Johnny Knoxville has announced his retirement from performing stunts in the "Jackass" franchise, concluding a career spanning nearly 25 years marked by daring and often dangerous antics. The 55-year-old actor and stunt performer made the decision following a serious injury sustained during a bull-riding stunt in 2022, which resulted in his 16th concussion and a prolonged six-month recovery period.

Knoxville, the original frontman of the reality slapstick series that debuted on MTV in 2000, described the toll these stunts have taken on his physical and mental health. While his approach often involved "blunt-force trauma and gravity," he acknowledged that the psychological impact, including severe anxiety episodes after his last major injury, was particularly challenging. With the counsel of his neurologist and support from therapy, medication, and friends, Knoxville has chosen to cease performing concussion-risking stunts permanently, a pledge made to his wife, costume designer Emily Ting, and their three children.

"Jackass," created by Knoxville alongside director Jeff Tremaine and producer Spike Jonze, transformed reckless pranks and hazardous stunts into a cultural phenomenon. The original MTV series captivated audiences and led to four feature films between 2002 and 2022, collectively grossing over £300 million worldwide. The franchise helped pioneer viral stunt culture well before the advent of platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.

The troupe’s stunts were notoriously extreme, featuring cast members engaging in outrageous and sometimes perilous acts. Notable examples included Bam Margera’s alligator escape in his mother’s kitchen, Ryan Dunn’s documented insertion of a toy car into his body, and Steve-O being catapulted inside a portable toilet. Knoxville himself endured rocket strap-ons gone awry, proximity to deadly flying debris, and severe motorbike injuries requiring years of medical care.

The upcoming film, "Jackass: Best and Last," set to be released soon, serves as a retrospective, blending archival footage with new content such as robot-assisted rectal examinations and laxative-fueled games of Twister. Knoxville confirmed this installment would be the final project featuring the primary cast performing stunts. The film also pays tribute to the late Ryan Dunn, who died in 2011 in a drunk driving accident, with emotional sequences accompanied by the Rolling Stones’ "Shine a Light."

While the franchise has faced internal challenges—including Bam Margera’s departure amid substance abuse struggles—Knoxville maintains respect and fondness for his former team. He expressed hope for reconciliation but acknowledged Margera’s current hesitation to rejoin the group.

Knoxville traced his affinity for pranks and stunts to his upbringing in Tennessee, recalling a turbulent childhood with an alcoholic father whose penchant for practical jokes left a lasting impression. He connects his persistent drive to take risks and seek approval to early family dynamics and has engaged in therapy since 2006 to manage these aspects of his personality.

Reflecting on the series’ evolving cast, Knoxville highlighted efforts to diversify, noting the inclusion of performers such as Rachel Wolfson and Jasper Dolphin in recent projects. He also embraced the show’s unexpected popularity within the LGBTQ+ community and took pride in participating in events like the West Hollywood gay pride parade.

Looking ahead, Knoxville plans to focus on acting roles and hopes to develop scripted projects featuring the "Jackass" ensemble. Though his stunt career is concluded, he remains open to appearances by his Bad Grandpa character. Outside of work, he is dedicating time to family life and caring for his rescue dog, Bucket.

"Jackass: Best and Last" will be released in cinemas this Friday, marking the end of Knoxville’s front-line stunt career and, he insists, the conclusion of the era that made "Jackass" a fixture in pop culture history.