The INSANE Life of Johnny Knoxville

Johnny Knoxville became famous by hurting himself and his friends just to make us laugh. This Johnny Knoxville documentary tells the story of the rejected actor who transformed real pain into *Jackass*—and built an entertainment empire with his own body. Born Philip John Clapp in Knoxville, Tennessee, he spent years struggling to break into Hollywood before filming himself testing pepper spray, a Taser, a stun gun and even a bulletproof vest. That tape brought him together with Jeff Tremaine, Spike Jonze, Bam Margera, Steve-O and the original Jackass cast, creating one of the most controversial and influential comedy franchises of the 2000s. But behind the laughter was a growing personal cost. As the stunts became more dangerous, Knoxville’s need to keep pushing further began to resemble an addiction. This film explores his childhood, failed acting career, rise on MTV, Hollywood movies, marriages, friendship with the Jackass crew, devastating injuries and the death of Ryan Dunn. It also examines Steve-O’s intervention and recovery, Bam Margera’s removal from *Jackass Forever*, the resulting lawsuit and estrangement, and the arrival of a younger generation of performers. At the center of the story is the bull stunt that left Knoxville with a traumatic brain injury, brain hemorrhage and severe depression. After spending decades making pain look temporary, he was forced to confront damage that could not be laughed away—and to decide who Johnny Knoxville could be when his body could no longer take another hit. This is more than the history of *Jackass*. It is a personal story about friendship, ambition, masculinity, aging and the strange bargain Knoxville made with his audience: if he was willing to get hurt, we would keep watching. Why did Johnny Knoxville continue risking his life—and what was left when the laughter stopped? Subscribe for more documentaries about the hidden lives, careers and contradictions behind cultural icons. #JohnnyKnoxville #Jackass #BamMargera