Hollywood stuntman Tony McFarr, best known for working with Chris Pratt in franchises such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, was only 47 when news of his untimely demise broke in May 2024.
Paying tribute to his former stunt double, Pratt wrote on his Instagram Stories: “So sad to hear of the passing of my friend and former stunt double Tony Macpher. We did so many movies together. We played golf, drank whiskey, smoked cigars and spent endless hours on set.”
He also added, “I will never forget his perseverance. I remember him taking a terrible bullet to the head (in the title sequence of Guardians 2) and having multiple staples put in his head – he came back ready to go to work again. He was a great sportsman. He was always a gentleman and a professional. He will be missed. My prayers go out to his friends and family, especially his daughter.”
At the time of his death, the circumstances of his death were not known. His mother, Donna, told TMZ in May that his passing was unexpected and shocking. The Orange County Medical Examiner had filed his case and was conducting toxicology tests to determine the cause of his death.
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Tony McFarr’s cause of death revealed
As of August 21, the outlet has now offered an update on the case. In documents obtained from the medical examiner in Florida, an irregular heartbeat due to a problem with his heart valve has officially been declared the artist’s cause of death.
The medical examiner also listed other contributing factors, such as alcohol poisoning and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common lung disease that obstructs airflow, leading to breathing problems. His autopsy confirmed he had a history of excessive alcohol consumption. At the time of his body examination, his blood alcohol content (BAC) was marked as having a concentration of 0.29%. (The legal limit for driving in most states is listed as 0.08%).
The 47-year-old stuntman’s body was found in his home. The medical examiner claims he may have been dead for some time as his body had already decomposed before it was taken for examination.
About Tony McFarr, who worked as a stunt double for Chris Pratt and other Hollywood stars
Tony was often seen on Chris Pratt’s social media platforms, as the actor mentioned him by name several times. According to the report, the adventurer teamed up with Pratt for Jurassic World in 2015, joining him again in Passengers, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
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He is also credited with having a small acting career, as he played small roles in TV shows such as One Tree Hill, MacGyver, and Burn Notice.
In addition to doubling for Pratt, McFer performed stunts in Teen Wolf, Homeland, The Hunger Games Mockingjay – Part 1, Furious 7, Allegiant, Captain America: Civil War, The Accountant, and other films. His stunt career began in 2011 with an episode of the hit TV series Bones. He also stunt doubled for Jon Hamm in Tag (2018) and Brendan Fraser in The Poison Race (2019).
The former stuntman opened a few restaurants in Florida during the final chapters of his life. One such place was Reel Bowls, a movie-themed poke and salad eatery near Orlando.
According to TMZ, he is survived by his daughter, sister, and parents. He is reportedly buried next to his grandmother in Pennsylvania.
