A popular ABC television star was forced to undergo surgery after a dangerous stunt went wrong on the set of the hit drama 9-1-1, one of four injuries reported during production of the show’s latest season.
Oliver Stark, 35, who plays fan-favorite firefighter Evan “Buck” Buckley, suffered a broken ankle while filming an action sequence in late August.
But his injury was not an isolated incident.
According to a report from Deadline, three stunt performers were also hurt during production of Season 10, including one who suffered a broken rib and a partially collapsed lung.
The series of accidents has raised questions about safety precautions on the set of a television show famous for its elaborate rescues, dangerous emergencies and ambitious action scenes.
Stark’s accident occurred while filming a complicated stunt involving a firefighter swinging from a vehicle, across a set piece and onto a ladder truck.
The sequence required careful coordination between performers, equipment and the production’s stunt team.
According to sources familiar with the production, a stunt double rehearsed the same maneuver before Stark attempted it.
During that rehearsal, the stunt performer sprained an ankle.
The individual reportedly declined medical treatment, and no formal injury report was submitted.
Production personnel subsequently adjusted the mechanics of the stunt before allowing Stark to perform the sequence.
But the changes did not prevent another accident.
While completing the maneuver, Stark reportedly rolled his ankle over another performer, fracturing the bone and requiring surgery.
The actor was temporarily sidelined while recovering from the injury.
Despite the setback, production continued, and Stark has since returned to work.
The details surrounding his recovery remain limited, although he has been seen attending public events since the incident.
Fans had already suspected something was wrong after photographs and videos circulated online showing the actor wearing what appeared to be a supportive brace.
Some viewers wondered whether the injury would eventually be incorporated into his character’s storyline.
Others speculated that producers might simply adjust camera angles or filming schedules to conceal his recovery.
ABC has not publicly confirmed whether Stark’s injury will be addressed in upcoming episodes.
Unfortunately, the trouble did not end with his accident.
In the weeks that followed, two additional stunt performers were injured in separate incidents.
One performer suffered an arm injury after coming into contact with jagged metal protruding from a set piece.
The injury required hospital treatment and stitches.
Another stunt performer was hurt in late September while participating in a sequence involving a simulated ground collapse.
The stunt called for the performer to land on a specially designed platform intended to create the appearance of the ground giving way.
But the individual reportedly landed awkwardly and suffered a broken rib and a minor lung injury.
The performer was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Although the hospital visit was described as precautionary, the injuries themselves were significant.
It remains unclear whether that performer has returned to work.
The four injuries were not believed to be directly connected, but their occurrence within a relatively short period has placed additional attention on the production’s safety procedures.
9-1-1 is known for staging some of the most unusual and elaborate emergency scenarios on network television.
Since its debut in 2018, the series has featured earthquakes, devastating fires, dangerous rescues, vehicle crashes and other large-scale disasters.
The show’s action-heavy format requires actors and stunt professionals to recreate hazardous situations while working with complicated sets, specialized equipment and carefully choreographed movements.
Stunt coordinators are responsible for planning those sequences and working to minimize risks.
For particularly dangerous scenes, productions may use stunt doubles, harnesses, safety platforms and repeated rehearsals before filming begins.
However, even carefully planned sequences can result in unexpected injuries.
The recent accidents have renewed discussion about the challenges of producing demanding action scenes on a television schedule.
Unlike major motion pictures, which may spend months preparing individual action sequences, network dramas often must complete episodes under tight production deadlines.
That makes communication between directors, stunt teams, actors and production managers especially important.
Industry safety guidelines established through agreements involving SAG-AFTRA address the use of stunt coordinators and workplace protections for performers.
The presence of those precautions does not eliminate every risk, and the available reporting has not established that safety rules were violated during any of the recent incidents.
A spokesperson for 20th Television, which produces the series, declined to comment when contacted by Deadline.
The injuries have also revived memories of an earlier tragedy connected to the show.
In May 2024, longtime crew member Rico Priem died after working a 14-hour shift on 9-1-1.
Priem, a grip who worked behind the scenes helping position and maintain production equipment, died following a medical emergency while driving home.
His death prompted concern throughout the entertainment industry about working conditions and demanding production schedules.
However, authorities have not established any connection between that incident and the recent stunt-related injuries.
For Stark, the latest accident comes during an important period in the show’s history.
The British actor has portrayed Buck since the series premiered on Fox in January 2018.
Over the years, the character has become one of the drama’s most recognizable figures, known for his courageous rescues, complicated personal relationships and willingness to put himself in danger to help others.
Stark’s performance has helped build a devoted fan following, with viewers closely following Buck’s personal and professional development.
The series moved from Fox to ABC in 2024 and has continued attracting a loyal audience.
Season 10 premiered Thursday, October 15, placing the latest injury reports in the spotlight just as fans welcomed the show back.
The new season continues following the firefighters, paramedics and emergency dispatchers of Los Angeles as they respond to extraordinary emergencies.
Stark’s character remains an important part of the series, although viewers will have to wait to see whether his real-life injury influences the story.
Meanwhile, the production’s reported accidents have prompted concern among some fans about the risks performers face while bringing the show’s dramatic rescues to television.
Stark’s return to work is welcome news for viewers, but questions remain about the recovery of the other injured performers.
The incidents also offer a reminder that while the emergencies depicted on 9-1-1 are fictional, the physical demands placed on actors and stunt professionals are very real.
For a show built around saving lives, the safety of the people creating those dramatic rescues remains an important concern behind the scenes.
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