Jeremy Renner says surviving his horrific snowplough accident gave him a whole new outlook on life. Speaking with Fox News Digital while promoting Season 4 of Mayor of Kingstown, the actor opened up about the day in January 2023 when his 14,000-pound snowcat nearly crushed him outside his Lake Tahoe home.
He reflected on how close he came to death and how it’s changed his perspective. “Well, look, there are so many blessings kind of bestowed onto me because of being tested to your limits. You know when you know, and I guess I got tested to a limit and still got through. So I know what a bad day feels like. So I don’t expect to have any of those ever again, you know? So it’s that simple,” he said.
Renner’s accident happened while he was trying to tow a car stuck in heavy snow. The machine rolled and ran over him, leaving him with severe chest trauma and broken bones. Emergency crews airlifted him to the hospital, where he underwent surgery and began what would become a year-long recovery.
Police bodycam footage later showed the aftermath of the terrifying moment he was “completely crushed” by the PistenBully Snowcat.
Despite the ordeal, Renner has described it as a “great gift.” When he appeared on The Tonight Show in May 2024, he told Jimmy Fallon that the experience forced him to slow down and gave him a deeper appreciation for life.
Throughout 2023, Renner focused on rebuilding his strength and returning to the work he loves. His determination has clearly left an impression on his co-stars.
Edie Falco, who stars alongside him in Mayor of Kingstown, said she was deeply moved by his attitude on set. “I mean most most definitely inspired. A lot of days that we were shooting were not easy. It was cold, and the days were kind of long and the scenes were dark and fraught”.
“I never had a feeling that Jeremy didn’t want to be there, you know. As far as a working environment, I don’t really ask for much more than that. You wanna get the feeling that the other people wanna be where they are,” Falco said.
Renner, who’s been easing back into work, teased what fans can expect from the new season. “Yeah, I think a lot of chess playing, sort of themes going on. It’s pretty intense. It’s certainly high octane in its narrative, right? These are thick, thick storylines and rich characters. A lot is at stake this season. A lot is at stake for a lot of the players that the audience is very familiar with.”
He added that viewers will also meet new characters who shake things up. “We have some new players this year that are great adversaries, but we, the main heavy cast in the main storylike, a lot is at stake for everyone. That’s what separates it from all the other seasons,” he said.
After everything he’s been through, Renner’s outlook is clear. For him, life after the accident isn’t about fear or regret. It’s about gratitude and the belief that the worst is behind him.
