Jeremy Renner made a surprise appearance at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards one year after his near-fatal snow plow accident.
On Sunday, the 53-year-old actor walked across the stage unassisted by a cane to present the first award of the night and was greeted by rounds of applause and a standing ovation, People magazine reported.
“The fans rock, I tell you what,” Renner said. “The People’s Choice Awards, gotta say, it feels good to be back. This year’s been a heck of a journey and I’m happy to be here with you, the fans.”
“You guys are the best,” he added. “You guys really brought this year. You broke records. You turned movies into movements. We heard you all loud and clear, we heard you.”
Jeremy Renner in the building presenting the award for The TV Performance of the year to our winner Billie Eilish! #PCAs pic.twitter.com/zNfkeOOvh7
— People’s Choice (@peopleschoice) February 19, 2024
The Marvel star then announced the nominees for “TV Performance of the Year” and said “Right now, I get the privilege of celebrating the most powerful movie performances on screen. So, are you ready for the first award of the night?” The honor went to singer Billie Eilish for her part in “Swarm.”
Renner has undergone extensive therapy for the last year after his body was nearly crushed under a 14,300-pound snowcat in an accident on Jan. 1, 2023 near his Nevada home, resulting in more than 30 broken bones.
The actor recently talked about the life-threatening injuries he sustained in the accident and said “Not one doctor, early on, said ‘You’re gonna pull through, you’re gonna be able to see again, you’re gonna be able to walk again, you’re gonna be able to breathe right, you’re gonna be able to talk,'” The Hollywood Reporter reported.
“No one gave me anything,” he added. “I think they were all communicating with my family. And I feel like if they didn’t tell me it must have been pretty bleak.”
“The Avengers” star said when he heard there would be limitations to his recovery, it only fueled him to get back on his feet faster.
“I love that the doctor says, ‘this guy’s not gonna walk again, or if he does, it’ll be in two years and he’s gonna walk funny,'” Renner said. “I love when people say this. Even my own physical therapist is like, ‘You know what, you’re never gonna be able to run under a five-second 40,’ I’m like, ‘F*** you, it’s going to happen, I’m gonna do it in six months, watch this.”
“I love when somebody tells me that — it’s just gonna give me more energy to do it and do it even better,” he added. “I already challenge myself anyway, and that’s also part of my recovery, as a competitor.”