He is also an actor and film producer. But most people probably know Johnny Knoxville (55) primarily as the face of the anarchic pain-comedy series "Jackass". For around 25 years, Knoxville and colleagues like Steve-O (52) or Chris Pontius (51) have been throwing themselves into absurd, often dangerous stunts - in keeping with the title, which roughly translates to "idiot". But even Knoxville has apparently had enough by now.
On June 25, "Jackass: One More Round", a new film from the "idiots" crew, will be released in German cinemas. It's supposed to be one last hurrah on the big screen. After the original series that made Knoxville famous in the early 2000s and several feature films, the end is apparently near - and hopefully the end of numerous injuries as well. An overview of some of the worst injuries that Knoxville has endured for "Jackass".
At Least 16 Concussions
Because he was bad at basically everything, he decided on stunts back then, Knoxville explained in a conversation with "Syndicate X Library" in January 2026. "Because nobody wants to see someone succeed at a stunt. At least that's how I felt. They're only good when they fail. So yeah, I made a career out of failing." However, in the same interview, Knoxville made it clear where the line is for him now: stunts where he could risk a concussion are no longer possible for him. He has long since exceeded his limit on that front. Everything else he doesn't care about - he just can't be hit in the head anymore.
Back in 2022, he told "Entertainment Weekly" that he estimated he had suffered 16 concussions over the years leading up to the filming of "Jackass Forever" - maybe even 17, he couldn't say exactly anymore. "I can't afford any more concussions", he said at the time. He had already had so many and the most recent one at that point had been particularly bad. "I have kids and I want to be there for them as they get older. Hopefully in ten years I won't have to slurp my soup through a straw", Knoxville joked.
Orbital Floor Fracture
When asked in an interview with the German magazine "Spiegel" whether he keeps a record of his injuries, Knoxville was characteristically casual. "I don't, but when I go to the doctor, there's a list of all the broken bones, the orbital floor fracture - all the great stuff", Knoxville replied. Neither he nor his doctor have the time "to list that out every time".
Knoxville suffered the orbital floor fracture during the filming of the 2018 comedy "Action Point". He fell on his face. In addition to a concussion, which left him with no memory of the incident, he also sustained the serious eye injury. It was apparently only discovered later: after he was released from the emergency room, he blew his nose in the hotel - and his left eye popped out, as Knoxville told "Entertainment Weekly". According to his doctors, one of the surrounding bones "wasn't broken, it just turned to dust. It was gone".
The Stunt After Which He "Wasn't Quite Himself"
For "Jackass Forever", Knoxville faced off against a bull - one of the most dangerous stunts of his career. According to British "GQ", the accident happened on the second take. Knoxville was thrown into the air by the animal and landed once again on his head. And once again, he suffered a concussion. On top of that, the now 55-year-old also sustained a brain hemorrhage, a broken wrist, and a broken rib. His colleague Pontius recently told the magazine: "I didn't realize how bad it was. I don't think anyone did. Because we'd seen him get concussions so many times." But this time was different: Knoxville was "not quite himself" for several months. He himself reported that he couldn't trust his own brain for six months.
In a conversation with Howard Stern (72), the "Jackass" star said back in 2022 that the bull stunt was perhaps the worst "hit" he had taken. His "cognitive abilities" literally collapsed afterward. On a test by a neurosurgeon, he only scored 17 out of 100 possible points.
The accident also had psychological consequences. According to his own statements, Knoxville developed depression, was treated with antidepressants for the first time in his life, and began therapy. The recovery was "really difficult".
The Man Who Jumps Away from Death
All of this is just an excerpt from Knoxville's medical file. How many fractures has he sustained? Who knows for sure. How many times has he nearly died? Probably neither he nor anyone else can say. Over the years, Knoxville has at least repeatedly emphasized that he is well aware of the risks and has simply been lucky.
Also in 2022, he admitted to the British "Guardian" when asked if he was afraid of dying: "I'm afraid, but I know how to deal with it. I would have died a few times over the years on 'Jackass'. But I'm still here." He doesn't have nightmares about his stunts. He even laughs or giggles in his sleep. Instead, he's really more afraid for his family, that something might happen to his children. "I'm primarily a father, right? And I worry about them. That's what scares me", says Knoxville.
Since November 2025, he has been married to his partner Emily Ting. For him, it's his third marriage. His first marriage to Melanie Lynn Clapp was divorced in 2008 or 2009, according to various media reports. He was married to his second wife Naomi Nelson since 2010, and they filed for divorce in 2022. Knoxville has three children. His daughter Madison is from his marriage to Clapp and was born in 1996. With Nelson, he has his son Rocko, born in 2009, and his daughter Arlo, who was born in 2011.
