Daredevil Evel Knievel Dies

Image credit: AP

EVEL KNIEVEL IN 1974

Legendary daredevil Evel Knievel died on Friday at age 69. The stunt icon — who jumped his motorcycle over canyons, stacks of cars, and the fountains at Caesars Palace — had reportedly been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes, lung disease, and hepatitis C. Famous for his star-spangled jumpsuits and breathtaking feats, Knievel was a global pop-culture staple in the 1960s and 1970s thanks to the death-defying acts he performed in traveling shows and on a variety of TV series and specials. In 1977, he played himself in the fictional feature film Viva Knievel!, opposite an all-star roster including Gene Kelly, Red Buttons, and Frank Gifford. Unfortunately, though somewhat appropriately, the movie crashed at the box office.