The “Jackass” franchise, known for its outrageous and dangerous stunts, has made Johnny Knoxville a household name. However, the actor recently revealed that the cast of “Jackass” was once deemed “uninsurable” due to the extreme nature of their antics.
In a recent Vanity Fair lie detector test video, Knoxville was asked if he is an insurance agent’s worst nightmare. Initially denying it, the lie detector confirmed that he was not telling the truth. Admitting defeat, Knoxville confessed, “OK, you got me, I am.”
Reflecting on the earlier days of the “Jackass” TV show, Knoxville explained, “At the end of the ‘Jackass’ TV show, I think, we lost all our insurance. So that wasn’t great. I think we were uninsurable at that point.”
As the driving force behind the “Jackass” franchise, Knoxville has been at the forefront of the wild and daring stunts that have entertained audiences for over two decades. He recently starred in the latest installment of the series, “Jackass Forever,” released last year.
In 2022, Knoxville revealed to IndieWire that an insurance issue resulted in the removal of a dangerous stunt from the Paramount film. He explained, “We did have something on this film that we wanted to do that we weren’t allowed to do because it was going to be a $10 million deductible. I really can’t tell you what it was. We may do it one day. But it was a surgery that no one needs.”
Knoxville’s ability to endure pain is not necessarily different from others, but he admits that his tolerance for caring about potential injuries is low. He stated, “My pain tolerance is probably not that different from other people. It’s my give-a-damn tolerance that’s so low. I know we need footage, and I’m not very in touch with my body, so it works very well together. The producer inside me always overrides the performer side.”
The “Jackass” franchise has become synonymous with outrageous and daring stunts that push the boundaries of entertainment. While the cast may have faced insurance challenges and been labeled “uninsurable” at one point, their dedication to their craft and the support of their devoted fanbase have allowed them to continue pushing the limits of what can be done in the name of entertainment.
