Stephan Miller

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Stephan Miller (1968 - April 22, 2008) was an American animal trainer, wrangler and stunt double. Along with his cousin Randy Miller, Stephan Miller was the founder and owner of Predators in Action, an animal training facility that trains wild and exotic animals for film and television appearances. Some of the films in which animals trained by Miller have appeared include The Island of Dr. Moreau, Gladiator, The Postman, The Last Samurai, and Semi-Pro. Miller's animals have also appeared on Discovery Channel and National Geographic Society programs in which they recreated famous animal attacks, including the mauling of Roy Horn by a white tiger.[1]

On April 22, 2008, during a routine training exercise, Miller was mauled and killed by a 5-year old grizzly bear named Rocky the Bear.[2][3][4][5] The 7½ foot tall, 700 lb bear bit Miller on the back of the neck once, killing him almost instantly.[6] Until Miller's death, Rocky was best known for appearing as Dewey the Killer Bear in a scene from the 2008 film Semi-Pro in which he wrestled Will Ferrell's body double Randy Miller.[7][3][5] Following Miller's death, the California Department of Fish and Game initiated a probe into the events that will eventually decide whether or not Rocky will be euthanized.[6][8] People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animal rights groups, who have long protested use of wild animals in films, are calling for Rocky to be spared and to be allowed to retire to a zoo or another similar facility.[9][10][11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Flaccus, Gillian. Trainer distraught over fatal bear attack, CANOE.ca, April 24, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008.
  2. ^ Bear gave off no reasons for concern before trainer's death, Associated Press, April 23, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Hollywood film bear kills handler BBC News, April 24, 2008. Accessed May 6, 2008.
  4. ^ Grizzly bear mauls trainer, Stephan Miller, Boston Herald, April 23, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008.
  5. ^ a b Grizzly Bear That Appeared in Will Ferrell Film Kills Trainer in California, Fox News, April 23, 2008. Accessed May 6, 2008.
  6. ^ a b State opens probe into fatal bear attack, CNN, April 25, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008.
  7. ^ Bone, James.Hollywood bear could be destroyed after killing trainer with a single bite, The Times, April 24, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008.
  8. ^ Miquel Marquez, Rich McHugh, Olivia Sterna, Emily Friedman. Should Rocky the Bear Be Euthanized?, ABC News, April 23, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008.
  9. ^ Wathne, Lisa.PETA Urges Predators in Action to Retire Grizzly Bear Following Fatal Attack, PETA, April 23, 2008. Accessed May 6, 2008.
  10. ^ Kelly, David. Grizzly should not be killed, trainer's colleagues say, Los Angeles Times, April 24, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008.
  11. ^ When movie animals go bad, The New Zealand Herald, May 3, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008.

[edit] External links