Chris Pratt’s stunt double, who died unexpectedly in May, reportedly died of heart problems aggravated by excessive drinking.
Stuntman Tony McFarr was found dead in his home outside Orlando, Florida, on May 17. His family said at the time that they did not know what might have happened.
Pratt, who worked with McFarr in films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, even paid tribute to the 47-year-old, calling his death “shocking” and “unexpected” since he had always appeared healthy.
The Orange County coroner in Florida has now ruled that McFarr’s death was the result of an irregular heartbeat and a problem with his heart valves, in addition to his alcohol consumption.
The investigator determined that acute alcohol intoxication and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease played a role in his death, noting how his autopsy indicated he had a history of excessive alcohol use, This was reported by TMZ.
Tony McFarr worked with Pratt on films including Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World (pictured). His cause of death has now been officially ruled an accident likely due to his drinking.
McFarr, only 47 when he died, had more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. His death was a shock to those who knew him, as he had appeared healthy
Overall, the coroner classified the stunt double’s death as an accident. He had more than 20 years of experience in the industry.
“I am devastated by the loss of my friend and former stunt double,” Pratt said in a video posted to Instagram the day news of McFarr’s death broke.
“We’ve made several films together. We’ve played golf, drank whiskey, smoked cigars and spent endless hours on the set.”
He added: ‘I will never forget his toughness. I remember him taking a nasty blow to the head [in the title sequence of Guardians 2] and had multiple staples put in his head – he came right back to work, ready to get back to work. He was an absolute gem.
“He was always a gentleman and a professional,” concluded Pratt, who worked with McFarr on four films during his career.
“He will be missed. My prayers go out to his friends and family, especially his daughter.”
He then posted a series of photos featuring his doppelganger during their work on films including Passengers, 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 and the 2018 Jurassic World sequel, Fallen Kingdom, all in costume.
In addition to a daughter, McFarr also had a wife, Thais McFarr, with whom he ran a health food restaurant called The Fit Kitchen, located in Peachtree City, Georgia.
“We made several films together. We played golf, drank whiskey, smoked cigars, and spent endless hours on the set,” McFarr said after his death, after four films with him as his doppelganger
The stuntman left behind a wife, Thais McFarr, in 2018. The couple owned a restaurant called The Fit Kitchen in Peachtree City, Georgia
The Orange County coroner in Florida has reportedly ruled that McFarr’s death was the result of an irregular heartbeat and a problem with his heart valves, in addition to symptoms of excessive drinking.
At the time of his death, he was living in a four-bedroom, $500,000 home where he was found unconscious in May. The coroner confirmed this in documents obtained Tuesday, noting that his body had likely been there for some time, as it was decomposing.
He was found unresponsive in the couple’s picturesque suburban home just outside Orlando and pronounced dead at the scene.
The coroner confirmed this in documents obtained Tuesday, noting that his body had likely been there for some time as it was already decomposing.
It also provided insight into his BAC at the time his body was examined, which the coroner determined was 0.29 percent.
For comparison, in most states, the legal BAC limit for driving is 0.08. That means McFarr’s blood was nearly four times that concentration when his body was found.
He began his career in 2011 with a role in the police series Bones. He studied business administration at Florida State University and received his MBA from LSU Shreveport.
He also worked briefly as an actor.