Actors in Action: How Our Favorite Action Stars Became Their Characters

You've seen movies that transport you into outer space and shove you into the middle of martial arts battles. You've dodged bullets with John Wayne, fought off aliens with Sigourney Weaver, rocketed past planets with Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, soared with Christopher Reeve as Superman, and driven through walls with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now, you want to become an action film actor, too . . . but how?

The tough truth of the trade is finally revealed by author Jason Norman and those who...