Ali Arsalan
In a recent episode of David Spade’s “Fly on the Wall” podcast, skateboarding icon Tony Hawk spilled the beans on a hidden chapter from his past. Back in 1987, Hawk found himself working as David Spade’s stunt double in “Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol.” This surprising tale of his short-lived gig, marked by an unexpected ending, stayed under wraps for years.
Tony Hawk’s Skateboarding Misadventure as David Spade’s Stunt Double in ‘Police Academy 4’
Tony Hawk, the legendary skateboarder, found himself working as David Spade’s stunt double in “Police Academy 4.” Initially, they both shared a passion for skateboarding and were both “goofy-footed.”
However, by the time filming began, Hawk had experienced a growth spurt due to puberty. This sudden change in height caused complications, leading the director to quietly replace him, calling him a good skater but a bad stunt double. In essence, Hawk was fired from the role due to his growth spurt.
Tony Hawk’s Stunt Replacement Saga and Surprise Appearance in ‘Police Academy 4’
According to Spade, after Tony Hawk’s departure, skater Chris Miller stepped in. However, Miller’s regular-footed stance created continuity issues during skate sequences. Spade recalled Peralta asking him to perform a skateboard stunt involving jumping several steps.
Despite Spade’s claim of success in doing it “seven out of 10 times,” he wiped out on the first attempt, causing a comedic chain reaction. In the end, Peralta brought Hawk back for the stunt, which, as Hawk noted, was challenging but achievable.
“Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol” marked Spade’s debut in feature films.