Who Is Johnny Knoxville? Age, Career & Net Worth
This Johnny Knoxville biography explores how a Tennessee-born aspiring actor became the face of Jackass, one of the most recognizable stunt-comedy franchises in entertainment. It covers his early life, career, movies, family, estimated net worth, and his latest work in 2026.
If you know Johnny Knoxville, there is a good chance you first remember him getting launched, punched, kicked, shocked, or otherwise putting his body through something most sensible people would avoid.
But there is more to Knoxville than outrageous stunts.
Born Philip John Clapp in Knoxville, Tennessee, he built an unusual career as an actor, comedian, producer, writer, and stunt performer. His breakthrough came with Jackass, the MTV series that turned homemade-looking pranks and extreme stunts into a worldwide entertainment franchise. The original show ran from 2000 to 2002 and helped make Knoxville and his fellow performers household names.
So, who is Johnny Knoxville today? He is still closely associated with Jackass, but his career has also included Hollywood movies, producing, television hosting, and other comedy projects.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Philip John Clapp |
| Date of Birth | March 11, 1971 |
| Age | 55 years old |
| Birthplace | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, comedian, producer, writer, stunt performer |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) |
| Known For | Jackass, Jackass movies, Bad Grandpa, The Dukes of Hazzard |
| Net Worth | Estimated at $50 million |
IMDb and other entertainment databases publicly list his birth name, birthday, height, and professional credits. Celebrity Net Worth currently estimates his wealth at $50 million, although that figure is an estimate rather than a verified financial disclosure.
Early Life and Background
Johnny Knoxville was born on March 11, 1971, in Knoxville, Tennessee. His parents were Philip Clapp, who worked in the tire business, and Lemoyne Clapp, a Sunday school teacher. He grew up with two older sisters.
Knoxville’s early personality already hinted at the comic troublemaker audiences would eventually see on television. Accounts of his childhood describe a fascination with practical jokes, including pranks connected to his father’s tire business.
He attended South-Young High School, now known as South-Doyle High School, where he played baseball. He was reportedly a pitcher and received recognition in local high school baseball.
His interest in acting developed before his career had any obvious direction. As a teenager, his cousin Roger Alan Wade gave him Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, which Knoxville has credited with encouraging his interest in acting and storytelling.
After high school, Knoxville moved to California with hopes of becoming an actor. His first attempts were not exactly a straight path to Hollywood success. He briefly attended the Pasadena Academy of Dramatic Arts before turning increasingly toward writing and alternative entertainment.
Career Breakthrough
Before Jackass, Knoxville was working as a writer for skateboarding publications, including Big Brother. That environment put him around people who were interested in skateboarding, stunts, pranks, and intentionally ridiculous ideas.
The big turning point came when Knoxville and others began filming stunts for Big Brother videos. The footage developed an underground following, while Knoxville’s unusual combination of deadpan humor and willingness to be the test subject made him stand out.
Jeff Tremaine, who was involved with Big Brother, became a key creative partner. Together with Knoxville and others, he helped develop the concept that eventually became Jackass.
MTV picked up the series, and Jackass premiered in 2000. What could have been a short-lived stunt show became a cultural phenomenon. The series helped launch or elevate the careers of Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Dave England, Preston Lacy, and others.
For Knoxville, the success was transformational. He was no longer simply an aspiring actor looking for work. He had become the central figure in a new form of television comedy.
Major Works and Achievements
Jackass
The obvious centerpiece of Johnny Knoxville’s career is Jackass.
The original MTV series ran for three seasons and became famous for its painful stunts, elaborate pranks, physical comedy, and willingness to push television standards. Knoxville often served as both performer and creative force.
The franchise expanded well beyond television, producing several feature films and related projects. Paramount describes the franchise as having lasted for more than 25 years and becoming a major part of pop culture.
Jackass Movies
Knoxville starred in and helped produce the Jackass movies, including Jackass: The Movie, Jackass Number Two, Jackass 3D, and Jackass Forever.
He also took the franchise’s character-driven approach into Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, which became one of his most recognizable movie roles outside the ensemble series.
The success of Jackass 3D demonstrated just how large the franchise had become. Paramount reported that the film had passed $155 million worldwide during its theatrical run.
Hollywood Acting Career
Knoxville also built a conventional acting résumé.
He appeared in movies such as A Dirty Shame, Walking Tall, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Ringer, Lords of Dogtown, The Last Stand, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. His voice work as Leonardo in the 2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film was another departure from the stunt-heavy persona audiences knew from Jackass.
That range helped establish Knoxville as more than a stunt performer. He could carry a comedy, play a supporting role, provide voice acting, and work behind the camera as a producer.
