life mob figure Tommy Pitera. Davidson has said he has been developing that project for several years.
Davidson has also spoken recently about how becoming a father has changed his priorities. He shares nine-month-old daughter Scottie Rose with former girlfriend Elsie Hewitt and said fatherhood has made him more focused on spending time at home.
The actor’s comments bring attention to the physical risks performers can face when attempting action sequences themselves, particularly on lower-budget productions where filmmakers may have different considerations when casting stunt doubles.
For now, Davidson is continuing his recovery while working on upcoming projects, with his medical restrictions expected to remain in place for several more weeks.
