Kitty O’Neil was a renowned American stuntwoman, racer, and powerboat racer who was born on March 24, 1946. Despite being deaf from the age of 5 months, she overcame numerous obstacles to achieve incredible success in a male-dominated industry.
O’Neil’s most notable accomplishments include performing stunts for films such as “The Blues Brothers,” “Airport 1975,” and “Smokey and the Bandit II,” as well as setting a land-speed record for female drivers in 1976, reaching a speed of 618 miles per hour.
In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, O’Neil also competed in powerboat racing and was a champion three times. She also worked as a firefighter and a commercial fisherman.
Kitty O’Neil passed away in 2018 at the age of 72 due to pneumonia, but her legacy as a pioneer in the field of stunt work and motorsports lives on. The Google Doodle on her 77th birth anniversary is a tribute to her life and achievements. A biopic about her life, titled Silent Victory: The Kitty O’Neil Story, was released in 1979 and showcased her land speed record achievement.
Honoring the Legacy of Hollywood Stunt Driver and Land Speed Record Holder Kitty O’Neil
Kitty O’Neil, an American stuntwoman and actor born in Texas in 1946, overcame challenges such as deafness from a young age to become one of Hollywood’s most celebrated performers and stunt drivers. She served as a stunt double in numerous movies and TV shows, earning recognition for her talents.
O’Neil made history in 1976 by setting the women’s absolute land speed record in a hydrogen peroxide-powered rocket car, reaching an astonishing average speed of 825.127 kmph and a top speed of 999 kmph. This earned her the title of “fastest woman in the world.” She also set a high-fall record of 127 feet (39 m) while performing as a stunt double on the Wonder Woman TV series.
The Life and Legacy of Kitty O’Neil: Hollywood Stunt Driver, Record-Setting Racer, and Trailblazer
As a young adult, O’Neil began working as a telephone operator but soon discovered her love of adrenaline-fueled activities. She started riding motorcycles and competing in beauty pageants before moving to Hollywood to pursue a career as a stuntwoman.
O’Neil quickly became known for her fearlessness and expertise as a stunt driver. She worked on several high-profile movie and TV productions, including The Bionic Woman, Smokey and the Bandit II, and The Blues Brothers.
In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, O’Neil also set several records as a speed racer. In 1976, she made history by setting the women’s land speed record in a hydrogen peroxide-powered rocket car, reaching an average speed of 825.127 kmph and a top speed of 999 kmph. She also set a women’s high-fall record of 127 feet (39 m) while performing as a stunt double on the Wonder Woman TV series.
Despite her impressive achievements, O’Neil faced several challenges throughout her life, including a near-fatal battle with pneumonia in 2018. She passed away on November 2, 2018, at the age of 72.
