Inspired by his legendary stuntman father, Evel Knievel, Robbie started doing bike stunts, from a very early age. Sarno finally agreed to meet Knievel and arranged for Knievel to jump the fountains on December 31, 1967. Robbie Knievel was born on 7 May 1962 in Butte, Montana, USA, to his daredevil parents Evel Knievel and Linda Knievel. The next performance was on February 10, in Barstow, California. T he son of stuntman Evel Knievel, Robbie Knievel, died Friday at the age of 60 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Sadly, he passed awayin Clearwater, Florida of the United States of America at theage of 69. His popularity, especially with young boys, was ever-increasing. Before the Monday service, fireworks exploded in the Butte night sky as pallbearers carried Knievel's casket into the center. Robbie also has three other siblings. Menu. American stunt performer and artist (19382007). During their marriage, the couple had four children, two boys, Kelly and Robbie, and two girls, Tracey and Alicia. According to "Evel," the publication of Saltman's unflattering portrait sent Knievel into a rage. [6], Knievel's website says that he chose his nickname after spending a night in jail in 1956 after being arrested for reckless driving. / Credit: AP Photo/LM Otero. Throughout Kelly's and Robbie's adolescence, the boys performed at Knievel's stunt shows. [citation needed], Knievel, with both arms still in casts, flew to California to confront Saltman, by then a vice president at 20th Century Fox. We assure our audience that we will remove any contents that are not accurate or according to formal reports and queries if they are justified. Even his son Robbie, himself a motorcycle stuntman, joked about his father's womanizing at the funeral, telling his mother Linda, who was married to Evel for 38 years, and Knievel's latest wife . After being thrown off, he skidded for 50 feet (15m). [49] The toys included the original 1972 figures, which offered various outfits and accessories. Long-time friend Engelbert Humperdinck sent a recorded tribute to the couple. The site also curates relevant content that serves the needs of its audience. To keep his name in the news, Knievel proposed his biggest stunt ever, a motorcycle jump across the Grand . He was done this honour in 1999. The parents of Robbie Knievel are Robert "Evel" and Linda Knievel. Lloyd's of London offered liability insurance for $17,500. American Eagle Motorcycles was the first company to sign Knievel to an endorsement deal. Charlie: Rod Cameron. As a youth, Knievel was often jailed for stealing hubcaps and motorcycles, including a Harley-Davidson motorcycle at age 13. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-box-4','ezslot_3',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-box-4-0'); Robbies eldest daughter,Krysten, is an actress. For the remainder of his career, variants of the V-shaped white-starred jumpsuit would be a constant, including a special nylon/canvas flight suit that matched his white leathers for the X-2 jump. By Salman Ahmed January 13, 2023 No Comments. He died on November 30, 2007 in Clearwater, Florida, USA. Robbie Knievel is a famous American daredevil, best recognized as the son of legendary bike stuntman Evel Knievel. She starred in America's No. If they'd let me go to the moon, I'd crawl all the way to Cape Kennedy just to do it. Sadly, the pair divorced in the 1997. Evel Knievel had been married to Linda for 38 years. Wanting a new start away from Butte, Knievel moved his family to Moses Lake, Washington. He was born in Butte, Montana of the United States of America, the same place Robbie Knievel was also born. Contact Stuart Barker, Life of Evel Knievel, St. Martin's Press, 2008. After the company closed in 2003, Knievel returned to riding modern street Harley-Davidson motorcycles at his public appearances. "[citation needed]. The jump measured 228 feet. Although Knievel landed on the safety deck above the 14th bus, his landing was successful and he held the record for jumping the most buses on a Harley-Davidson for 24 years (until broken by Bubba Blackwell in late 1999 with 15 at 157 feet (48m)). In addition, the 1999 children's TV series Hilltop Hospital featured a character based on Knievel called Weasel Kneasel, who was the focus of an episode of the same name. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. After enticing the small crowd with a few wheelies, he proceeded to jump a 20-foot-long (6.1-meter) box of rattlesnakes and two mountain lions. At approximately the same time, Fanfare Films started production on the George Hamilton biopic. After his conspicuous trek (he hitchhiked with a 54-inch-wide (1.4-meter) rack of elk antlers and a petition with 3,000 signatures), he presented his case to Representative Arnold Olsen, Senator Mike Mansfield, and Interior Secretary Stewart Udall. Thus, Knievel became a professional stuntman in his teenage years. His father, Bob, was a professional boxer and later a professional hunting guide. The 19-car jump was shot for the biopic Evel Knievel. He set the date for Labor Day (September 4), 1972. [citation needed], Knievel was married twice. Knievel died while in hospice care surrounded by . . His death was preceded . After the deal was set, Knievel tried to get ABC to air the event live on their popular Wide World of Sports. Again coming up short, Knievel crashed, breaking his left wrist, right knee, and two ribs. The news was