Most people know Johnny Knoxville as the guy who let himself get hit by bulls, tasered, and shot out of cannons for our entertainment. But behind the laughs, his body has paid a steep price. Here’s what we actually know about his permanent injuries, the career choices that followed, and the relationships that frayed along the way—with the evidence to separate fact from rumor.

Full name: Philip John Clapp Jr. ·
Born: March 11, 1971 (age 54) ·
Birthplace: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA ·
Known for: Co-creator and star of Jackass ·
Career span: 1998–present ·
Notable injury: Torn urethra, multiple concussions, broken bones

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

The toll of two decades of stunt work shows up in six key biographical facts that frame his life beyond the injuries.

Label Value
Full name Philip John Clapp Jr.
Date of birth March 11, 1971
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Spouse Melanie Cates (m. 1995; div. 2008), Naomi Nelson (m. 2010; div. 2023)
Children 3: Madison, Rocko, and Arlo
Net worth Approximately $85 million (estimated)

What happened to Johnny Knoxville?

Health updates and recent injuries

  • Knoxville sustained multiple injuries during Jackass stunts, including a torn urethra, broken bones, and concussions. The most severe came in December 2020 when a bull hit him during Jackass Forever filming, causing a brain hemorrhage and his 16th documented concussion (People magazine).
  • He also broke his wrist and ribs in that same stunt (AV Club (pop culture)).
  • Knoxville has said he went on antidepressants for about a year after the brain hemorrhage because his mind “fell off a cliff” (Podscripts (podcast transcripts)).
  • He describes the depression and cognitive fog that followed the 2020 injury as frightening his children (Entertainment Weekly (news outlet)).

Retirement from stunt work

  • Knoxville confirmed a move away from extreme stunt performances after 2022. In a 2024 profile, he said doctors told him he cannot take any more hits to the head (People magazine).
  • He continues to work as a producer and actor in less physically demanding roles, such as hosting duties and the film Sweet Dreams (Las Vegas Review-Journal (local news)).
Bottom line: Johnny Knoxville survived a severe traumatic brain injury in 2020 and has stepped back from the most dangerous stunts, but he hasn’t walked away from show business entirely. For fans, the big takeaway is that one more head impact could be life-threatening.

The implication: A career built on physical risk now depends on avoiding the very behavior that made Knoxville famous.

Does Johnny Knoxville have permanent injuries?

List of documented long-term injuries

  • Knoxville has spoken about a torn urethra requiring temporary catheter use after a 2001 stunt. He later joked that the birth of his children proves “everything is in working order” (Digital Spy (entertainment news)).
  • He reported lingering back and neck issues from accumulated trauma, including two blown disks in his lower back (Las Vegas Review-Journal (local news)).
  • After the 2020 brain injury, he scored as low as 17 out of 100 on an attention test, requiring transcranial magnetic stimulation treatments over 10–12 sessions (The Howard Stern Show (podcast interview)).

Medical impact on daily life

  • Knoxville manages his back problems with exercise and anti-inflammatories rather than surgery (Las Vegas Review-Journal (local news)).
  • Cognitive issues from the 2020 brain injury lasted about six months, but he says he now feels “the healthiest” he has ever been (Entertainment Weekly (news outlet)).
  • No credible source confirms a permanent colostomy bag or lifelong catheter dependence. The documented urological device was a temporary leg bag, not a colostomy (Digital Spy (entertainment news)).
The myth versus reality

The persistent rumor that Johnny Knoxville wears a colostomy bag is medically inconsistent with his documented injury. He tore his urethra (urine outflow), not his bowel. There is no reputable reporting confirming a permanent colostomy.

The implication: Most of Knoxville’s long-term damage is neurological and spinal, not digestive. The colostomy rumor appears to be a misunderstanding of temporary urinary catheters that gets magnified online.

Why are Bam and Knoxville not friends anymore?

The falling out explained

  • Bam Margera alleged that Knoxville and others cut him from Jackass Forever due to his substance abuse issues. Margera filed a lawsuit against Knoxville and Paramount, which was later settled (People magazine).
  • Knoxville has stated he hopes for Margera’s recovery but no reconciliation has been publicly confirmed (Mediaite (news commentary)).

Current relationship status

  • As of 2025, the two remain estranged. Knoxville has not commented on any recent contact with Margera (People magazine).

“I hope he gets the help he needs. I love him. But I can’t be around that chaos anymore.”

— Johnny Knoxville to Mediaite (news commentary)

The trade-off

Knoxville chose the cast’s safety and production schedule over Margera’s participation. That decision preserved the film but ended a 20‑year friendship.

The pattern: When health and safety collide with loyalty, Knoxville consistently picks the show. The Margera rift is a painful but logical extension of that logic.

Is Steve O still friends with Johnny Knoxville?

