Johnny Knoxville, best known for his outlandish stunts on Jackass, has been making a name for himself in the acting world. He has recently taken on a new role in the Hulu sketch comedy series, History of the World Part II.
In this latest released comedy show, he plays the infamous Russian mystic and holy man, Rasputin, who is sought after for his medical advice on treating the youngest royal, Alexei. He’s also the man who all the Roman women are madly in love with. In a nod to Rasputin’s survival of assassination attempts, Knoxville’s character in the show, nicknamed as “Jackrasp”, must survive various attempts on his life by his fellow Jackass stunt performers. The stunt performers include Preston Lacy, Chris Pontius, and, a scantily-dressed Wee Man in an ushanka hat.
Johnny Knoxville, who is mostly seen in clean-shaved roles, adopted an entirely new appearance for History of the World, Part II. His character as Grigori Rasputin has an Amish Alan Moore-like appearance. On top of that, his plot involves the dynasty of Tsar Nicolas II, who is portrayed by Danny DeVito, a favorite of the It’s Always Sunny crowd.
Working with DeVito was a big deal for Knoxville, given that it occurred on a Mel flipping’ Brooks-produced tv show.
The Jackass alum shared how he felt working with Danny DeVito: “I mean, first of all, I got to do a scene with Danny DeVito. He is unbelievable. He’s hilarious while we’re filming, and as soon as they say cut, he’s just as hilarious. Just a wonderful person. But they had a little screening the other night of the first two episodes, which Mel Brooks showed up at. I almost had a heart attack. I got dizzy and I didn’t even know what to do. He got a standing ovation, of course, but I may have been the first one to jump up. I almost pulled my back out.”
To further add, Knoxville recently discussed his involvement in the show, how it compared to working on Jackass, and why it was one of the highlights of his career. While he initially became famous for his comedic stunts, he has since diversified his portfolio and is landing on more serious roles. Knoxville’s unique look and willingness to take risks have helped him stand out in the competitive world of acting. In addition to his role in History of the World, Part II, he appeared in the short-lived series Reboot. However, his experience working with comedy legend Mel Brooks on the show was a personal and professional highlight for him.
Some people might be shocked to find that Mel Brooks wasn’t even invited to hang out with Johnny Knoxville on the shoot location(s). Since Brooks is already 96 years old, it’s possible that his absence from the set wasn’t all that surprising.
Because of this, Knoxville took the initiative and requested permission to contact Mel Brooks to express his gratitude to the Spaceballs director. Fans might not be able to completely understand the actor’s willingness to subject himself to excruciating stunts for Jackass, but they can all relate to the unrestrained joy on display as he talked about chatting Brooks up personally.
Knoxville shared that, “I got to call him one night. And I just… I mean, poor guy. He barely got a word in edgewise. But he’s so kind to get on the phone with me. And I told him how much he meant to me. And in the excitement, I was like, ‘Oh my god, I would love to grab dinner with you or something.’ He’s like, ‘Settle down.’ [Laughs] . . . I did ask. I’m like, ‘Can I just call him?’ And they’re like, sure. It’s one of the biggest highlights of my career. Like a man who I started out watching, who my father got me interested in comedy through. And now I got to be on a phone call with him. It’s like, I can just retire.”
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Johnny Knoxville hanging up his boots and entering retirement mode shouldn’t spark too much concern. Even at the age of 51, he has expressed interest in maybe moving forward with another Jackass project, however with the appropriate adjustments in place. Prior to that, he’ll be having a bearded time in History of the World, Part II, albeit it might not go as planned if the TV show accurately portrays Rasputin’s fate in real life.
With Johnny Knoxville’s recent appearance in History of the World Part II, it’s clear that he’s a huge fan of Mel Brooks and his comedy legacy. And now, fans are already clamoring for him to appear in other hypothetical Mel Brooks sequels, including Dracula Still Dead And Still Loving It, Higher Anxiety, and even a crossover with Yellowstone called Yellowstone: Blazing Saddles.
As fans eagerly await the release of new episodes from History of the World Part II on Hulu, it’s clear that Mel Brooks still has the power to shake up streaming and keep audiences laughing. With two new episodes dropping each day this week, Hulu is shaking up their traditional release patterns to accommodate this comedy Tv series.
As Knoxville’s acting career continues to flourish, he is proving that he is more than just a stuntman. His ability to take on a variety of roles and his willingness to embrace new challenges has made him a sought-after actor in Hollywood.
