Johnny Knoxville

Johnny Knoxville (born Philip John Clapp, March 11, 1971, in Knoxville, Tennessee) is an American actor, comedian, stunt performer, and producer whose fearless physical comedy made him a pop-culture fixture. Raised in Tennessee, he gravitated early toward daredevil antics and performance, later heading to California to chase acting and writing ambitions.

His breakthrough arrived in 2000 as the co-creator and on-screen ringleader of MTV’s Jackass, a boundary-pushing mix of pranks and punishing stunts that quickly became a phenomenon. The show’s success expanded into a string of hit films that cemented Knoxville’s reputation for turning pain, timing, and charisma into a uniquely modern brand of comedy.

Outside the Jackass universe, Knoxville built a varied screen career, popping up in studio fare like Men in Black II and leading crowd-pleasers such as Walking Tall and The Dukes of Hazzard. He’s also taken on offbeat roles in titles including Big Trouble, Daltry Calhoun, and Life Without Dick, showing range beyond stunt-driven laughs.

Whether acting, producing, or appearing as himself, Knoxville remains known for quick wit, disarming charm, and a willingness to go further than most performers for a memorable gag.