As Back To The Future celebrates its 40th anniversary, stuntman Charlie Croughwell, who doubled for Michael J. Fox, has shared behind-the-scenes secrets from the iconic film. Croughwell, who worked with Fox for 16 years, sold the legendary pink hoverboard from the second film last year to raise funds for the Michael J Fox Foundation.
Reflecting on his first day on set, Croughwell recalled sneaking onto the Universal Studios lot to meet stunt coordinator Matt Clevin. When he approached, Michael J. Fox was present, and Clevin jokingly introduced him as Fox's stunt double. He was immediately put to work on the memorable scene where Marty is pushed backwards by a car on a skateboard, runs over the top, and lands back on the board.
The stunt was filmed in pieces, including separate shots for the skateboarding, stepping onto the car, and landing. Croughwell noted it only took three or four takes to complete. He also performed the opening scene where Marty is thrown across the room by an exploding speaker, which required precise timing to avoid injury. 'If he didn't push that button at exactly the right moment, I was either going through the ceiling or shot down to the floor,' he said.
Despite the risks, Croughwell described the experience as 'the ultimate thing for a kid to be doing.' He also suffered a broken bone during the scene where Marty pushes his father out of the way of a car, though he did not elaborate on the injury. The film's enduring popularity continues to resonate with fans worldwide.
