People News

Johnny Knoxville shines up like a copper penny

By Stone Martindale Sep 26, 2006, 2:10 GMT

Actor Johnny Knoxville pulled another fast one as his sequel of death-defying insanity, Jackass Number Two, beat out serious movies to take the top spot at the weekend box office. Johnny Knoxville - has Hollywood teeth and Hollywood hair-here at the premiere of Jackass Number Two - Grauman's Chinese Theatre - Hollywood, CA
© Chris Hatcher / Photorazzi

Johnny Knoxville - has Hollywood teeth and Hollywood hair-here at the premiere of Jackass Number Two - Grauman's Chinese Theatre - Hollywood, CA © Chris Hatcher / PhotorazziJackass Number Two debuted with $28.1-million (U.S.), with Jet Li's Fearless, featuring the martial-arts master in a saga set in China a century ago, opening in second place with $10.6-million, according to studio estimates yesterday. Gridiron Gang opened in third place at $9.7-million. According to Variety.The concept of Jackass evolved from a skateboarding-related humor magazine that Jeff Tremaine, Dave Carnie, Rick Kosick and Chris Pontius worked for, and featured regular contributions from Johnny Knoxville and Dave England.Jackass dates back to 1999 when Johnny Knoxville came up with the idea to test different self defense devices on himself as the basis for an article. He pitched the idea to a couple of magazines and was turned down until meeting with Jeff Tremaine of Big Brother magazine. Jeff hired him as journalist and convinced Johnny to videotape this idea and other stunts for stories. The footage involved Knoxville being tazered, maced, and ultimately shot while wearing a bulletproof vest, and made Knoxville a hit. Recently Knoxville appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and said that gross out artist and fellow Jackass-er Steve-O initially was thought to be the first Jackass to meet his early demise. "He's a human cockroach, he's gonna outlive us all" said Knoxville.Knoxville will soon be seen in Killshot, directed by John Madden and starring Diane Lane and Mickey Rourke.