Fairfield Stuntman Always Dreamed of Danger

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Chris Gombos has lit himself on fire, been hit by a car while riding a bicycle and fallen down who knows how many flights of stairs over the past 10 years. That’s exactly why the Fairfielder loves his job. It’s all part of the life of a professional stuntman.

“Some kids wanted to be firemen, police officers or cowboys,” Gombos says. “I always wanted to be a stuntman.”

Gombos’ interest piqued when he was a kid, watching shows such as “The Fall Guy” about the life of a stuntman. He got his first chance when he was just 14. Then a competitive BMX cyclist, Gombos showed up to a track to practice one day to find a camera crew shooting a commercial there. The group wanted someone to perform tricks in the background, and Gombos got the role after he showed them what he could do.

He continued acting in high school, between snowboarding, cycling, skateboarding and other action sports. But he admits that his acting chops weren’t great in those days. But he kept pursuing his dream of being on the big screen through stunt work. He performed in student films, attended academies and tried to break into the stuntmen’s union. Finally, a friend-of-a-friend in the movie business gave him a shot.

Gombos has now appeared on screen in more than a dozen movies and TV shows as a professional stuntman. Though many of his credits list him as an actor, Gombos admits he mostly gets jobs for his stunt work and is given a few lines for the sake of editing.

“They usually just give me the script right there that day,” Gombos says of his speaking roles, such as “Customer in Bar” in "Friends With Benefits" or Mr. Arcara's Buddy in "College Road Trip." “It’s nothing too difficult.”

Despite the obvious dangers of his job, Gombos says he hasn’t suffered any injuries worse than some broken finger bones and the usual bumps and bruises. He admits that he still gets some anxiety before a big stunt, not only because of the danger but also because of his desire to do his job right.

“If you’re not nervous, you don’t really respect what you’re doing,” Gombos says. “Too much confidence can be dangerous. A little bit of nerves makes you prepared for it.”

Do you know of other Fairfielders who have made a name for themselves? Send story suggestions to gcanuel@thedailyfairfield.com.

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