‘Walking Dead’ Shuts Down Production in Wake of Stuntman’s On-Set Fall

John Bernecker is in intensive care in Atlanta, Georgia

the walking dead andrew lincoln rick
Gene Page/AMC

AMC’s “The Walking Dead” has temporarily halted production after a stuntman was seriously injured in a fall while working on the show’s set in Georgia.

John Bernecker was medevaced to Atlanta Medical Center and is being treated in intensive care.

“We are saddened to report that John Bernecker, a talented stuntman for ‘The Walking Dead’ and numerous other television shows and films, suffered serious injuries from a tragic accident on set,” a spokesperson for the show said in a statement. “He was immediately transported to an Atlanta hospital and we have temporarily shut down production. We are keeping John and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”

Bernecker’s injuries were confirmed by his partner Jennifer Cocker, who posted about his condition on Facebook.

“John deserves to be seen by every neorusurgeon (sic) and doctor there is until one of them sees the life we all know he has in him and bring him back to us,” Cocker wrote. “THIS ISNT FAIR.”

Friends and colleagues are taking to the internet to express their feelings about the fall. Actor Randy Austin, who said he’s a friend, said that Bernecker was hurt after a 30 foot fall.

“John is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet in this business, or anywhere else, and would give people the shirt off his back to help. So, for you praying folks, please say a prayer for this young man,” Austin wrote.

“American Horror Story” actress Jennifer Lynn Warren wrote that Bernecker had saved her from alligators in “the swamps of Louisiana” and used her post to call out the industry’s ignorance of stunt performers.

“Stunt performers do not get the respect they deserve, and rarely get the time to train or perfect the stunt due to so many budget cuts,” she said.

SAG-AFTRA has not responded to requests for comment.

Bernecker has a history of stunt performance going back to 2009, with resume entries including “24: Legacy,” “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” three of the “Hunger Games” films and “Logan.”

This news was first reported by Deadline.

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