Personal Life and Family
Johnny Knoxville has been married three times.
His first marriage was to Melanie Lynn Clapp, with whom he has a daughter, Madison. His second marriage was to Naomi Nelson, and they have two children, Rocko and Arlo. The couple divorced after their marriage began in 2010.
In November 2025, Knoxville married costume designer Emily Ting in an intimate ceremony. Filmmaker John Waters officiated the wedding, and Knoxville shared the news publicly. Ting had also worked as a costume designer on Jackass Forever.
Although Knoxville’s professional image is built around danger and chaos, his public life has also emphasized family. His three children have occasionally appeared in connection with his work and public life, but Knoxville generally keeps the focus away from unnecessary details about them.
Johnny Knoxville Net Worth and Income Sources
Johnny Knoxville’s net worth is commonly estimated at $50 million. Celebrity Net Worth listed that figure as of June 2026 and also identified his work as an actor, producer, screenwriter, comedian, stunt performer, and television producer.
It is worth treating celebrity net worth figures as estimates. Knoxville has not publicly released a complete personal financial statement confirming a precise net worth.
His wealth has been built through several professional income streams, including:
- Jackass television and film projects
- Acting roles
- Producing
- Screenwriting
- Television work
- Stunt and comedy projects
- Other entertainment-related ventures
His long association with Jackass is particularly significant because Knoxville has worked not only in front of the camera but also as a producer and creative contributor.
Fun Facts About Johnny Knoxville
- His birth name is Philip John Clapp.
- He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, which inspired his stage name.
- He stands approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall.
- He played baseball in high school.
- He initially moved to California hoping to become an actor.
- His cousin Roger Alan Wade helped spark his interest in literature and acting.
- Before becoming a television star, Knoxville wrote for skateboarding magazines.
- He appeared briefly as a two-headed alien in Men in Black II.
- His career has stretched from underground skateboarding videos to major Hollywood productions.
- He has continued working in entertainment well beyond the original Jackass television series.
Why Johnny Knoxville Is Gaining Attention?
Johnny Knoxville remains relevant because Jackass has never completely disappeared from popular culture.
In 2026, that connection became especially visible with jackass: Best and Last, which Paramount presented as the final theatrical chapter of the franchise. The movie brought Knoxville and longtime members of the Jackass crew back for new stunts, classic footage, and a final celebration of the group. It opened in theaters on June 26, 2026.
The film also generated measurable theatrical interest, with reported worldwide box office earnings exceeding $27 million.
Knoxville has also expanded his television presence. He hosted the rebooted Fear Factor series, titled Fear Factor: House of Fear, which premiered on FOX in 2026. FOX subsequently renewed the series for a second season, giving Knoxville another prominent television role outside the Jackass brand.
That combination explains why searches for Johnny Knoxville continue decades after Jackass first appeared. He has managed something unusual in entertainment: turning a very specific comedy persona into a long-running career without being completely defined by it.
Conclusion
Johnny Knoxville’s story is one of the stranger success stories in modern entertainment.
He started in Knoxville, Tennessee, developed an interest in acting, wrote for skateboarding magazines, and eventually helped transform a collection of outrageous stunt videos into Jackass. From there, he became an actor, producer, writer, and one of the most recognizable faces in stunt comedy.
At 55, Knoxville is still working. With the final Jackass theatrical film and his continued television work, his career has entered a different chapter. Still, the qualities that made him famous remain familiar: physical comedy, fearless commitment, and an ability to turn absurd ideas into mainstream entertainment.
Whatever comes next, Johnny Knoxville has already secured a distinctive place in pop culture.
FAQs
Who is Johnny Knoxville?
Johnny Knoxville is an American actor, comedian, producer, writer, and stunt performer. He is best known as the co-creator and star of MTV’s Jackass and its movie franchise.
How old is Johnny Knoxville?
Johnny Knoxville is 55 years old. He was born on March 11, 1971, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
What is Johnny Knoxville known for?
He is best known for creating and starring in Jackass, the MTV stunt-comedy franchise that became a major television and film phenomenon.
What is Johnny Knoxville’s height?
Johnny Knoxville is listed at 6 feet 1 inch, or approximately 1.85 meters.
Where is Johnny Knoxville from?
Johnny Knoxville is from Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. His birth name is Philip John Clapp.
What is Johnny Knoxville’s net worth?
Johnny Knoxville’s net worth is estimated at approximately $50 million by Celebrity Net Worth. Because celebrity wealth figures are estimates, the amount should not be treated as an independently verified financial fact.
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