Johnny Knoxville was born Philip John Clapp on March 11, 1971, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He grew up around his father’s tire company, where employees regularly endured elaborate pranks that shaped his humor. Knoxville graduated from South-Young High School in 1989 and moved to California to pursue acting. He briefly attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before dropping out to pitch stunt article ideas.

Magazine pitches led Knoxville to co-create Jackass with Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze, which debuted on MTV in 2000. The stunt-comedy series ran for three seasons and spawned a film franchise, starting with Jackass: The Movie in 2002. He reprised his Jackass persona Irving Zisman for the mockumentary Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa in 2013. Knoxville also branched into scripted film work, appearing in Men in Black II, The Dukes of Hazzard, and The Ringer.

Knoxville co-starred on ABC’s prank series The Prank Panel alongside Eric André and Gabourey Sidibe in 2023. He closed the franchise with Jackass Forever in 2022 and the farewell film Jackass: Best and Last in 2026. As of 2026, Knoxville hosts Fox’s Fear Factor: House of Fear, which premiered in January 2026. The reality competition was renewed for a second season.