Saoirse Downs
In the 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, wrestles a bear to promote his basketball team. The bear, named Rocky, was a 5-year-old, 7.5-foot-tall, 700-pound male grizzly bear. Tragically, in 2008, just weeks after the film's release, Rocky killed his trainer, Stephan Miller, during a promotional video shoot. This incident sparked discussions about the use of wild animals in films and the inherent risks involved. Despite the tragedy, the film Semi-Pro marked another comedic endeavour for Will Ferrell, known for his spoofs and satirical takes on various sports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Rocky |
| Species | Grizzly bear |
| Age | 5 years old |
| Height | 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) |
| Weight | 700 pounds (320 kilograms) |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Actor, wrestler |
| Known for | Appearing in the film Semi-Pro |
| Diet | Meat-eater |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Will Ferrell's stunt double Randy Miller was killed by the bear
In the 2008 sports comedy film "Semi-Pro," Will Ferrell's character wrestles a bear to promote his struggling basketball team. The 7.5-foot-tall, 700-pound male grizzly bear, named Rocky, was described by his owner Randy Miller as "the best-trained grizzly in the business." Randy Miller was not only the owner but also the cousin of Stephan Miller, the 39-year-old trainer who was killed by Rocky during a rehearsal for a film stunt.
On April 22, 2008, while filming a promotional video, Stephan Miller was attacked by the 5-year-old grizzly bear. The plan was to first take shots of Stephan and Rocky standing next to each other and then begin the staged wrestling match. However, Rocky started the staged attack too early, catching Stephan off guard. Randy Miller tried to make the bear let go of Stephan by hitting him with a cane, but this may have unintentionally escalated the situation. The bear bit Stephan Miller on the neck, piercing his jugular vein and carotid artery, and he died within minutes.
Three experienced handlers were working with Rocky at the Predators in Action wild animal training center when the attack occurred. Pepper spray was used to subdue the bear, and there were no other injuries. Paramedics were unable to revive Stephan Miller. The California Department of Fish and Game launched an investigation but did not rule on the bear's fate, as the incident happened on private property. Randy Miller, who had won a World Stunt Academy Award for his work, stated that he planned to continue working with Rocky and try to get the restrictions lifted, believing that his cousin would have wanted that.
The Mercy Rule: High School Basketball's Unwritten Code
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The bear was named Rocky and was 7.5 feet tall
The bear that appeared in a scene with Will Ferrell in the 2008 sports comedy film *Semi-Pro* was named Rocky. In the film, Will Ferrell's character wrestles the bear to promote his basketball team. Rocky was a 5-year-old, 7.5-foot-tall (2.3 m), 700-pound (320 kg) male grizzly bear.
Rocky was trained to wrestle humans and was described by his trainer, Randy Miller, as "the best working bear in the business". However, despite his training, Rocky attacked and killed Randy Miller's cousin, Stephan Miller, during a training session in April 2008, just weeks after the release of *Semi-Pro*. The attack occurred when Stephan Miller, an experienced trainer, was filming a promotional video with Rocky at the Predators in Action facility. Although the wrestling match was staged, Rocky began the attack too early, biting Stephan Miller on the neck and piercing his jugular vein and carotid artery.
Following the attack, Rocky was restricted from having contact with anyone other than his trainers and was no longer allowed to be exhibited or used for film or TV work. Randy Miller, however, defended Rocky and stated that he planned to continue working with the bear and try to get the restrictions lifted. The California Department of Fish and Game investigated the incident but ultimately decided not to euthanize Rocky, a decision supported by animal rights groups such as PETA.
Rec Basketball: When Does the Fun Begin?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The bear was a trained actor and was 5 years old
The bear that appeared in the Will Ferrell film Semi-Pro was a trained actor. The bear, named Rocky, was a 5-year-old, 7.5-foot-tall (2.3 m), 700-pound (320 kg) male grizzly bear. He was trained to wrestle humans and appeared in the film alongside Ferrell's character in a scene to promote his basketball team. In the scene, Ferrell's character wrestles Rocky, with stuntman and trainer Randy Miller doubling for Ferrell.
Rocky was described by Randy Miller as "the best working bear in the business". Miller has 25 years of experience training animals, and his facility, Predators in Action, is one of the most acclaimed animal training companies. It trains wild and exotic animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, and wolves, for film and TV appearances, advertising, and education. Despite Rocky's training, however, there was a tragic incident in which he attacked and killed Stephan Miller, Randy Miller's cousin and fellow trainer.