first reported by TMZ, which reports that a source close to the family revealed that Robbie Knievel had been receiving hospice care as he battled pancreatic cancer. [75], On July 10, 2010, a special temporary exhibit entitled True Evel: The Amazing Story of Evel Knievel was opened at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Later, Knievel adjusted the blue stripes to a V-shape (the first version of the V-shape was also used in the 1971 film's final jump). To push his case, he hired famed San Francisco defense attorney Melvin Belli to fight the legal battle for obtaining government permission. AP Photo/LM Otero. He was 69. I'd like to go to the moon, but I don't want to be the second man to go there." [4], In 2005, he was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable and terminal lung disease that required him to be on supplemental oxygen 24 hours a day. After recuperating, Knievel decided that he had spoken too soon and that he would continue jumping. As an ardent supporter of helmet use, Knievel once offered a cash reward for anyone who witnessed him stunting on a motorcycle without a helmet. Do me a favor. Name: K&K promotions deals in licensing and sales of the Evel Knievel image and brand. Robbie Knievel Was an American Stunt Performer whos birth came on the 7th day of May back in 1963. [34][35][36], Since the 1974 launch, seven daredevils have expressed interest in recreating the jump, including Knievel's two sons, Robbie and Kelly. View popular celebrities life details . Robbie Knievel and his wife Linda were married for 38 years. Knievel and a majority of the spectators fought back, injuring three of the fifteen Hells Angels members in attendance to the point that they required hospitalization. More Birthdays. However, he has shared some details about his children. Knievel wives in feud. To keep costs low, Derek employed his then-wife Linda Evans as one of the camera operators. 1937). Linda Kasabian (1949-2023), key witness against Manson Family. Robbie continued into adulthood to perform as a professional motorcycle daredevil. He was no longer satisfied with just receiving free motorcycles to jump with. On March 3, 1972, at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, after making a successful jump, he tried to come to a quick stop because of a short landing area. [31] Investors in the event took a substantial loss, including promoter DonE. Branker,[32] as well as Vince McMahon of what was then called the World Wide Wrestling Federation. Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-1994. His Father, Evel, is a famous stuntman though there is no available information about his mother. Robert Craig Knievel (/knivl/; October 17, 1938November 30, 2007), known professionally as Evel Knievel, was an American stunt performer and entertainer. [73], Knievel was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in his hometown of Butte, Montana, on December 10, 2007, following a funeral at the 7,500-seat[74] Butte Civic Center presided over by Robert H. Schuller with actor Matthew McConaughey giving the eulogy. [62], In 2003, Knievel signed over exclusive rights to Los Angeles composer Jef Bek, authorizing the production of a rock opera based on Knievel's life. For the next several years, Knievel negotiated with the federal government to secure a jumping site and develop various concept bikes to make the jump, but the Interior Department denied him airspace over the northern Arizona canyon. Rumors circulated that he was in a coma for 29 days in the hospital, but this was refuted by his wife and others in the documentary film Being Evel. The doctors said he could not race for at least six months. Linda Knievel and her husband Evel Knievel were married for 38 years. Between 1967 and 1968, Knievel jumped using the Triumph Bonneville T120 (with a 650cc engine). Knievel was born on October 17, 1938, in Butte, Montana, the first of two children of Robert E. and Ann Marie Keough Knievel. Linda Knievel has been divorced from Evel Knievel since 1997. On February 28, he set a new world record by jumping 19 cars with his Harley-Davidson XR-750 at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. Robert Edward Knievel III aka, Robbie Knievel, was born on May 7, 1962, and he was born to Evel and Linda Knievel. How I Met Your Mother Season 4 Episode 24 Quotes. [4]:2122 Knievel tried out with the Charlotte Clippers of the Eastern Hockey League in 1959, but decided that a traveling team was not for him.[9][10][11]. Evel Knievel was born as Robert Craig Knievel Jr. on October 17, 1938, in Butte, Montana, a copper-mining town that, at the time, resembled a 19th century boom town. . Additionally, Ideal released non-Knievel-touring toys, including a Chopper Motorcycle, a Trail Bike, and a female counterpart, Derry Daring. Knievel would regularly share his anti-drug message, one of his core values. The iconic stuntman Robbie Knievel is secretive regarding his personal life, marriage, and wife. Coliseum jump over crushed cars was used at the beginning of the episode, and an indoor jump over eleven cars and one van was used at the end of the show. In 1997, Knievel signed with the California Motorcycle Company to release a limited Evel Knievel Motorcycle. His brushes with the law led to a popular . He is a producer and actor, known for Stuntman (2018), Storyville (1997) and The Evel Knievel Way (2020). Knievel had not had a serious injury since the Barstow