So how did famed stuntman Evel Knievel die? Knievel died of pulmonary disease on November 30, 2007, at the age of 69. His death was attributed to complications from previous surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung. Knievel’s son, Robbie, has followed in his father’s footsteps and is also a professional stunt performer.
Career Of Stuntman Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel was an American daredevil and entertainer who gained fame in the 1960s and 1970s for motorcycle stunts. He attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980 and holds the world record for the longest jump. Despite his numerous injuries, including a serious spinal cord injury in 1968, Knievel continued to perform stunts until his retirement in 1976.
Knievel’s career began in 1966 when he jumped over a box of rattlesnakes and two motorcycles at a small arena in Moses Lake, Washington. This stunt made him an overnight sensation, and he began touring the country, performing jumps over cars, buses, and trains.
His most famous jump took place in 1974 when he attempted to clear the Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered motorcycle. Although he did not succeed in clearing the canyon, he did land safely on the other side, becoming the first person to ever do so.
Injuries & Retirement
Knievel’s injuries eventually caught up with him, and he suffered a serious spinal cord injury in 1968 while attempting to jump over 13 buses at London’s Wembley Stadium. He was hospitalized for nearly a year as a result of this accident.
In 1976, Knievel retired from stunt riding after crashing during an attempt to jump over the Caesar’s Palace fountain in Las Vegas. He later said that his retirement was due to his wife’s insistence that he stop risking his life.