Scott Leva

Biography

Spider-Man

In 1985, Leva was tapped by Cannon Films & Joseph Zito (who was the 2nd director to replace Tobe Hooper as being the first director attached for Spider-Man) to play Spider-Man in their adaptation of the comics. He was also the actor on the first photographic cover of a Spider-Man comic book, appearing as Peter Parker, half-way in costume, on The Amazing Spider-Man, #262 (cover date March 1985). He can be seen in costume as Spider-Man, on the blooper reel for the 2000 film X-Men, on which he served as a stunt-coordinator.

Safety equipment designer

After a friend died doing a high fall, Leva started to tinker with the standard airbags used by stunt performers and eventually designed an airbag with a different structure. The older airbags had a tendency to throw a stunt performer if they didn't hit the bag perfectly, the new bag uses a different arrangements of air bladders and a less slippery top layer to help the performer to stay on the bag. He was awarded an Academy Award for Technical Achievement for this design.

Awards

2003 World Stunt Awards Nominated for Best High Work for a 125-foot fall onto the top of a car on Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever

2003 World Stunt Awards Nominated for Best Overall Stunt Performer as stunt coordinator on Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever

2006 Academy Awards Science and Technical Oscar for his design of a safer air bag for high fall stunt work

Filmography highlights

Stunts or Stunt Coordinator

Scream Queens (2008) - Episode 3 (stunts)

Changeling (2008) (utility stunts)

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (stunt rigger) (utility stunts)

Dexter (stunt rigger) (1 episode, 2007)

2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards (2007) (TV) (utility stunts)

Hannah Montana (stunt rigger)

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) (utility stunts)

Flags of Our Fathers (2006) (assistant stunt coordinator)

Crank (2006) (stunt safety)

Zoom (2006) (stunts)

World Trade Center (2006) (stunts)

Everybody Hates Chris (2005) TV series (stunt rigger)

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) (stunts)

Desperate Housewives (2004) TV series (stunt rigger)

Collateral (2004) (stunts)

World's Finest (2004) (aerial stunt effects coordinator) (stunt coordinator)

2003 ABC World Stunt Awards (2003) (TV) (utility stunts)

Taken (2002) (stunts)

Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) (assistant stunt coordinator) (stunts: high fall)

Actor

The Toxic Avenger (1984, as policeman, uncredited)

Invaders from Mars (1986, as Marine officer)

The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989, as the Dark Rider, uncredited)

Sweet Justice (1993, as River Goon)

Private Wars (1993, as Mrs. Dominick's Son)

Stranger by Night (1994, as Bobby's Father, (flashbacks), uncredited)

To the Limit (1995, as Carlo)

Back to Back (1996, as Officer Williams)

Monkey Business (1998, as Bankrobber 1

The Base (1999, as Front Gate MP #1)

X-Men, (2000, as Waterboy #2)

Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever, (2002, as Lone Sniper)

Red Eye, (2005, as Keefe's Bodyguard)

Changeling (2008, as Mountie)

Dynasty (1983, 1 episode, as waiter)

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1989, Episode: Unnatural Selection, as Command Division Officer)

Santa Barbara (1991, 1 episode, as Thug No. 1)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1996, Episode: To the Death, as Ramirez, uncredited)

Star Trek: Voyager (1996, Episode: Remember, as Fredick, uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Ritual (2001/I) (second unit director)

Pilgrim (2000) (second unit director)

If Dog Rabbit (1999) (second unit director)

The Heist (1999) (second unit director)

Southern Cross (1999) (second unit director)

Gangster World (1998) (TV) (second unit director)

Mars (1998) (second unit director)

Acts of Betrayal (1997) (second unit director)

Mercenary (1997) (TV) (second unit director)

The Journey: Absolution (1997) (second unit director)

Mercenary II: Thick & Thin (1997) (TV) (second unit director)

Director

The Greatest Show Ever (2007) (TV)