Eva Mendes is overflowing with pride about her husband Ryan Gosling, whose public push last year for the Oscars to create a new category for stunt performers paid off Thursday — when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially announced as much.
Gosling’s comprehensive campaign involved hilarious public appearances and viral social media posts. His film “The Fall Guy” (2024) centered on a stuntman using his skills to survive a criminal conspiracy and also served as a tribute to the community.
On Thursday, the Oscars announced a new category launching in 2028: Stunt Design.
“My man is the F best!” Mendes wrote Friday on Instagram. “Unfortunately, success is almost only measured by box office. So I’m extra proud of my man for turning his entire Fall Guy press tour into a campaign to get stunts recognized by the Oscars.”
“And now after Almost 100 years of stunt design not being acknowledged by the Academy, it’s officially a category!!” she continued. “This is a HUGE success! And an achievement that will last. Congratulations to the incredible stunt community!!”
While some social media users reacted with frustration — and are understandably mourning that Hollywood stunt pioneers such as Buster Keaton and Jackie Chan will never win the award they deserve most — the new Oscars category is largely being celebrated.
In the announcement Thursday, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said that “stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking” since the dawn of cinema and congratulated the stunt community for “reaching this momentous occasion.”
Gosling certainly helped the effort with a roster of promotional appearances last year.
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The Oscar-nominated actor praised stuntmen across interviews, co-produced “The Fall Guy” himself — and paid homage to the stunt community at the Oscars last year. He even surprised theme park attendees to promote the stunt-centric film.
Gosling and Mendes met while filming “The Place Beyond the Pines” (2012) and have since welcomed two daughters. Mendes has largely stopped acting but frequently supports her husband on social media. On Friday, she jokingly promised to be a little more disciplined.
“BTW, this is the last time I post a pic of my man and the total babe that is Emily Blunt. No más!”
