April 28 may not be etched in gold in most calendars, but for lovers of thrills, spills, and spectacular stunts, it marks a momentous occasion. On this day in 1938, Robert Craig Knievel—better known to the world as Evel Knievel—was born in Butte, Montana.
A one-man spectacle of red, white, and blue, Evel Knievel soared across canyons, crashed into fountains, and risked his life more than 75 times in the name of entertainment. If April 28 had an unofficial title, it would be World’s Greatest Daredevil Day—a nod to the man who made it his business to defy gravity (and medical advice) every chance he got.
Evel Knievel wasn’t always a household name. Born during the Great Depression, Knievel got his start not as a performer but as a miner, semi-pro hockey player, and—briefly—a criminal. After a short stint in jail for stealing hubcaps (a story he later turned into a joke), Knievel began organizing motorcycle stunt shows across the western U.S. in the 1960s.
The name “Evel” came from a cellmate dubbed “Awful Knofel.” Not wanting to be “awful,” Robert chose “Evel” instead—spelled without an “i” to avoid associations with evil. The name stuck, and soon the daredevil brand was born.
By the 1970s, Evel Knievel was a living legend. Clad in star-spangled jumpsuits and riding a Harley-Davidson XR-750, he became the embodiment of American bravado and showmanship.
Among his most famous stunts: the 1967 jump over the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The stunt ended in one of the most televised wipeouts in history—Evel fractured his pelvis, femur, hip, ribs, and both wrists. It was brutal. It was mesmerizing. And it cemented his place in pop culture.
But Knievel’s most outrageous feat came on September 8, 1974, when he attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon in Idaho in a rocket-powered “Skycycle.” The launch was televised live to millions. The parachute deployed early, the rocket drifted into the canyon, and the whole thing failed spectacularly—but Knievel walked away, and somehow, the legend only grew.
Over the course of his career, Evel Knievel suffered 433 bone fractures. It’s believed to be a world record. He became as famous for his injuries as his stunts.
Evel by the Numbers
433: Estimated number of bones broken during his career
75+: Major jumps attempted
$60 million: Estimated revenue generated by his daredevil career
1: Evel Knievel Museum (in Topeka, Kansas)
0: Regrets (according to Knievel himself)
Despite his reputation for danger and flamboyance, Knievel was also a master of marketing. He was the first stuntman to become a true media icon—appearing on talk shows, action figures, and lunchboxes across the country. At one point in the 1970s, Evel Knievel was outselling Batman and Superman in toy stores.
His influence extended into sports, entertainment, and even fashion. Without Knievel, there’s no Nitro Circus, no Jackass, and certainly no Red Bull-sponsored free-falls from space. He helped invent the idea of extreme before it had a name.
Later in life, Knievel struggled with health issues, legal troubles, and a brief stint in jail for assaulting a business associate with a baseball bat. He also underwent a very public religious conversion, declaring that he had finally found peace after years of living recklessly.
He passed away on November 30, 2007, at age 69—not in a flaming motorcycle crash, but of natural causes. The world mourned, but in a way, it was fitting. After all, he’d beaten the odds his whole life.
April 28 doesn’t carry the federal recognition of a holiday like Independence Day or Veterans Day. But in online forums, motorcycle clubs, and among fans of the absurd and the heroic, it’s remembered as Evel Knievel Day. Across social media, people share old footage of Knievel’s most daring jumps, kids pop wheelies on their bikes, and adrenaline junkies toast to the man who made “don’t try this at home” a universal warning label.
And in Butte, Montana—his hometown—a statue of Knievel stands tall on a hill, arms outstretched, forever facing the horizon.
Evel Knievel didn’t just jump motorcycles—he leaped into the public consciousness, into the pop culture archive, and into the history books of “only in America” stories. He proved that fear and failure weren’t the end. They were just part of the act.
So on April 28, channel a little of that fearless energy. Whether you’re leaping over your own obstacles or just watching someone else go for it, remember: it’s not always about sticking the landing. Sometimes, it’s just about making the jump.
