David Holmes was a key member of the Harry Potter film franchise, but you probably never saw his face.
Working as Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double ‘and PE teacher’, the former gymnast worked on six of the full movies before a tragic accident left him paralysed.
Holmes was responsible for practicing and filming many of the risky tricks and moments the star couldn’t.
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However, during filming on the 2009 set for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, he was involved in an accident when a ‘jerk back’ stunt went wrong.
Breaking his neck, Holmes was rushed to hospital and later told he would be paralysed from the chest down, with limited movement in his arms and hands.
Executive produced by Radcliffe, a new documentary explores Holmes’ life both before and after the accident and features a whole load of clips from behind-the-scenes of Harry Potter.
Ahead of the release of David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, the former stunt pro told LADbible about the first time he appeared in one of the films, and it’s not what you might expect.
“Actually the first time I'm in the Harry Potter films,” he says. “I'm lying underneath the bathroom stalls dressed as Hermione with a Hermione wig on as the troll smashes through the bathrooms.”
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Emma Watson was only 10 years old when filming first began for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, while the teenage lad doubled her in various scenes.
You can watch the scene Holmes is talking about here:
A very talented stunt man, Holmes started his stunt career in films as young as 14.
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Director of the new documentary (and part of the camera crew on Potter), Dan Hartley added: “We all were in awe of David's ability. He was utterly stunning as a stunt performer; he really had no equal.”
With such talent, David covered plenty of the roles in the franchise explaining: “I doubled Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Malfoy, played a Quidditch player myself in three of the films.”
And with that, he’s given a task for Potterheads: “In the Harry Potter films, I'm like Where's Wally? I put it out to any of the fans to try and see if they can spot me throughout the whole franchise – I’ll give them a yay or nay.”
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Although ‘time is not a healer’ for Holmes as he continues to lose mobility and his condition worsens, he does have hopes for more TV and film work.
As well a ‘HBO miniseries about the Halifax explosion’ he wants Hartley to make, the pair revealed they’re starting work ‘on the David Holmes sequel’ but they’re ‘just not sure what shape that will take’.
But one of his ‘big dreams’, David jokes is his main ‘plea’.
“If I can get on Gogglebox, I’ll be well happy,” says the former stuntman.
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David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived will be available on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW from 18 November.
Featured Image Credit: JohnWilson/HBO/Warner BrosTopics: Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Documentaries, TV and Film