Evel Knievel: 1938-2007

The casket containing the body of motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel is carried into the Civic Center for the blessing in preparation for Monday's memorial service in Butte, Mont., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007. Knievel died Nov. 30 at the age of 69 after years of battling diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis.

Terry Falkner steadies a large headstone for display as preparations are under way for a memorial service for motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel at the Civic Center in Butte, Mont., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007. Knievel died Nov. 30 at the age of 69 after years of battling diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis.

Daredevil motorcyclist Evel Knievel sails over 13 Mack trucks in the open-air Canadian national exhibition stadium in Toronto, Canada, Aug. 20, 1974. Born Robert Craig Knievel in the copper mining town of Butte, Mont., on Oct. 17, 1938, the iconic daredevil died Nov. 30, 2007, at age 69.

Evel Knievel poses at the open-air Canadian national exhibition stadium in Toronto, Canada, Aug. 20, 1974. The man who is immortalized in the Smithsonian Institution as "America's Legendary Daredevil," died Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at age 69. Promoter Billy Rundel said Knievel had trouble breathing at his Clearwater, Fla., condo and died before an ambulance arrived.

Evel Knievel is shown standing in front of Snake River Canyon, Idaho, Sept. 8, 1974. He would later jump over Shoshone falls at Snake River Canyon. The hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose exploits made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2007. He is survived by his longtime partner, four children, 10 granchildren and a great-grandchild.

Evel Knievel is shown in his rocket-powered "Skycycle" on Sept. 8, 1974, before his failed attempt at a highly promoted 3/4-mile leap across Snake River Canyon in Idaho. The parachute malfunctioned and deployed after takeoff. Strong winds blew the cycle into the canyon, landing him close to the swirling river below.

Evel Knievel waves as he is lowered to his rocket on Sept. 8, 1974. The hard-living motorcycle daredevil, whose exploits made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2007. The 68-year-old had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and an incurable condition that scarred his lungs. Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C.

Evel Knievel poses for a photo in 1977. He began his daredevil career in 1965 when he formed a troupe called Evel Knievel's Motorcycle Daredevils, a touring show in which he performed stunts such as riding through fire walls, jumping over live rattlesnakes and mountain lions and being towed at 200 mph behind dragster race cars. He traced his career back when he saw Joey Chitwood's Auto Daredevil Show at age 8.

Daredevil motorcyclist Evel Knievel is seen in 1977 in Warner Bros.' "Viva Knievel!". Though Knievel dropped off the pop culture radar in the 1980s, the image of the high-flying motorcyclist clad in patriotic, star-studded colors was never erased from public consciousness.

Robbie Knievel stands with his father, motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel, right, April 14, 1989, at the New York Auto Show. Robbie followed in his father's footsteps as a daredevil, jumping a moving locomotive in a 200-foot, ramp-to-ramp motorcycle stunt on live television in 2000. He also jumped a 200-foot-wide chasm of the Grand Canyon.

Evel Knievel arrives at Caesar's Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 19, 1999, moments before his wedding ceremony with Krystal Kennedy in front of the fountains at the hotel. Knievel attempted to jump 150 feet over the fountains in 1967 on a motorcycle, but crashed upon landing and broke several bones.

On Nov. 19, 1999, Evel Knievel, 61, married Crystal Kennedy, 30, on a platform atop the fountains at Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas. Knievel arrived by motorcycle were he launched his career in 1967 when he attempted to jump 150 feet over the fountains. They divorced a few years later but remained together until his death on Nov. 30, 2007.

Evel Knievel gestures to the crowd after driving onstage to accept the Pioneer Award at the ESPN Action Sports and Music Awards at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, April 7, 2001. Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980.

Evel Knievel, is seen May 11, 2006, in Clearwater, Fla. His death on Nov. 30, 2007, came just two days after it was announced that he and rapper Kanye West had settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video.

Legendary motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel autographs a leather jacket worn by Beatrice Klade of Chicago at the 61st annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Aug. 9, 2001, in Sturgis, S.D. Knievel made a good living selling his autographs and endorsing products. Thousands came to Butte, Mont., every year as his legend was celebrated during the "Evel Knievel Days" festival.

Even Knievel holds his dog, Rocket, Sept. 1, 2001. His granddaughter, Krysten Knievel, said he had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs. The daredevil died Nov. 30, 2007, at age 69.