Actors who Survived Animal Attacks

Wild sets, remote locations, and off-day adventures have put more than a few stars face-to-face with unpredictable wildlife. The incidents below involve male actors who encountered animals in real life—not scripted creatures—and walked away with a story and some scars. From shark cages and big-cat preserves to bulls and set dogs, these are grounded accounts tied to interviews, news reports, or production histories, with titles placed in single quotes wherever they appear.

Leonardo DiCaprio

While on a diving trip in South Africa, Leonardo DiCaprio was inside a shark-cage when a great white leapt for bait and ended up partially inside the bars with him. He later described how the tuna snagged on top of the cage, drawing the shark in and forcing him to flatten against the bottom until handlers cleared the situation. DiCaprio has recounted the episode in interviews, noting it happened during the period he was working in the region for ‘Blood Diamond’. The encounter has been reported in multiple outlets and on talk shows.

Johnny Knoxville

During the filming of ‘Jackass Forever’, Johnny Knoxville was launched by a charging bull, resulting in a concussion and other serious injuries documented around the movie’s release. Teammates later discussed how the stunt crossed a new risk threshold and Knoxville said he would no longer perform bull stunts. The injury details were widely covered in entertainment media tied to the film’s 2022 rollout. Coverage also traced Knoxville’s longer history of head injuries from similar animal gags.

Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler was filmed on safari in South Africa when a cheetah pounced on his back as he knelt to offer it water by hand. The cat was quickly pulled off by a handler, and Sandler later showed the clip during a late-night interview while promoting ‘Grown Ups 2’. He explained that bending too low near the water triggered the lunge. News reports at the time summarized the footage and his account.

Noel Marshall

Writer-director-star Noel Marshall endured repeated lion attacks while making ‘Roar’, a production infamous for using dozens of largely untrained big cats around cast and crew. Reports and retrospective features note bites to his hands, face, chest, and legs, treatment for blood poisoning, and a bout of gangrene during the long shoot. The movie’s production history records that more than 70 people were injured by animals. Marshall later spent years recovering from the cumulative damage.

Arjun Kapoor

Arjun Kapoor has said he was bitten by a Doberman while shooting with trained dogs on the set of ‘Sardar Ka Grandson’. The incident was covered in Indian entertainment news, with reports describing a scene that required close interaction with the animal. He continued production after receiving treatment. Accounts emphasized that the dog reacted during a complicated take.

Have another case you’ve heard about? Drop it in the comments and tell us which story surprised you most!