Table of Contents
Who Was Evel Knievel?
Evel Knievel, born Robert Craig Knievel Jr., was an iconic American daredevil renowned for his daring motorcycle stunts. Over the course of his career, Knievel attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp jumps, including some of the most famous feats in stunt history, such as leaping over the fountain at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, jumping over buses at London’s Wembley Stadium, and attempting an ill-fated crossing of the Snake River Canyon in a steam-powered rocket. Despite humble and troubled beginnings, Knievel rose to international fame in the 1970s, captivating audiences with his audacity and flair for danger.
Early Life
Born on October 17, 1938, in Butte, Montana, a small copper-mining town, Knievel’s early life was shaped by the rugged environment of the American West. Growing up in a community with limited career opportunities, where many young men worked in the mines, on ranches, or in town, Knievel stood out for his athleticism, excelling in track and field and hockey. However, he struggled academically and faced personal challenges after his parents divorced, leaving him to be raised by his grandparents. His rebellious streak led him to drop out of high school and move through a series of odd jobs, including a run-in with the law for stealing hubcaps and motorcycles. A particularly reckless incident while working for a construction company resulted in a collision with Butte’s main power line, causing a significant blackout.
In the 1950s, Knievel joined the U.S. Army, where he volunteered for paratrooper school. He completed over 30 successful jumps, marking the beginning of his affinity for risky pursuits. After his military service, Knievel briefly played semipro hockey and later turned to motorcycle racing. However, repeated falls and injuries forced an early retirement from racing, though his passion for motorcycles and stunts remained strong.
Nickname
Knievel’s famous nickname is said to have originated during a 1956 police chase, when he was arrested after stealing and crashing a motorcycle. A jailer, known for assigning nicknames to inmates, dubbed him “Evil Knievel.” A fellow inmate, William Knofel, earned the nickname “Awful Knofel.” Years later, Knievel officially changed the spelling of his name to “Evel Knievel” to make it more fitting for his public persona.
Evel Knievel’s Stunts
By 1966, Evel Knievel had relocated to Moses Lake, Washington, where he worked in a motorcycle shop. To attract attention to the business, he announced that he would attempt to jump 40 feet over a line of parked cars, a box of rattlesnakes, and a caged cougar. In front of an audience of 1,000, Knievel made the jump but fell short, landing on the rattlesnakes. The crowd erupted, marking the beginning of his extraordinary career.
The 1960s was a time of bold dreams and feats, with America reaching for the stars. Knievel saw an opportunity. Inspired by the thrilling feats of stunt driver Joie Chitwood, he formed a stunt group, Evel Knievel’s Motorcycle Daredevils, and began touring the county fair circuit. The troupe performed wheelies, broke through walls of burning plywood, and jumped over vehicles. However, after several crashes and numerous broken bones, Knievel had to take a break to recover.
Caesars Palace
While visiting Las Vegas, Knievel saw the fountains at Caesars Palace and realized he was ready for something bigger. Using his characteristic mix of audacity and guile, he created a fake promotional campaign, capturing the attention of Caesars Palace CEO Jay Sarno, and proposed jumping the casino’s fountain. On December 31, 1967, Knievel launched himself off the first ramp with near perfection, only for his rear wheel to catch the landing ramp, causing him to lose control. He was violently thrown from his bike and sustained serious injuries, including a crushed pelvis, femur fractures, and a concussion. He fell into a coma for 29 days.
Throughout the 1970s, Knievel continued to perform increasingly daring stunts, each one involving longer distances and more formidable obstacles. Though he suffered numerous crashes, breaking bones and snapping tendons, his stunts were televised on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, where he became a hero to young boys across America. His iconic star-spangled jumpsuit, combined with his frequent crashes, led to the nickname “Crash Knievel.”
Snake River Canyon
In his pursuit of even more dangerous jumps, Knievel sought permission to jump over the Grand Canyon, but his request was denied. Undeterred, he set his sights on Idaho’s Snake River Canyon. In 1972, Knievel leased a piece of private land and hired a team to build a specialized vehicle called the Skycycle. After two years of preparation, he was ready for the stunt. On September 8, 1974, he attempted the jump, launching off the ramp with high hopes, only for the Skycycle’s parachutes to deploy prematurely, causing the vehicle to float back to the canyon’s edge. Though the stunt was a failure, Knievel’s determination earned him a place in American history, and he was later immortalized in the Smithsonian Institution as “America’s Legendary Daredevil.”
Wembley Stadium
On May 26, 1975, Knievel attempted a jump over 13 single-deck buses at Wembley Stadium in London. The first half of the jump went smoothly, but as he landed, his rear tire struck the ramp too hard, sending him flying off the motorcycle. The bike crashed into him, and the audience feared the worst. Despite suffering a broken back, Knievel bravely struggled to walk to the podium, where he announced his retirement. However, this decision proved to be premature, as he later talked himself into one more jump.
The Final Years
In 1975, Knievel successfully jumped over 14 Greyhound buses at Kings Island, near Cincinnati, Ohio, marking his longest successful jump at 133 feet. Afterward, he attempted to jump a shark tank in 1977, but the stunt was aborted. As time passed, Knievel entered semi-retirement, focusing on smaller venues and promoting the career of his son, Robby Knievel, who also pursued a career in daredevil stunts.
In his later years, Knievel faced personal and legal challenges. In 1977, he was convicted of assault and battery and served six months in jail, resulting in the loss of several promotional contracts. He declared bankruptcy in 1981, and his marriage of 38 years ended in divorce. He remarried Krystal Kennedy in 1999, but the couple later divorced, though they remained together.
Knievel’s health declined over the years due to complications from diabetes, liver problems, and pulmonary fibrosis, likely caused by his many crashes. On November 30, 2007, Knievel passed away in Clearwater, Florida, just days after settling a lawsuit with rapper Kanye West regarding the use of his trademarked image in a music video.
In his final interview with Maxim magazine, Knievel reflected on his life: “I was a daredevil, a performer. I loved the thrill, the money, the whole macho thing. All those things made me Evel Knievel. Sure, I was scared. You gotta be an ass not to be scared. But I beat the hell out of death.”
Son of Evel Knievel
Among Evel Knievel’s four children—two sons and two daughters with his former wife Linda—his son Robert “Robbie” Knievel III followed in his father’s legendary footsteps to become a professional stuntman. Robbie began honing his skills at the young age of four and officially began touring with his father at 12, carrying on the family tradition of daredevil stunts.
Pastrana’s Tribute to Knievel’s Legacy
Evel Knievel’s iconic legacy was revived on July 8, 2018, during the History Channel’s Evel Live. On this occasion, stuntman and motocross racer Travis Pastrana attempted to replicate three of Knievel’s most famous jumps. Pastrana successfully soared over 52 cars and then 16 buses before triumphantly landing his jump over the Caesars Palace fountain—an attempt that mirrored the stunt Knievel had famously attempted 50 years earlier, but avoided the disastrous outcome that had sent his predecessor to the hospital.