Ongoing collaboration and personal bond

  • Steve-O and Knoxville remain close friends and collaborators. They appear together on the Jackass podcast and in public events (Decider (media analysis)).
  • Steve-O has publicly supported Knoxville’s decision to step back from extreme stunts, citing their shared history of injuries (Entertainment Weekly (news outlet)).

“We talk almost every day. He’s like a brother to me. I’m glad he’s finally listening to his doctors.”

— Steve-O on Decider (media analysis)

Why this matters: The Knoxville–Steve-O bond shows that not all Jackass relationships were destroyed by the franchise’s toll. It’s a counterbalance to the Margera story and a reminder that the crew still looks out for each other.

What ended Johnny Knoxville’s career?

Career transition, not a full end

  • Knoxville has not officially retired; he continues to act and produce. His role in Jackass Forever was less physically extreme than previous installments (Screen Rant (film news)).
  • He reduced stunt intensity after 2022, citing physical toll and family considerations. He told his kids he is “done with big stunts” (Decider (media analysis)).

Shift to writing and producing

  • Knoxville has discussed being “addicted” to stunts and needing to deliberately step away (Decider (media analysis)).
  • He now works primarily behind the camera and in less physical acting roles, like producing the upcoming Jackass 5 with modified stunt involvement (The National Desk (news aggregation)).

“I can’t take a hit to the head again. That part of my life is over. But I can still make people laugh.”

— Johnny Knoxville in Fortune (business magazine)

Bottom line: Knoxville’s career didn’t end—it evolved. He swapped the bull ring for a producer’s chair. The consequence: he can still tell stories, but he’ll never again risk his life to do it.

Timeline of key events

  • 1998 – Piloted Jackass for Big Brother magazine
  • 2000–2002 – Jackass TV series on MTV
  • 2001 – Torn urethra during shopping cart stunt (Digital Spy (entertainment news))
  • 2002 – First Jackass movie released
  • 2013 – Starred in Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
  • Dec 2020 – Bull stunt causes brain hemorrhage and 16th concussion (Podscripts (podcast transcripts))
  • 2022 – Jackass Forever released; public feud with Bam Margera begins
  • 2024–present – Focuses on podcast, production, less physical acting roles
Bottom line: The timeline shows a clear before‑and‑after: the 2020 bull stunt marked the point where Knoxville’s body forced a career pivot. Everything since has been about managing the damage.

Confirmed and unclear facts

Separating what’s been verified from what’s still uncertain helps cut through the noise around Knoxville’s health.

Confirmed facts

  • Knoxville suffered a torn urethra in 2001 requiring temporary catheter. (Digital Spy)
  • He has not used a colostomy bag; no verified source confirms this. (Digital Spy)
  • He remains friends with Steve-O. (Decider)
  • His estrangement from Bam Margera is linked to Margera’s legal dispute over Jackass Forever. (People)

What’s unclear

  • Whether Knoxville has fully stopped all stunt work permanently. (The National Desk)
  • Exact timeline of his divorce from Naomi Nelson.
  • Details of his current relationship with Margera—no public reconciliation reported. (People)

The pattern here is clear: neurologists’ warnings produce hard boundaries, while personal relationships remain unsettled.

Related reading: Michael Douglas: Health, Net Worth, and Relationships

Frequently asked questions

Does Johnny Knoxville still perform stunts?

No, he has stepped back from extreme stunts after his 2020 brain injury, though he continues to work as a producer and actor in less physical roles. (People)

How much is Johnny Knoxville worth?

His estimated net worth is approximately $85 million, accumulated from the Jackass franchise, acting, and producing. (Multiple sources)

Is Johnny Knoxville married?

He was married to Melanie Cates (1995–2008) and Naomi Nelson (2010–2023). As of 2025, he is single. (People)

Does Johnny Knoxville have kids?

Yes, he has three children: Madison, Rocko, and Arlo. (People)

What movies has Johnny Knoxville been in?

He’s best known for the Jackass film series, Bad Grandpa (2013), The Ringer (2005), and recent titles like Sweet Dreams (2024). (Screen Rant)

How old is Johnny Knoxville?

Born March 11, 1971, he is 54 years old as of 2025. (People)

Who had the worst injury on Jackass?

While many cast members have severe injuries, Johnny Knoxville’s 2020 brain hemorrhage and his 16 concussions are among the most serious. (Mediaite)

Does Johnny Knoxville wear a colostomy bag?

No. All credible sources describe a temporary urinary catheter after his 2001 torn urethra, not a colostomy bag. The rumor appears to be a persistent online misunderstanding. (Digital Spy)

For Johnny Knoxville, the price of a decade of extreme stunts comes due in doctors’ orders and a redefined career. He can still make audiences laugh, but only if he never takes another hit to the head. The choice for him is clear: preserve his brain, or risk losing everything.