Although he’s known for his wild antics within the Jackass franchise, Johnny Knoxville admitted there was one thing that terrified him – becoming a father.
While reflecting on the start of his parenthood journey, Knoxville revealed to PEOPLE he was “frozen” when his then-girlfriend turned first wife, Melanie Lynn Clapp told him she was pregnant.
“When I was 24, and my first wife, she was then my girlfriend, said she was pregnant, we’re going to have a baby,” Johnny Knoxville recounted. “I don’t think I’ve ever had that much fear in my life.”
During that time, Knoxville was waiting tables for a living and didn’t have any money. He also knew that being a dad was a “great responsibility.”
“I’m like, ‘Well, I don’t mind’… All of my acting, I can forget about that,” Johnny said. Noting he had just started acting, the Jackass star recalled being willing to give up the career to focus on being a father.
“How am I going to support this kid,” Johnny Knoxville remembered thinking. He then spoke about the “cycle of things” that runs through his head when he gets frightened over something. Knoxville said the cycle was a major factor in his early parenting worries.
Johnny Knoxville Said His ‘Parenthood Worries’ Faded Away When His Eldest Daughter Madison Was Born
Right after his and Clapp’s daughter, Madison, was born on Jan. 4, 1996, Johnny Knoxville stated that his parenthood worries quickly faded away.
“I don’t want to sound corny,” Knoxville said. “Because it sounds corny, but in the hospital, the baby was born and she was put into my arms. Just looking at her, all of my fear went away. It just went away.”
Johnny Knoxville remembered telling Clapp, “I think we got this.” after Madison’s birth. “And it was a wonderful feeling.”
Knoxville also said he doesn’t know if there’s anything greater than being a father. “It’s a responsibility and it’s hard,” he admitted. “But it’s great. I love being a parent.”
Before Madison was born, Knoxville and Clapp got married. However, after 11 years of marriage, the couple separated in 2006. Knoxville filed for divorce in July 2007 and the marriage legally ended in March 2008. The divorce was settled in July 2009.
Months later, Johnny Knoxville’s then-girlfriend gave birth to their son. They got married in 2010 and had a daughter in 2011. Knoxville filed for divorce in June 2022.