Actor Kinnear says lessons have not been learned about film-set dangers since his father’s death 32 years ago
JAMES BOND and
Black Mirror star Rory Kinnear said that not enough lessons have been learned since his Scots father Roy died in a tragic movie accident 32 years ago.
The comedy star was killed when he fell off a horse on a film set in 1988, and Rory has called for better health and safety on TV and film productions.
Rory, best known for TV shows like Years and Years and Black Mirror, as well as playing Judi Dench’s sidekick in the James Bond franchise, has called for much tighter rules and regulations and a change in mindset when it comes to health and safety on set.
His father Roy, son of Edinburgh born rugby international Roy Muir Kinnear, was one of Britain’s best loved comic character actors, known for films like
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The Three Musketeers.
But he tragically died aged 54 when he was filming sequel Return of the Musketeers in Spain in 1988 – he fell off a horse after being asked to do a ride that the stuntmen had refused to do as it was so risky.
The father of three died of his injuries 24 hours later.
Speaking at an Edinburgh TV Festival debate on health and safety in film and TV,
Rory said: “Thirty-two years later people are still saying yes when what they meant was no.
“It’s saddening to realise just how little has changed.
“For me, the pain of having to repeat one’s story continually and on set as often as I do is no pleasure to me but I feel it’s a burden I wear quite willingly to educate people, particularly young actors just coming in, about the ability to say no.”
Roy died after being asked to complete a dangerous horse stunt across a bridge, when he was playing Musketeer sidekick Planchett for the action sequel.
The stuntmen refused because the cobbled bridge was too slippy, so the director asked the actors to do it instead.
Roy’s horse slipped and the actor broke his pelvis. He died the next day.
His family were awarded £650,000 compensation in court.
Rory has backed the Mark Milsome Foundation, named in honour of a camera operator who died on a set three years ago and is appalled that this is still happening.
Rory told the virtual festival debate: “The very first job I had, I was in Morocco, I was 22 or 23 and someone said to me to get on this horse and ride up this hill.
“There is a hugely positive and emboldening force that grief has for me to be able to say I’m not doing that and if you want to push me I’ve got a terrific get out of jail card.
“I have not been scared to use that and indeed give it to other actors and I know a lot of other actors use my dad’s death as a reason for something not to happen on set.
“Currently no one wants to make a fuss because you’re worried you won’t be asked again.
“What we need to change is that if someone puts their hand up and doesn’t feel comfortable, there’s togetherness of people coming around them and saying ‘we’ve got your back’.
“We are all there because we believe if we make it the best it can be then it can have a lasting effect.
“The lasting effect of my dad dying hugely outweighs the lasting impact of even the best film there has ever been.
“No shot is that important, there’s always another shot, another scene.”