David M. Leitch (born November 16, 1975)^[1] is an American filmmaker, actor, stunt performer and stunt coordinator who made his directorial debut on the 2014 action film John Wick with Chad Stahelski, though only Stahelski was credited.^[3] Leitch then directed the 2017 thriller film Atomic Blonde, starring Charlize Theron, and 2018's Deadpool 2. In 2019, he directed Hobbs & Shaw, a spin-off of the Fast & Furious franchise, and in 2022 directed Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt.

Leitch was born in Kohler, Wisconsin, to Leroy and Zona Leitch. As a kid, he had passion of Martial arts, so he trained himself in garage with no school. Leitch had a degree in International Relations and Education, he chose to take a teaching job and open a martial arts school right out of college.

Leitch was a stunt double for Brad Pitt five times and two times for Jean-Claude Van Damme.^{[citation needed]} Leitch and his crew won two awards for The Bourne Ultimatum at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.^[4] He also shared a 2008 Taurus World Stunt Award with fellow stunt-person Kai Martin for high work.^[5]

He wrote and starred in Confessions of an Action Star, a parody of action films and the action film industry released in 2009.^[6][7]

Leitch and Chad Stahelski opened an action design production company called 87Eleven in 1997. In 2009, Stahelski and Leitch were second-unit directors and stunt co-ordinators on Ninja Assassin. The two co-directed the 2014 film John Wick,^[8] although Leitch himself was not credited as co-director. Leitch executive produced the three John Wick sequels, which Stahelski solo directed.

He moved on to direct films such as Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2 and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw with his wife and creative partner Kelly McCormick serving as a producer. In 2022, he also directed Brad Pitt in the action-thriller Bullet Train.

Leitch was married to producer Kelly McCormick since 2014, and was a stepfather to his wife’s two sons from a previous marriage.^{[citation needed]}