Knievel had partnered with Six Flags St. Louis to name a new wooden coaster after "America's Legendary Daredevil". The amusement park in Eureka, Missouri, outside of St. Louis, Missouri, opened the ride on June 20, 2008. The Evel Knievel Roller Coaster operated for three seasons before being renamed American Thunder in 2011. [72] Declining health [ edit ] Knievel’s daring made him an American folk hero and he was portrayed in films by Sam Elliott and George Hamilton. He tried to become a movie star himself in 1977’s Viva Knievel, co-starring Gene Kelly. Between December 1969 and April 1970, Knievel used the Laverda American Eagle 750cc motorcycle. On December 12, 1970, Knievel would switch to the Harley-Davidson XR-750, the motorcycle with which he is best known for jumping. Knievel would use the XR-750 in association with Harley-Davidson until 1977. However, after his 1977 conviction for the assault of Shelly Saltman, Harley-Davidson withdrew its sponsorship of Knievel. During his career, Knievel may have suffered more than 433 bone fractures, [29] earning an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the survivor of "most bones broken in a lifetime". [1] However, this number could be exaggerated: his son Robbie told a reporter in June 2014 that his father had broken 40 to 50 bones; Knievel himself claimed he broke 35.

Simpkiss, Nigel (director) (2007). Richard Hammond Meets Evel Knievel (Television production). Visual Voodoo.Robbie sold limited-edition motorcycles from his company, Knievel Motorcycles Manufacturing Inc. Although two of the motorcycles refer to Evel (the Legend Series Evel Commemorative and the Snake River Canyon motorcycle), Evel did not ride Robbie's bikes. During the next four years, Ideal Toys released various models relating to Knievel's touring stunt show. The models included a Robbie Knievel doll, the Scramble Van, The Canyon Sky Cycle, a Dragster, a Stunt Car, and the Evel Knievel The Stunt World. Additionally, Ideal released non-Knievel-touring toys, including a Chopper Motorcycle, a Trail Bike, and a female counterpart, Derry Daring. [56] The last item marketed by Ideal Toys before it discontinued the distribution of Knievel toys was the Strato-Cycle, based on the film Viva Knievel! In 1986 he was arrested for soliciting an undercover policewoman for immoral purposes. In 1995 he was charged with battering his girlfriend Krystal Kennedy after leaving his wife of 35 years. JP (October 16, 2012). "Evel Knievel: Triumph Over The Fountains At Caesars Palace". Motorcycle Classics. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014 . Retrieved July 5, 2014.

The years of crashes, mult­iple brain trauma and broken bones took their toll and when he retired in 1980 Knievel claimed his body was “nothing but scar tissue and surgical steel”. Knievel and his brother were raised in Butte by their paternal grandparents, Ignatius and Emma Knievel. At the age of eight, Knievel attended a Joie Chitwood auto daredevil show, which he credited for his later career choice as a motorcycle daredevil. Harbor, Phillip, "Audi Tries to Jump Snake River Canyon in Evel Knievel Tribute", CarBuzz, September 12, 2012

Quick Overview

Severo, Richard (December 1, 2007). "Evel Knievel, 69, Daredevil on a Motorcycle, Dies". New York Times. Archived from the original on September 24, 2017 . Retrieved March 7, 2011. Knievel made several television appearances, including frequently as a guest on talk shows such as Dinah! and Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. In 1977, he made a guest spot on The Bionic Woman, where he played himself, getting inadvertently caught up in East German espionage while appearing in West Germany. Actual footage from Evel's L.A. Coliseum jump over crushed cars was used at the beginning of the episode, and an indoor jump over eleven cars and one van was used at the end of the show. Also in 1977, Warner Bros. released Viva Knievel! This movie starred Knievel as himself and co-starred Gene Kelly, Lauren Hutton, and Red Buttons. Similar to The Bionic Woman, actual Wembley footage was used in the film. In addition, the 1999 children's TV series Hilltop Hospital featured a character based on Knievel called Weasel Kneasel, who was the focus of an episode of the same name. In Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 4, a character named Duke Caboom (voiced by Keanu Reeves) was partially based on the Evel Knievel toy. On September 23, 2020, Knievel's son, Kelly and K&K Promotions filed a lawsuit against Disney and Pixar, claiming Duke was created illegally using Knievel's likeness. [ citation needed] Assault conviction, jail, and bankruptcy [ edit ] Evel Knievel (2004), a biographical film directed by John Badham and starring George Eads as Knievel. [91]

Knievel kept up his pursuit of the United States government to allow him to jump the Grand Canyon. To push his case, he hired famed San Francisco defense attorney Melvin Belli to fight the legal battle for obtaining government permission. ABC's Wide World of Sports started showing Knievel's jumps on television regularly. His popularity, especially with young boys, was ever-increasing. He became a hero to a generation of young boys. A.J. Foyt made Knievel part of his pit crew for the Indianapolis 500 in 1970. Evel Knievel's huge fame caused him to start traveling with bodyguards, who became life-long friends. [ citation needed] Ideal Toys [ edit ] A printed advertisement for the pinball machine Knievel was a cousin of Democratic U.S. Representative from Montana, Pat Williams (b. 1937). [4] :38 [5] ABC Sports – Wide World of Sports". Espn.go.com. February 26, 2003. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010 . Retrieved October 26, 2010.Though Knievel had no involvement, a 30-minute ABC Saturday morning animated series Devlin produced by Hanna-Barbera aired in the fall of 1974. The series, inspired by his popularity, featured stunt motorcyclists. Roscoe, Michael (December 3, 2007). "Evel Knievel: Motorcycle daredevil famed for his bone-breaking jumps (Obituary)". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on December 4, 2007 . Retrieved July 27, 2010.