In the high-octane world of action thrillers and drama, Sean Bean has acquired recognition for his commanding portrayal of villains and rugged characters in iconic roles like Boromir in The Lord of the Rings and Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. Therefore, known for his tough and resilient screen presence, one might assume that injuring Bean would be a challenge. Unless, of course, it’s Harrison Ford.
Apparently, the adaptation of Tom Clancy’s Patriot Games stood out for one such unexpected chapter in its making, where Harrison Ford accidentally left a memorable scar on Sean Bean. Trying to make his mark in Hollywood with the 1992 movie, Bean unfortunately left with a lasting mark on his face, after an unexpected on-set incident.
Patriot Games Left Sean Bean with a Memorable Scar
Although Sean Bean is popular among modern audiences for his role as Ned Stark in HBO’s Game of Thrones, there was a time when the actor struggled to find his big break in Hollywood. Dating back to the early 90s, ahead of Bean’s appearance in The Lord of the Rings, the actor was figuring out his way in the competitive entertainment industry.
That’s when he secured the role of a terrorist named Sean Miller in an adaptation of Tom Clancy’s novel Patriot Games, alongside Harrison Ford’s Jack Ryan. While Ford was already a household name in the industry, thanks to his appearance in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchise, Bean hoped to find his big break after sharing the screen with the legend.
Unfortunately, Sean Bean’s experience filming Patriot Games, wasn’t a pleasant one, for the film not only underwent reshoots, but the actor also sustained an unfortunate accident. According to reports from the LA Times, Bean and Harrison Ford were reshooting their climactic fight scene atop a flaming speedboat, when the veteran star inadvertently swung a boat hook that struck Bean, causing a cut underneath his eyebrow.
The incident resulted in Sean Bean bleeding visibly on camera – a detail that can be spotted by keen-eyed viewers. Thereafter, according to My London, the actor was immediately rushed to the hospital where he required eight stitches to address the wound. But eventually, despite the severity of the injury, the actor maintained a positive outlook on the situation.
Sean Bean’s Scar Became a Badge of Early Hollywood
While the stitch and the wound healed quickly, Sean Bean was thereafter left with a permanent scar on his face. Yes, the accident from Patriot Games is what gave the actor his badass notable scar that played in his favor, given that Bean often appeared in rugged roles. Therefore, in an interview with Spectrum News 13, Bean reflected on the incident with a sense of humor and resilience.
It’s a good one. It’s in the right place. Kind of a designer scar.
Sean Bean‘s ability to embrace the scar as a symbol of his early Hollywood experiences highlighted his good-natured approach to the challenges of the film industry. Far from holding any resentment towards Harrison Ford, Bean instead wore the scar with pride and honor. So much so that the unfortunate incident paved the way for the actor’s career, as per SlashFilm.
Right after the completion of Patriot Games, Sean Bean took on the role of soldier Richard Sharpe in the British television series Sharpe. Bean’s last-minute casting not only led the makeup artists to accentuate his scar but also led the writers to add it to his character’s backstory. The scar eventually helped him land his first rugged but honorable role, which was followed by his appearance as Boromir and Ned Stark.
Patriot Games is available on Prime Video.
