Tracey Knievel

Tracey Knievel – The Quiet Force Behind the Daredevil Legend

When you hear the name Knievel, you likely picture a star-spangled cape, a roaring Harley-Davidson, and a ramp aimed at the impossible. 

Evel Knievel was the embodiment of American audacity, a man who broke 433 bones to become a global icon. But behind the crash landings and the fanfare stood a family trying to navigate the chaos of fame.

While her father lived his life in the headlines and her brother Robbie followed him into the daredevil spotlight, Tracey Knievel took a different path. 

She became the anchor. As the daughter of the world’s most famous stuntman, Tracey has spent decades balancing a private life with a very public responsibility: protecting the Knievel legacy.

“QUICK BIO and Profile & Analysis”

FieldDetail
Full nameTracey Lynn Knievel
Date of birthLate 1960s (Exact date undisclosed)
AgeEstimated mid-50s
BirthplaceButte, Montana, United States
NationalityAmerican
GenderFemale
ProfessionBusiness Executive, President of K&K Promotions
Net worthUndisclosed (Family estate estimated at high value)
Marital statusMarried
SpouseMitchell Kent McCloud (m. 1986)
ChildrenYes (Names undisclosed for privacy)
ParentsEvel Knievel (Robert Craig Knievel), Linda Knievel
SiblingsKelly, Robbie, Alicia
EducationButte High School (Alumni)
Family backgroundGerman and Irish descent
HometownButte, Montana

Growing Up Knievel

Tracey Knievel was born in Butte, Montana, a rugged mining town that forged her father’s tough exterior. 

She is one of four children born to Evel and his first wife, Linda Bork. While the world saw a superhero, Tracey saw a father who was frequently absent, often injured, and undeniably demanding.

Childhood for the Knievel kids was a mix of luxury and anxiety. By the 1970s, Evel was an international superstar. 

The family moved from a trailer to a sprawling estate, and money flowed freely. However, the lifestyle came with a cost. Tracey grew up watching her father risk his life on live television.

 Life in the Crash Zone

Unlike a standard upbringing, the Knievel household operated on adrenaline. Tracey and her sister Alicia were often the quiet observers while their brothers, Kelly and Robbie, were drawn into the mechanics of the stunts.

Despite the chaos, reports from family friends describe Tracey as the grounded sibling, inheriting her mother Linda’s resilience.

The Business of Legacy: K&K Promotions

Many assume that being a celebrity daughter is a passive role, but for Tracey, it is a career. She is not just an heir; she is an executive. 

Tracey serves as an officer and President for K&K Promotions, the entity that manages the intellectual property, trademarks, and licensing rights of the Evel Knievel brand.

This role is critical. The image of Evel Knievel, the white jumpsuit, the cane, the specific motorcycle setup; is a valuable commodity. 

Tracey works alongside her brother Kelly to ensure that their father’s image is used respectfully and legally.

Legal Battles and Brand Protection

Tracey’s tenure at K&K Promotions hasn’t been symbolic; it has been litigious. She has been on the front lines of high-profile lawsuits to protect the family name:

The Disney Dispute

In 2020, K&K Promotions sued Disney and Pixar regarding the character “Duke Caboom” in Toy Story 4

The lawsuit alleged the character, a 1970s motorcycle stuntman toy, infringed on Evel Knievel’s rights of publicity. 

While the courts eventually ruled in Disney’s favor citing First Amendment protections for artistic works, the move highlighted Tracey’s aggressive defense of the brand.

Kanye West Settlement

The family also famously tangled with rapper Kanye West over his music video for “Touch the Sky,” which parodied Evel’s failed Snake River Canyon jump. 

That dispute ended in an amicable settlement, proving the family’s willingness to negotiate when respected.

Career in Media and Production

Beyond brand management, Tracey has dipped her toe into Hollywood production, specifically regarding her father’s biopic.

Co-Producer Credits

According to industry records, Tracey served as a co-producer on the 2004 TNT original movie Evel Knievel, which starred George Eads. 

This involvement suggests she wanted a hand in ensuring the portrayal of her father was accurate, rather than sensationalized.

Documentary Appearances

She appeared as herself in The Last of the Gladiators (1988) and the E! True Hollywood Story (1998) documenting her father’s life. 

These appearances are among the few times she has stepped directly into the spotlight to speak on the family narrative.

Personal Life

While her brother Robbie Knievel (Kaptain Robbie) sought fame by replicating their father’s jumps, Tracey chose privacy. 

She has successfully kept her personal life largely out of the tabloids, a difficult feat given her surname.

We know that she married Mitchell Kent McCloud in June 1986 in her hometown of Butte, Montana. 

The ceremony took place at the First Baptist Church, with her mother Linda serving as the matron of honor. 

This grounded connection to Butte and her mother highlights Tracey’s desire for normalcy despite the whirlwind of her father’s career.

Creating Her Own Path

She is a mother and grandmother today, reportedly living a quiet life in the United States. 

She attends legacy events, such as “Evel Knievel Days” in Butte, but attends as a steward of history rather than a celebrity seeking applause.

The End of an Era: The Death of Evel Knievel

The Knievel family dynamic shifted permanently in 2007. Evel Knievel, the man who seemed indestructible, passed away on November 30, 2007, in Clearwater, Florida. 

He was 69 years old. His death was not caused by a crash, but by pulmonary fibrosis, a scarring of the lungs that made breathing difficult.

In his final years, Evel’s health had deteriorated due to the long-term effects of his many injuries, hepatitis C (likely contracted from a blood transfusion during surgery), and a liver transplant he underwent in 1999. 

His passing marked the transition of the Knievel brand entirely to his children. For Tracey, it meant the responsibility of preserving his memory was no longer shared with him, it was now solely on the shoulders of her and her siblings.

Note: The Knievel family faced tragedy again recently with the death of Tracey’s brother, Robbie Knievel, in January 2023 from pancreatic cancer.

Why Tracey Knievel Matters Today

Her work ensures that when you see a stuntman on a toy cycle or a reference in a movie, it stems from the authentic history her father built. 

She proves that sometimes, the toughest job isn’t making the jump, it’s managing the landing for decades to come.

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