Chad Stahelski's entry into the film industry was marked by his background in kickboxing, which led him to begin his career as a stunt performer at the age of 24. Prior to this, he had worked as an instructor at the Inosanto Martial Arts Academy in California, teaching Jeet Kune Do/Jun Fan to students.
Before becoming a stunt performer, Stahelski had appeared in numerous low-budget martial arts films, including Mission of Justice (1992) and Bloodsport III (1996). His first significant role as a stunt double came when he was chosen to double late Brandon Lee in the movie The Crow (1994). This was due in part to the fact that Stahelski had trained with Lee at the Inosanto Academy and knew his mannerisms and movements intimately.
Stahelski's big break as a stuntman came when he collaborated with Keanu Reeves on The Matrix (1999). He worked as the martial arts stunt coordinator on the film's sequels and doubled Keanu Reeves for extreme shots. Additionally, he co-founded a company called Smashcut with his stunt colleagues, which was responsible for delivering impressive stunts in some of the most iconic movies and television series.
After spending a decade in the film industry, Stahelski continued to excel as a stunt coordinator and performer, consistently pushing himself to deliver his best work.
