Johnny Knoxville is 50 years old. On its own this may seem unremarkable, but coupled with the fact that for more than 20 years Knoxville has been the ringleader/master of ceremonies of the crew responsible for the "Jackass" franchise, it's worth noting.
Beginning with the short-lived MTV series that launched them all to fame, the franchise has built a devoted fanbase with 2002's "Jackass: The Movie," 2006's "Jackass Number Two" and 2010's "Jackass 3D" alongside assorted other spinoffs and affiliated movies and shows, including 2013's "Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa," which was nominated for an Academy Award for makeup and hairstyling.
Aging and mortality is a surprisingly tender and poignant through line to the new "Jackass Forever," as Knoxville and crew again assemble for a series of outrageous stunts and pranks that make a mockery of the fragility of the human body and become a triumph of friendship and laughter. (The film, which opened Friday in wide release, is directed by Jeff Tremaine and counts Spike Jonze among its producers.) In performing a stunt in which he attempted a magic trick in front of a charging bull, Knoxville suffered a broken wrist, a broken rib, a concussion and a brain hemorrhage that required months of treatment and rehabilitation.
