# The stuntman who became a director

> Scott Waugh spent 18 years falling off things, then turned that instinct into a directing career built on set pieces.
- Title: The stuntman who became a director · Variety | Shortify
- Summary: Scott Waugh spent 18 years falling off things, then turned that instinct into a directing career built on set pieces. Waugh directs action from the inside…
- Keywords: stunts, filmmaking, action movies, hollywood, directing, entertainment, culture, stuntman, became, director, Variety
- Source: Variety — https://variety.com/2026/film/features/alan-ritchson-runner-stunts-stuntman-director-1236858175
- Author: William Earl
- Published: 2026-09-11T16:25:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: stunts, filmmaking, action movies, hollywood, directing, entertainment, culture
## He sees set pieces differently
Scott Waugh does not approach big action the way most directors do. He came up inside the stunt, not behind the monitor watching it.

> Scott Waugh thinks about big set pieces differently than other filmmakers.
## Started at twelve
Waugh began performing stunts at 12, following his father Fred Waugh, a career Hollywood stuntman. The job was the family business before it was a choice.
## Ran the elite club
He earned enough standing in the industry to become president of Stunts Unlimited, the profession's most selective organization.
## Retired at thirty
Waugh walked away from stunt work at 30, not because the body gave out, but because he wanted to direct.
## A run of high-octane films
Since then he has directed "Act of Valor" in 2012, "Need for Speed" in 2014 and "Expend4bles" in 2023.
## Wrangling the big names
His sets have held Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jackie Chan and John Cena. Now he is making "Runner" with Alan Ritchson.

> larger-than-life personalities
## Key takeaway

Waugh directs action from the inside out, because he spent two decades being the person in the middle of it.