Evel Knievel

Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel (born October 17, 1938 in Butte, Montana) is an American stuntman, best known for his public displays of long distance, high-altitude motorcycle jumping which often resulted in serious injuries, particularly during the 1970s. The consummate salesman, he was able to turn his popularity into a marketing juggernaut with products ranging from radios to toy action figures. His achievements and failures got him into the Guinness Book of World Records several times including his record thirty-five broken bones.

Retirement

On May 31, 1975, in front of 90,000 people in Wembley Stadium in London, England, Knievel crashed while trying to land a jump over 13 double decker city buses. After the crash, despite breaking his pelvis, Knievel addressed the audience and announced his retirement. After recuperating, Knievel decided that he spoke too soon and that he would keep jumping. On October 26 1975, Knievel successfully jumped 14 Greyhound buses at King's Mill, Ohio. This event scored the highest viewer ratings in the history of ABC's Wide World of Sports. After the jump, he again announced his retirement.

Related Topics:
May 31 - 1975 - Wembley Stadium - London - Double decker - October 26 - Greyhound - Ohio

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Knievel made several television appearances, including a guest spot on The Bionic Woman where he played himself. He was a frequent guest on talks shows such as Dinah! and Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. On January 31, 1977, during a dress rehearsal for a CBS special on live daredevil stunts at the Chicago International Ampitheatre, Knievel crashed, breaking both arms and his collarbone. In the process, a misplaced cameraman was injured, losing an eye. In June of 1977, Warner Bros. released, Viva Knievel!, a movie staring Knievel as himself and co-starring Lauren Hutton, Gene Kelly and Red Buttons. The movie was a box office flop.

Related Topics:
The Bionic Woman - Dinah! - Johnny Carson - Tonight Show - January 31 - 1977 - CBS - Chicago - Warner Bros. - Viva Knievel! - Lauren Hutton - Gene Kelly - Red Buttons

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While healing from his injuries, the book Evel Knievel on Tour was released. Authored by Sheldon Saltman, the book attacked Knievel's character and claimed that he abused his wife and kids and that he used drugs. Knievel, with both arms still in casts, flew to California to confront Saltman, a VP at Twentieth Century Fox. Outside the studio commissary, while a friend held Sheldon, Knievel used a baseball bat to break the left arm of Saltman. On October 14 1977, Knievel pled guilty to battery and was sentenced to three years probation and six months in the county jail.

Related Topics:
October 14 - 1977

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With no income, Knievel eventually had to declare bankruptcy. In 1981, Saltman was awarded a $13 million judgement against Knievel in a civil trial. In 1983, the IRS determined that Knievel failed to pay $1.6 million in taxes on earnings from his jumps. In addition to the back taxes, they demanded another $2.5 million in interest and penalties. Then the State of Montana sued Knievel for $390,000 in back taxes. In 1986, Knievel was arrested for soliciting an undercover policewoman in Kansas City, Missouri. Knievel's wife, Linda, left Knievel and returned home to Butte.

Related Topics:
Bankruptcy - IRS - Montana - Soliciting - Kansas City - Missouri

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Knievel made several attempts to reconcile with his estranged son, Robbie, even appearing with him at a couple of jumps. After Robbie's successful jump of the Caesar's Palace fountains, the two went their separate ways for good. Knievel made somewhat of a marketing comeback in the 1990s, representing Maxim Casino, Little Caesar's and Harley-Davidson among other companies. In 1994, in Sunnyvale, California, during a domestic disturbance call, police found several firearms in Knievel's car. He was convicted and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service for a weapons violation. In 1993, Evel Knievel was diagnosed with hepatitis C, apparently contracted during one of his numerous reconstructive surgeries. He had a liver transplant in 1999.

Related Topics:
Robbie - Maxim Casino - Little Caesar's - Harley-Davidson - Sunnyvale - Domestic disturbance - Hepatitis C - Liver transplant

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