Bear attack kills animal trainer during promotional video shoot
Animal trainer dies after bear attack during film shoot
Animal trainer Stephan Miller faced a tragic incident while filming a promotional video, play-wrestling with a bear. At 39, Stephan was at his cousin Randy Miller’s animal training centre, Predators in Action, in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of Los Angeles. He attempted a wrestling stunt with a five-year-old bear named Rocky.
Although not working as a trainer at that time, Stephan had previously worked at the centre for several years. Randy sought his help for the promo due to Stephan’s experience with bears. Rocky, the bear, had been trained to wrestle humans and had appeared in the 2008 film Semi-Pro, where Randy doubled for Will Ferrell.
Randy described Rocky as a 7.5ft tall, 700-pound bear trained to be ‘playful’ on command. Despite Rocky’s training and Stephan’s bond with the bear, the filming went awry. Randy explained that the bear was supposed to start next to Stephan before a staged attack. However, Rocky caught Stephan off guard. In a flash, Rocky bit Stephan on the neck. The team, including Randy, tried to stop the bear using pepper spray.
They managed to get Rocky away in seconds, but it was too late. A post-mortem revealed Stephan died within minutes of the bite. Paramedics arrived around 3:00pm but couldn’t revive Stephan. The incident was investigated by the state Department of Fish and Game and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, who did not decide on euthanising the bear.
Animal rights groups campaigned to spare Rocky’s life. It was decided Rocky would no longer work in TV and film or interact with anyone but his trainers. Eventually, Rocky was cleared to work again before moving to a sanctuary in California.
Randy expressed no blame towards the animal, acknowledging the risks they take in their work. Hollywood filmmaker Nick Palumbo, who was a close friend of Stephan, echoed this sentiment, stating he did not believe the bear intended harm.
What Other Media Are Saying
- News18 reports a bear named Rocky killed trainer Stephen Miller during a staged stunt in 2008, emphasizing the horrifying attack and subsequent investigation into the incident.(read more)
- CNN reports on Shayne Patrick Burke’s harrowing grizzly bear attack in Grand Teton National Park, highlighting his quick thinking and preparedness with bear spray, which saved his life.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened to Stephan Miller while filming with a bear?
Stephan Miller was fatally bitten on the neck by a bear named Rocky during a promotional video shoot.
Where did the incident with Stephan Miller and the bear take place?
The incident occurred at Predators in Action, an animal training centre in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of Los Angeles.
What was Rocky the bear known for before the incident?
Rocky was trained to wrestle humans and appeared in the 2008 film Semi-Pro, where he doubled for Will Ferrell.
How did the team respond when Rocky attacked Stephan?
The team used pepper spray and managed to get Rocky away within seconds, but it was too late to save Stephan.
What happened to Rocky the bear after the incident?
Rocky was spared from euthanasia, stopped working in TV and film, and eventually moved to a sanctuary in California.
