Death Proof

He’s been blown up and shot and battled cancer four times, but MARK CHAVARRIA’S passion for fitness has made him an unbreakable force of nature.

- Carlos Mejia

VETERAN STUNTMAN Mark Chavarria has been shot, stabbed, blown up, and hit by cars by Hollywood elites like Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr., and Danny Trejo. Yet despite the 48-year-old stuntman’s reputation for dying onscreen, in real life, he’s proved pretty resourceful at staying alive. 

In 2013 Chavarria was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer, the last stage of what is considered the second-deadliest cancer on earth behind lung cancer—only 11% of those who are diagnosed in the distant stages survive more than five years, according to the American Cancer Society. But Chavarria didn’t want to feel sorry for himself, counting down the days. 

Instead, he adopted a different approach. 

Armed with decades of training experience—which stems from his obsession with martial arts as a kid—Chavarria formulated his own regimen to combat non movement, which he aptly named “cancer workouts.” He exercises six to seven days per week, and his routines consist of long bike rides, weightlifting, tire flipping, and ax swinging.