X-Men stuntman dies just aged 27 after battling stomach cancer (2025)

An X-Men stuntman has died of gastric cancer at age 27.

Trevor Habberstad worked on the movies X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men: Apocalypse. He has a long list of stunt credits that includes American Sniper, Ant-Man, Passengers, The Dark Knight Rises and many TV shows.

His brother, Shane, is a stuntman, as was his father, Jeff.

Habberstad spent eight months fighting the disease, which his family had high hopes of him beating, but then it spread to his brain about a week and a half ago.

The young stuntman was in Hawaii with his family after finishing a film when he first complained of stomach pains, reported the Hollywood Reporter.

Doctors at first thought he might have appendicitis, but it turned out to be gastric cancer.

Initially, things looked positive. Trevor wrote on Instagram: 'Today is officially Day #1 of my biggest and most gnarly adventure to date. I was diagnosed last week with an aggressive and very rare form of stomach cancer. But, it's also very treatable. Only a minor speed bump on the road to awesome.'

But once the disease spread to his brain, there was nothing doctors could do.

Jeff posted an emotional farewell to his son on Instagram, along with a picture of them skydiving together.

'My biggest fear in life would be to outlive my child. That nightmare has happened,' the message read.

'I spent over 8 months watching my first-born son Trevor fight this horrible rare disease. He never complained once, never said "why me", never gave up, never lost hope, never considered losing as an option.

'But that disease was relentless. Every time he would start to make a gain, it would change direction and punch him in the gut.

'And he would get back up and lead the new charge. I am so proud.

'I don’t know how I can live without him, work without him, play without him. I miss him so much.'

Bryan Singer, director of several of the X-Men films paid a glowing tribute to Habberstad on Instagram.

#TREVORHABBERSTAD, Son of #JeffHabberstad, my stunt coordinator over the last two #XMen films, and older brother of #ShaneHabberstad, passed away recently from a rare and aggressive form of cancer at the young age of 27,' Singer wrote.

'Trevor was a #stuntcoordinator in his own right, and would have gone on to become one of the greats. His skill, commitment to safety, and work ethic was second to none.

'In my 20 year career I have never lost a friend/colleague this way. He and his entire family are among the kindest people I have ever met. My heart goes out to them.

'His passing is the very definition of the word UNFAIR.'

Habbsterstad grew up on movie sets and was determined to prove himself in the business as well. His father made him graduate college before he would let him pursue a career in the stunt world.