Background and career
Chris Pontius (born July 16, 1974) is an American stunt performer and television personality. He is best known as a cast member of the reality comedy series Jackass and co-host of its spin-off Wildboyz alongside Steve-O.
Chris Pontius was born on July 16, 1974, in Pasadena, California, and grew up in San Luis Obispo. As a teenager, he appeared in the skateboarding magazine Big Brother, where he was later hired as a writer. His work at Big Brother led to his inclusion in Jackass, which premiered on MTV in 2000.
Pontius became known for his comic and daring stunts, including the recurring "Party Boy" sketch in which he performs spontaneous public dances while wearing only a thong. His stunts often emphasized physical comedy, embarrassment humor, and playful absurdity, making him one of the more recognizable characters in the Jackass ensemble.
Pontius returned to the film franchise with Jackass Forever (2022), appearing alongside the original cast. It is the first Jackass movie in which Pontius got a producer credit, as he served as a co-producer. Critics praised the film's blend of reckless humor with a more reflective tone about aging and camaraderie among the performers. The movie grossed more than US$80 million worldwide. Jackass 4.5, was released three months after Jackass Forever, with Pontius once again serving as co-producer. He also appeared in Jackass: Best and Last, alongside the entire main cast of Jackass Forever. It was theatrically released on June 26, 2026. In 2025, Pontius began filming a Norwegian television series about the country's rock and heavy metal history, alongside musician Tarjei Strøm for the Tons of Rock festival.
Pontius was married to Claire Nolan from 2004 until their divorce in 2013. He has one son, born in 2019. He is reported to be in a romantic relationship with Mae Quijada. Pontius is a long-time collector of knives and axes. He is a fan of black metal and has collaborated with Vreid and Djerv's Agnete Kjølsrud for the music video of the song "Loving The Dead", and has joined the bands at Wacken Open Air on guitar for a performance of the song.
