Jackass was something completely new and unprecedented.
In Jackass, wild stunts were done. Photo from 2002. PDO
Young men’s goof show Jackass the first episode was seen on the music channel MTV on October 1, 2000.
In the program and Jackass-movies featured messing around, crazy tricks, hurting in the most imaginative ways, pranks and snorts.
Many tricks also involved excrement. In one trick Steve-O is launched in a bajamaja-type toilet on ropes into the sky and stuff splashes around.
A giant sleight of hand has also been remembered by many. In it, a giant rubber hand slaps you in the face every time someone tries to get through the door.
The entertainment of the program was largely based on the fact that the jokes came as a surprise even to the creators of Jackass themselves.
Jackass was something that hadn’t been seen before, and it became an outright phenomenon. Similar programs were developed in different parts of the world.
In Finland, the genre is represented by the Duudsons.
Developed by Jackass Johnny Knoxville, Spike Jonze and Jeff Tremaine. Soon the group was joined by Steve-O, skateboarder Bam Margera and Ryan Dunn with friends. The last two had made CKY trick videos with an emphasis on skating.
Jackass ran for three seasons and was followed by Jackass movies and spin-offs such as Wildboyz and Viva La Bam.
Most of the tricks were painful. PDO
Johnny Knoxville
Knoxville, for real Philip Clappwas especially the most visible character in the first episodes of Jackass. He was also the creator of several tricks and the leader of the whole group.
Knoxville is, as his nickname suggests, originally from Knoxville. In his youth, he dreamed of an acting career, and was seen in commercials and in small supporting roles.
Johnny Knoxville and his wife Emily Ting posed together on the red carpet last month. PDO
After Jackass, the roles grew, and Knoxville is now an actor. In addition to the Jackass films, he has acted in films such as Men in Black 2Coyote Ugly, Bad Pappa, A mind-free bet and The Luckiest Man in America.
Knoxville has been married twice and has three children.
Bam Margera
Margera, known as Ville Valo’s former heartthrob, was successful in the skateboarding world before Jackass, and she also skated in Finland.
Margera quickly became one of the most prominent characters on Jackass. Margera already started abusing drugs during Jackass. After Jackass he had his own show Viva La Bam on MTV.
Bam Margera and Johnny Knoxville in 2003. PDO
A fan of Finnish music, Margera has directed several music videos of Finnish bands, of which perhaps the most famous is 69 Eyes’ Lost Boys.
Margera, who suffers from bipolar disorder and alcoholism, has been in withdrawal therapy several times. He was ordered into compulsory psychiatric treatment in 2023, when Margera was found to be a danger to himself and others.
Margera hasn’t been seen in all the Jackass movies, as the production company fired her for 2022 From Jackass Forever.
Bam Margera pictured last May. PDO
Margera has also been in prison for drunk driving convictions. During the past year, Margera has reportedly tried to rehabilitate himself.
Steve-O
Stephen Glovernicknamed Steve-O, is a British Jackass character whose antics in Jackass were exceptionally painful. He was arrested in 2002 for exposing himself.
Steve-O is currently on a speaking tour. PDO
When Steve-O had gone to a nightclub to do a Jackass stunt where his testicle was riveted to his thigh.
Steve-O has also struggled with drug and mental health problems. He was in compulsory treatment almost ten years ago due to suicide.
Steve-O has said outright that he fears the drugs have destroyed his brain. Since then, the star has gone dry.
Sources: Kimmo Aroluoma: Last tour (Like 2025) IL archive, People, IMDB, People.