Ryan Shepard (l) worked as Eminem’s stunt double in the rapper’s early career days (Picture: Facebook)
Eminem’s former stunt double, Ryan Shepard, has died at the age of 40.
Shepard is perhaps best known for standing in as the rap legend’s doppelganger at the MTV Movie Awards, on tour and in a music video.
According to TMZ, Shepard’s brother Kyle confirmed he died in January after being hit by an oncoming pickup truck while trying to cross a street.
He was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead soon after.
Shepard made several appearances as Eminem’s stunt and photo double in the early noughties, including the MTV Movie Awards where he starred as the Without Me rapper’s superhero character Rap Boy, which saw him suspending in the air.
He also appeared on-stage with Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, on the musician’s Anger Management Tour in 2002, and on tours in Japan and Europe the following year.
Shepard appeared as Eminem’s double at the MTV Movie Awards in 2002 as the rapper’s superhero character Rap Boy (Picture: WireImage)
Shepard, here in 2002, worked with Eminem for a few years in the early noughties (Picture: WireImage)
Many will also recognise Shepard as the rapper’s double in D12’s Purple Hills music video.
Following his stunt double stint, Shepard went on to pursue a completely different career, with his brother Kyle hailing his late sibling’s intelligence.
Shepard went on to work at Disney as a ride mechanical engineer and later landing a job with Elon Musk’s SpaceX as a test automation engineer.
Shepard is survived by two children; a seven-year-old and an 11-year-old.
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Shepard’s brother confirmed he died at the end of January.
