In 2000 the world welcomed to the screen the 10 men behind the iconic MTV show, Jackass.
After the show ended in 2002 there were many spin-off films filmed based around the shows and featuring many of the original stars.
But despite all their wealth, success and ladies lining up for the funnymen, some of their lives tragically turned to chaos following the height of their fame.
From two members of the cast dying, rehab stints, addiction battles and arrests, the cast have been through it all.
Here’s a look back at some of their most troubling times.
Ryan Dunn
Ryan Dunn died at the age of 34
Ryan Dunn was a fixture on the epic show but was tragically killed in 2011 at the age of 34 after he crashed his Porsche 911 GT3, with it being discovered he had been drink-driving.
The horrific accident happened just hours after Ryan had been drinking at a local bar.
Authorities recorded how his blood-alcohol level was determined to be 0.196 — more than twice the legal limit to drive.
The passenger in the expensive car, Zachary Hartwell, 29, was also killed. Zachary was a production assistant on Jackass Number Two.
The pair were heading back from the bar in West Chester when Ryan, who was a stunt-double, veered off the road and struck a tree.
Tragically the Porsche burst into flames in West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania and the pair both died.
Hours before the crash, Ryan had taken to his official Twitter account to post a snap of himself and Zachary drinking at the bar.
The police report stated “speed may have been a contributing factor in the crash” and preliminary investigations suggested the car had been traveling between 132 and 140 miles per hour (212 and 225 km/h) in a 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) zone.
Johnny Knoxville
Johnny Knoxville caused chaos in an airport with a grenade
Although things may have seemed all busy schedules, sexy women and laughs with Johnny Knoxville, there was another side to his story after his Jackass fame.
Years after the show wrapped in 2009, on January 15, Johnny caused chaos and controversy at Los Angeles International Airport.
Security workers found an inert grenade in his carry-on luggage. He was immediately detained by authorities and was cited for carrying a prohibited item into the airport.
Following the investigation when it was determined that the item was a prop from an advert, and that an assistant had packed his bag for him, he was released.
A month later on February 4, 2009, Johnny explained on The Howard Stern Show how he went through hell after he tore his urethra during a stunt for Nitro Circus, describing how he had to flush it twice daily.
He said this was done by “sticking a tube into his penis all the way up to his bladder”, referring to the practice of urinary catheterisation.
Johnny said the process prevented scar tissue from forming and performed the procedure “twice a day for three and a half years” after the injury.
Bam Margera
Bam Margera has battled alcohol addiction for years
Bam Margera, 41, joined Jackass in the early 2000s and went on to create the Jackass spin-off shows Viva La Bam and Bam’s Unholy Union and co-wrote and directed his films Haggard and Minghags.
The star has also tragically battled alcohol addiction for years and has confessed to being an alcoholic after he publicly asked for Dr Phil’s help in 2019.
Since his 20s, the star was frequently seen drinking and/or intoxicated on-camera in Viva La Bam and in behind-the-scenes footage from the Jackass films.
However, things took a turn for the worst in July 2009 following a four-day drinking binge which saw Bam taken to hospital.
He entered rehab for the first time in December 2009 after an intervention from his friends and family but did not complete the program and left after only four days.
Sadly, following pal and fellow Jackass co-star Ryan Dunn’s sudden death in 2011, Bam’s drinking intensified.
By his own accounts, Bam considers 2012 as the year he lost control of his drinking.
In 2015, Bam returned to rehab again for alcoholism for the second time, but left shortly after without finishing.
Later that year he took part in Family Therapy with Dr Jenn on VH1 with his mother, after which he remained sober for several months.
The following year, in an interview with People Magazine, Bam opened up about his mental health issues, including anxiety and eating disorders, and revealed how his unhealthy lifestyle had forced him to relearn skating after five years, and also left him overweight.
Another year later in November 2017, he discussed his alcoholism battle again, claiming that he had been “mostly sober” since 2015.
However, he entered rehab for a third time in January 2018, after a DUI, and remained sober for seven months.
Tragically Bam’s story doesn’t end there as later that year he relapsed after being robbed at gunpoint during a holiday in Colombia.
A year later he tried rehab again for the fourth time but left after 10 days, stating that he “didn’t belong there”, and was planning on beating his alcoholism on his own.
In March 2019 his loved ones came together to have him committed to a mental health treatment facility. He was released from treatment and returned home after one week.
The last that was heard of the star’s battle was on August 3, 2019, after he was removed from a commercial airline flight following an altercation with an airport police officer who told him he was too drunk to fly.
The following day, Bam posted a chain of videos on his official Instagram account, publicly pleading for Dr Phil’s help.
Dr Phil answered Bam’s pleas the next morning, referring him to a treatment centre following a one-on-one session.
Steve-O
Stevie-O has suffered with his mental health over the years
Stuntman and overall entertainment legend Steve-O joined forces with the cast of Jackass in 2008 for the Jackass MTV 24 Hour Takeover.
But in that same year, the star sent out an email on March 9, 2008, to his friends suggesting that he was suicidal.
One of those friends included Jackass co-star Johnny Knoxville.
Concerned for his welfare, they contacted physician Dr Drew Pinsky, who told them to get Steve-O to a hospital immediately.
He was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold which was later lengthened to 14 days due to an alleged suicide attempt.
The star has since spoken out on how he thought his drug use and bipolarity was a “good thing”, but that he now realises that his drug use was apparently “hurting” those he loved most.
On June 4, 2008, Steve-O pleaded guilty to felony possession of cocaine. He avoided jail with the successful completion of a treatment program.
In July, after 115 days of sobriety, he announced on his social media that he was “back in the loony bin”.
In the post he also said he was returning because he “had horrible mood swings and severe depression”.
He continued: “My brain is f***ed up from using so much cocaine, ketamine, PCP, nitrous oxide, and all sorts of other drugs.”
Stevie Lee
Stevie Lee died at the age of 54
Another Jackass star who died too young was Stevie Lee at 54 years old.
Stevie, who was nicknamed “Puppet The Psycho Dwarf”, appeared in Jackass 3D – the third big-screen outing of the show in 2010.
Unexpectedly Stevie died last year in September following a heart attack.
In his memory, his heartbroken family revealed a GoFundMe had been set up.
The statement on the page from his family read: “Steve ‘Puppet The Psycho Dwarf’ Lee Richardson unexpectedly passed away on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at his home in the morning.
“He was beloved by many and has many friends that were family, fans that adored him, but only his brother Jim left to take care of final arrangements.
“Puppet has put smiles across the world with his hardcore attitude and lifestyle.
“He is a legend in the art of Midget Wrestling.
“He needs our help to give him one last curtain call.
“Please donate what you can, share his memories with everyone, and share this fundraiser to give the Psycho Dwarf the best resting place possible.”
Chris Pontius
Chris went on to have a career in TV and film
While many of the stars appeared to be surrounded by doom and gloom, many of them went on to focus on their careers.
One of those Jackass stars was Chris Pontius who had been on the show since the first ever episode and quickly became a fan-favourite.
He was known as “Party Boy” and “Pontius The Barbarian”, and the stunt performer has quite the extensive acting career away from the show.
He appeared as an Irish Dock Worker in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and as Jesus in National Lampoon’s TV: The Movie.
Chris also had roles in sitcom Raising Hope in 2012 and Netflix comedy Game Over, Man! in 2018.
Last year, Chris became a father for the first time when his son Axe was born.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
