Stuntman A.J. Bakunas died doubling George Kennedy in a fall that killed Big Lew Cassidy (Kennedy). The scene had been shot safely with the stuntman jumping from the ninth floor of the construction site and shooting location in Lexington, Kentucky. At the time he held the record for high falls, set while doubling Burt Reynolds in Hooper (1978), but when rival Dar Robinson beat his distance in a helicopter jump at Knott's Berry Farm, A.J. and Lee Majors returned to the star's home state to re-shoot the opening of the movie with Bakunas jumping from the top of the building. He fell correctly onto an airbag, but the airbag split on impact. His father was with him at the time of his death, but his mother never visited A.J. on-set because she always feared he would be killed.
Actor Dennis Quaid was originally cast in the film but had to leave the project when he was cast in 'Breaking Away' (1979).
One of six feature films of Fawcett-Majors Productions of which one was a tele-movie made for television and five were theatrical feature films of which three, including 'Steel', were first released in the year of 1979, with the other '79 films being 'Sunburn' (1979) and 'Killer Fish' (1979). 'Steel' (1979) cast member Art Carney also appeared in 'Sunburn' (1979). The production company produced star vehicles for the then married couple of Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett though none of the films featured them together, though they both were at least uncredited executive producers on 'The Norseman' (1978).
Due to the tragic fatality that occurred during filming it was apparently deemed inappropriate for the movie to be called ''Look Down and Die'' which was the film's release title in Los Angeles, California, USA.
The Kentucky Charity Premiere of the film in Louisville in Kentucky, USA on 31st July 1980 was held in aid a scholarship fund named after stuntman A. J. Bakunis, according to an article published the next day in the 1st August 1980 issue of show-business trade-paper 'Daily Variety'. Bakunis tragically died during the production of this picture.