Johnny Knoxville won the hearts of many Americans by performing radical, masochistic stunts with his cronies on MTV’s “Jackass.” Since that series ended, the Knoxville, Tenn., native has appeared in six movies. His seventh, “The Ringer,” in which Knoxville’s character tries to rig the Special Olympics, opens Friday.
During the filming of the movie, what kind of interaction did you have with the Special Olympians?
We … went to bowl with all of the Special Olympics athletes. I don’t know how many were there; there was a whole bowling alley full. And out of all the bowlers, I came in dead last. That’s totally true. The athletes I played against were very good.
Did you actually compete against them in any Olympic events?
I would talk smack to all the athletes about how bad I’m smokin’ ’em. And this one athlete named Ricky, he was like the Texas state champ. After we got the scene, I’m like, “Do you want to put your money where your mouth is and race me?” And he’s like, “Sure, sure, Johnny.”
[Executive producer] Peter Farrelly got it together at the end of the track, laid out a tape, and he said, “On your mark, get set, go.”By about five steps into the race, he was about 10 feet ahead; and about 25 yards ahead by the time we got to the finish line. Someone took a photo of the finish, and he’s in the front of the photo breaking the tape. And just at the very back of the photo you see my nose in the back of the frame.
Did that give you a general appreciation for their athletic abilities?
I screened the film for my friends here at the house … and after the film, they were like, “But you can beat ’em right?” I’m like, “What are you talking about? I wouldn’t even qualify.”
You’ve done some pretty dangerous stunts. Can you appreciate the danger involved in some of those events?
I’ve stood at the top of an Olympic ski jump before. We were in Russia at a training facility, and that just looked insane. It could take your breath away when you stand up at the top.
Being from Knoxville, are you a big Tennessee Vols fan?
Yeah, so this year was really, really, really, really gut wrenching. It felt like Johnny Majors was our coach again. We lost a couple of close games, and then our spirit got broke. I think we’re going to do a lot better next year, but damn it hurts this year.
