An individual who trained animals met a tragic end when a grizzly bear he had raised since childhood attacked him during a failed stunt.
The incident took place at Randy Miller’s Predators in Action animal training center in the mountains near Los Angeles. Stephan Miller, 39, was assisting his cousin in filming a promotional video with Rocky, a 7.5-foot-tall grizzly bear weighing approximately 50 stone, due to his expertise in working with bears and the entertainment industry.
Rocky, a five-year-old grizzly trained to interact with humans, had previously appeared in the 2008 movie “Semi-Pro” where Stephan served as a body double for Will Ferrell and had wrestled with the bear.
During the filming, Rocky unexpectedly attacked Stephan, biting his neck before handlers intervened using pepper spray to separate them. Despite immediate medical attention, Stephan succumbed to his injuries shortly after the incident.
Randy, who has decades of experience raising exotic animals and staging simulated attacks, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, emphasizing the swift but unsuccessful efforts to save Stephan.
The bear, known for its friendly demeanor, suddenly turned aggressive, leading to the unfortunate incident. Investigations by state authorities and occupational safety agencies were initiated to determine the cause of the attack and the bear’s future.
Following advocacy from animal welfare groups, Rocky was spared from being euthanized and relocated to a sanctuary in California. The training facility, equipped with necessary permits for such activities, also housed other exotic animals including brown bears, a black bear, snakes, reptiles, an alligator, a crocodile, a leopard, a mountain lion, African lions, and tigers.
Hollywood filmmaker Nick Palumbo, a close acquaintance of Stephan and Randy, shared heartfelt sentiments about the tragic loss, highlighting the strong bond between Stephan and the bear they had raised together.