performance, but on June 19 in Missoula, Montana, he attempted to jump twelve cars and a cargo van. Days later, Knievel received the transplant. Knievel made several television appearances, including frequently as a guest on talk shows such as Dinah! Evel Knievel is rumoured to have hooked up with Xana LaFuente. [4]:38[5], Knievel left Butte High School after his sophomore year and got a job in the copper mines as a diamond drill operator with the Anaconda Mining Company, but he preferred motorbiking to what he called "unimportant stuff". However, during his rehearsal, Knievel lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into a cameraman. [17] Then he attempted the same jump on July 28, 1967, in Graham, Washington, where he had his next serious crash. [4]:21, To help promote his team and earn some money, he convinced the Czechoslovakian Olympic ice hockey team to play the Butte Bombers in a warm-up game to the 1960 Winter Olympics (to be held in California). WHAT'S POPULAR TODAY. 5, May 1988, Associated Press, "Christmas Is Year-Round Business for Toymakers", The Times-News, February 14, 1977, Associated Press, "And Then There's Evel Promoters Cashing In", The Evening Independent, August 15, 1974, Harbor, Phillip, "Audi Tries to Jump Snake River Canyon in Evel Knievel Tribute", CarBuzz, September 12, 2012, Learn how and when to remove this template message, more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps, "Proof: Evel Knievel Tried Out With The Charlotte Clippers", "Hockey Has a Checkered History in the Queen City", "Evel Knievel, 69, Daredevil on a Motorcycle, Dies", "Evel Knievel's first jump on wide world of sport", "Evel Knievel: Triumph Over The Fountains At Caesars Palace", "Doug Danger Breaks Knievel's Record Daredevil jumps 22 cars at Sturgis, on Evel Knievel's 1972 Harley XR750", "Success! [4] A near-riot erupted during Knievel's show at the Cow Palace on March 3, 1971, when a Hells Angels member threw a metal object (either a tire iron or a Coca-Cola can, according to different witnesses)[citation needed] at Knievel. Personal details about Linda include: political affiliation is currently a registered Republican; ethnicity is Caucasian; and religious views are listed as Christian. Despite landing short and his back wheel hitting the box containing the rattlesnakes, Knievel managed to land safely. Robbie Knievel is survived by his three daughters, five grandchildren, his older brother Kelly and two sisters, and his mother, Linda. Growing up in Butte, Montana . His approach was complicated by the fact that he had to start on pavement, cut across grass, and then return to pavement. Happy 80th Birthday to Linda K -38 of which were "putting up with Evel Knievel" #haha #family #lindaknievel #evelknievel. Knievel was arrested in October at a Sunnyvale go-go bar on suspicion of battering his girlfriend, 25-year-old Krystal Kennedy of Florida. . [44], When Knievel switched to the Laverda motorcycle in 1969, he switched his leathers to an All American Themed red-white-and-blue jumpsuit with an "X" across the chest. [citation needed], After the crash, despite breaking his pelvis, Knievel addressed the audience and announced his retirement by stating, "Ladies and gentlemen of this wonderful country, I've got to tell you that you are the last people in the world who will ever see me jump. Robbie Knievel passed away at the age of 60 after a long sickness. Colorado turns lottery revenue into parks, Study: MDMA therapy for PTSD shows positive results, These four types of healthy diets are linked to longer life, American stunt performer and artist (1938-2007), Tom Sizemore, star of 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Heat,' dies at 61 after brain aneurysm, Josh Hartnett is done talking about his break from Hollywood but ready to make fun of actors: 'We're the worst', Michael B. Jordan admits muscle gain for 'Creed' has been harder as he's gotten older, Billy Bush suggests Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes start their own show after ABC exit: 'They've got something that works', How to watch every Oscars 2023 Best Picture nominee. He was married twice and both marriages ended in divorce. Our dedicated Editorial team verifies each of the articles published on the Biographyhost. Evel Knievel was a larger-than-life daredevil and stunt performer, who defied death in numerous reckless feats, and paid the price through pain. Knievel, who was learning about the culling of elk in Yellowstone, decided to hitchhike from Butte to Washington, D.C., in December 1961 to raise awareness and to have the elk relocated to areas where hunting was permitted. His memorabilia was then stored at Kent Knigge's farm in Filer, Idaho, seven miles west of Twin Falls. [citation needed], In the film Viva Knievel!, Knievel plays a fictionalized version of himself who foils a drug lord's attempt to smuggle narcotics into the United States. On September 8, 1974, Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon on a rocket-propelled motorcycle designed by former NASA engineer Robert Truax, dubbed the Skycycle X-2. Taniya Nayak's Wiki: Husband, Family, Net Worth, M. Alexia Barroso Wiki: Biological Father, Ethnicity,. KNIEVEL, Robert Craig "Evel" Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, marked the end of what will forever be remembered as the longest and most courageous battle between one man, a man we all know as the world's greate Mini Bio (1) Evel Knievel