The attack occurred in 2008, just seven weeks after Semi-Pro was released in theatres. Stephan Miller, an experienced trainer, had asked to be filmed wrestling Rocky for an advertisement. Although he had not been involved in training Rocky, Randy Miller agreed to the request as Stephan had experience with bears and had recently been in a photoshoot with Rocky. During the filming, Rocky began the staged attack too early, biting Stephan on the neck and piercing his jugular vein and carotid artery.
Following the attack, the California Department of Fish and Game investigated and imposed restrictions on Rocky. He was no longer allowed to have contact with anyone other than his trainers and could not be exhibited or used for film or TV work. Animal rights groups, such as PETA, called for Rocky to be spared and allowed to retire to a zoo or similar facility. In the years following the incident, Randy Miller worked to have the restrictions lifted, believing it was what his cousin would have wanted.
Mizzou Basketball: Unranked Despite Strong Performance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Will Ferrell's character in the film wrestles the bear
In the 2008 American sports comedy film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, wrestles a bear as a stunt to promote his basketball team, the Flint Tropics. The Flint Tropics is a fictional ABA team that is desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA. The bear, a 5-year-old, 7.5-foot-tall (2.3 m), 700-pound (320 kg) male grizzly bear named Rocky, was a trained animal actor. Randy Miller, an experienced trainer and stuntman, doubled for Ferrell during the wrestling match.
In the film, Jackie Moon is a singer who uses the profits from his one-hit wonder, "Love Me Sexy," to buy the Flint Tropics basketball team. He becomes the owner, head coach, starting power forward, and pre-game announcer. When the ABA announces its plans to merge with the NBA, with only four teams making the move, Jackie Moon comes up with various outlandish stunts to increase attendance and promote his team. One of these stunts includes wrestling a bear.
The scene with Will Ferrell's character wrestling the bear was filmed with professional handlers and trainers present. Despite the precautions, the bear that played Rocky, also known as "Dewey the Killer Bear," later attacked and killed one of its trainers, Stephan Miller, who was Randy Miller's cousin. The tragic incident occurred during a promotional video shoot, when the bear bit Stephan Miller on the neck, piercing his jugular vein and carotid artery.
The bear's actions stunned those involved, as Rocky had a history of obediently following cues during filming. The attack led to an investigation and discussions about whether Rocky should be euthanized. Ultimately, Rocky was not euthanized but was restricted from having contact with people other than his trainers and could no longer be exhibited or used for film or TV work.
Orlando's Basketball Wives: Where Are They Now?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The film received generally negative reviews
The 2008 American sports comedy film Semi-Pro received generally negative reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval score of 23% based on 160 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10. The site's critical consensus characterises the film as an "intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire, and one of Will Ferrell's weaker cinematic efforts." Similarly, Metacritic reported that the film had an average score of 47 out of 100, based on 29 reviews. Critics criticised the script, although Ferrell's performance received praise.
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $15 million in 3,121 theatres in the United States and Canada, holding the number-one position at the box office. Alicia Chang of the Associated Press described the opening as "lacklustre" compared to Ferrell's previous sports spoofs Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory, which opened with $47 million and $33 million, respectively. The film went on to gross $33,479,698 domestically and $10,405,206 internationally, for a total of $43,884,904 worldwide.
In the film, Will Ferrell's character wrestles a bear named Rocky, a 7.5-foot-tall, 700-pound grizzly bear. Stuntman and trainer Randy Miller doubled for Ferrell during the wrestling match with the bear. Unfortunately, seven weeks after the film's wide release, the bear bit and killed Randy Miller's cousin and fellow trainer, Stephan Miller. This tragic incident may have also influenced the negative reception of the film.
Basketball Gym Ceiling Heights: How High is High Enough?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The 2008 film Semi-Pro features a scene in which Will Ferrell's character wrestles a bear.
Semi-Pro is a sports comedy about a fictional American Basketball Association team that is desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA.
Will Ferrell's character wrestles a bear to promote his basketball team. Randy Miller doubled for Ferrell during the wrestling match.
No, but in a tragic turn of events, the bear, named Rocky, killed his trainer, Stephan Miller, during a promotional video shoot in April 2008, just weeks after the film's release.
Yes, the grizzly bear, Rocky, also appeared in movie theatres as "Dewey the Killer Bear".
