Evel Knievel

Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel, Jr. was born October 17, 1938 , in Butte, Montana. Raised by his grandparents in Butte , a copper-mining town, he began doing motorcycle stunts as a teenager.

He embarked on an incredibly varied career (1956–65) that included professional hockey, a stint in the U.S. Army, work in the copper mines, and eventually crime - safecracking and holdups.

After working in copper mines and as a diamond drill operator, Robert became an insurance salesman. His love of motorcycles was always a constant factor in his life and he would later open several Honda dealerships in the Washington area.

Ever the showman, he would offer potential customers a $100 discount off the price of a motorcycle if they could beat him at arm wrestling.

In 1965, Robert’s alter ego Evel Knievel came to life and he went on to become the world's most famous daredevil. Having formed a troupe called Evel Knievel's Motorcycle Daredevils, ‘Evel’ toured the US performing stunts such as riding through fire walls, jumping over snakes and being towed at 200 miles an hour behind race cars.

By 1966 he was touring as a solo star and his stunts had become more and more daring. In 1968, he successfully jumped a massive 151 feet across the fountains in front of Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. However, his landing was far from perfect and he ended up in a coma for 30 days.

Having recovered from this crash, Evel continue with his daredevil exploits, raking in $1 million for his jump over 13 buses at Wembley Stadium and a staggering $6 million for his infamous Snake River Canyon jump.

However, by 1976 it was the end of the road for the death-defying star, after he and a cameraman were seriously injured during an attempt to jump a tank full of live sharks.

Having retired from major performances he continued to take part exhibitions around the country with his son Robbie, who has now taken over the daredevil mantel.

Evel Knievel’s exploits are legendary and it's unlikely his accomplishments, or notoriety, will ever be duplicated.

In later life he paid a high price for the life he led, suffering constant pain from the incredible abuse his body suffered during his daredevil days. He also suffered ill-health, including diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis - an incurable lung condition - for several years.

However, on Friday, 30th November, 2007, Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel died in Clearwater, Florida, finally succumbing after nearly a three-year battle with his lung condition. He was 69.