was born on October 17, 1938 in Butte, Montana, USA. During their marriage, the couple had four children, two boys, Kelly and Robbie, and two girls, Tracey and Alicia. [26] For 35 years, Knievel held the record for jumping the most stacked cars on a Harley-Davidson XR-750 (the record was broken in October 2008). Knievel was a cousin of Democratic U.S. Representative from Montana, Pat Williams (b. Among the various artifacts from Knievel's life, the exhibit included his "Shark Jump" Harley-Davidson XR-750, the Skycycle X-2, a blue jumpsuit from late in his career without any sponsor patches, and his trademark red-white-and-blue jumpsuit complete with his helmet and walking stick. All Birth, Baptism & Christening results for Linda Knievel. You knew if he did, that he'd lose his life and that he was crazy.' The United States Olympic Committee ended up paying the Czechoslovakian team's expenses to avoid an international incident. Kelly Knievel is the brother of The late Robbie Knievel. While in Las Vegas to watch Dick Tiger successfully defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight titles at the Convention Center on November 17, 1967, Knievel first saw the fountains at Caesars Palace and decided to jump them. All those things made me Evel Knievel. Knievel regularly spoke out against the Hells Angels due to their alleged involvement in the drug trade. and last updated 12:20 PM, Jan 13, 2023. I assist the CEO in promoting the EK . TV Shows. var cid='2438531626';var pid='ca-pub-3621518944223410';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-medrectangle-3-0';var ffid=2;var alS=2021%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);container.style.width='100%';var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;if(ffid==2){ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive='true';} He died on January 13, 2023. Knievel's televised testimony triggered mass baptisms at the Crystal Cathedral. This caused the handlebars to be ripped out of his hands as he tumbled over them onto the pavement where he skidded into the Dunes hotel parking lot. Senate race: Linda McMahon portrays her 1976 bankruptcy as a rags-to-riches story, without dwelling on the details -- such as a failed investment in Evel Knievel's famous flop, 5 years of federal . Knievel sought to make more money from his image. [23] Knievel eventually paid $2,500 to a U.S.-based insurance company.[23]. He was previously married to Krystal Kennedy-Knievel and Linda Knievel. On May 26, 1975, in front of 90,000 people at Wembley Stadium in London, Knievel crashed while trying to land a jump over 13 redundant single-deck AEC Merlin buses (the term "London Buses" used in earlier publicity had led to the belief that the attempt was to be made over the higher and more traditional AEC Routemaster double-decker type). Afterward, Knievel retired from major performances and limited his appearances to smaller venues to help launch Robbie's career. Kasey Faur. Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel died in Clearwater, Florida, finally succumbing after nearly a three-year bout with the terminal lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. You have entered an incorrect email address! A.J. Foyt made Knievel part of his pit crew for the Indianapolis 500 in 1970. The Kings Island event scored the highest viewer ratings in the history of ABC's Wide World of Sports and would serve as Knievel's longest successful jump at 133 feet (41m) (although the Caesars Palace jump was longer, it ended in a crash). Knievel jumped too late and the motorcycle hit him in the groin, tossing him 15 feet (4.6m) into the air. For education, he enrolled in Central Catholic High School in 1975. [1] He died of pulmonary disease in Clearwater, Florida, in 2007, aged69. Following the divorce, Krystal Knievel was granted a restraining order against him. Her notable series includeAuction Kingsin 2010,Knievels Wild Ridein 2005, and many others. [21], In a 1971 interview with Dick Cavett, Knievel stated that he was uninsurable following the Caesars' crash, stating, "I have trouble getting life insurance, accident insurance, hospitalization and even insurance for my automobile Lloyd's of London has rejected me 37 times so if you hear the rumor that they insure anybody, don't pay too much attention to it. [65][66], Knievel had partnered with Six Flags St. Louis to name a new wooden coaster after "America's Legendary Daredevil". During the late 1950s, Knievel joined the United States Army. 42, no. I'm gonna crash," and there's nothing you can do to stop it, not at all. In 2006, he had an internal morphine pain pump surgically implanted to help him with the excruciating pain in his deteriorated lower back, one of the costs of incurring so many traumas throughout his career as a daredevil. A 1971 biopic film, Evel Knievel, fictionalized Knievel's life and exploits. On May 10, 1970, Knievel crashed while attempting to jump 13 Pepsi delivery trucks in Yakima, WA. In February 1999, Knievel was given only a few days to live and he requested to leave the hospital and die at his home. Knievel and his brother were raised in Butte by their paternal grandparents, Ignatius and Emma Knievel. Knievel hired aeronautical engineer Doug Malewicki to build him a rocket-powered cycle to jump across the Snake River, and called it the Skycycle X-1. Robert and Ann divorced in 1940, after the 1939 birth of their second child, Nicolas, known as Nic.