Johnny Knoxville Turns 50 Today And Is Still One Of The Toughest Guys in Hollywood
Knoxville is best known as the co-creator and star of MTV stunt show Jackass, which ran for three seasons between 2000 and 2002
Johnny Knoxville has made a career out of doing all the daft stuff that most of us would never dream of doing, having strapped himself to rockets and been charged at by bulls purely for our amusement.
And amazingly, he's showing no signs of slowing down just yet, despite having turned 50 today.
Knoxville is best known as the co-creator and star of MTV stunt show Jackass, which ran for three seasons between 2000 and 2002 before branching out into film - with a fourth movie due to be released later this year.
While his unusual career features many memorable (and no doubt painful) moments, one that sticks in the minds for a lot of fans is the one that broke his penis.
He was paying tribute to Evel Knievel in a 2007 stunt that went disastrously wrong, where a motorbike ended up coming down on his penis, tearing his urethra.
Speaking to The Daily Beast in 2015, he said: "I have a big scar running here to here," pointing his finger between his legs and up to his crotch.
"You know, I never even thought to look at the scar until six weeks ago. I found a stand-up mirror, got out of the shower, and checked out the scar.
"And that is a terrible angle to look at yourself in."
More recently, Knoxville also found himself hospitalised while filming for the new Jackass film, having been trying to jump onto a moving treadmill with co-star Steve-O.
A video posted by Bam Margera in December last year revealed that the incident occurred just days into production.
Speaking from a hospital waiting room, Margera said in the clip: "Second day of filming Jackass and already Steve-O and Knoxville are hospitalised by jumping on a full-speed treadmill with band equipment."
He added: "F***in' tubas."
His most painful stunt, however, may come as a surprise, as it doesn't involve any of the outlandish sets or props we're used to seeing in the Jackass franchise.
Reflecting on his injuries in a 2018 interview with Vanity Fair, Knoxville said: "Pepper spray remains one of the most painful things I've ever endured in my entire life.
"The pepper spray is continuous hell for 15 or 20 minutes. It's like someone lit a fire in your eye and tried to put it out with gasoline."
He also spoke about what it was like to deal with the instant fame that came with the original Jackass TV show.
He said: "Everything happened very quickly. I went from making 10 cents a word writing for magazines and acting in Bud Light commercials or whatever commercials to being on the cover of Rolling Stone, and that's a pretty big leap.
"It took a little getting used to."
Happy birthday, Knoxville!
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: Entertainment, Celebrity, Jackass
Jess Hardiman