What Happened to Johnny Knoxville?

Johnny Knoxville, born Philip John Clapp on March 11, 1971, in Knoxville, Tennessee, rose to international fame as the fearless and often self-deprecating ringleader of the "Jackass" crew. His career began unconventionally after moving to California with acting aspirations. Not finding immediate success, he started writing for Big Brother skateboarding magazine, where an idea to test self-defense equipment on himself, filmed for the magazine, became the genesis of "Jackass."

The concept, co-created with Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze, evolved into the groundbreaking MTV series "Jackass" (2000-2001), which quickly became a cultural phenomenon due to its outrageous stunts and crude humor. This success led to a highly profitable film franchise, starting with "Jackass: The Movie" in 2002 and continuing through multiple sequels, including the narrative-driven "Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa" (2013), where Knoxville starred as his elderly alter-ego, Irving Zisman.

Beyond his daredevil persona, Knoxville has pursued a diverse acting career, appearing in films such as "Men in Black II" (2002), "The Dukes of Hazzard" (2005), and "The Last Stand" (2013). He also lent his voice to characters like Leonardo in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (2014) and appeared in the television series "Reboot" (2022). His production company, Hello Junior, maintains a partnership with Paramount Pictures, indicating his continued involvement behind the scenes.

In recent years, Knoxville has continued his high-profile work. "Jackass Forever" was released in 2022, during which he sustained a significant brain injury from a bull stunt, leading him to limit his participation in future head-trauma-inducing stunts. Despite this, the "Jackass" crew announced a new film for summer 2026. This film, titled "Jackass: Best and Last," was released in June 2026 and is billed as the final installment of the franchise. On the personal front, Knoxville divorced Naomi Nelson in 2024 and married Emily Ting in November 2025.

As of August 2026, Knoxville's career remains active. He is slated to host "Fear Factor: The Next Chapter" for the 2025-2026 TV season on FOX. In July 2026, he demonstrated his commitment to his roots by unveiling a new weight room at his alma mater, South-Doyle High School, a project funded through his "Knoxville Strong" apparel line and a movie premiere auction. Furthermore, his long-standing comedic rivalry with WWE superstar Sami Zayn continues, with Knoxville releasing an "apology" video in August 2026 coinciding with the digital release of "Jackass: Best & Last."