Bam Margera
A skateboarder who turned chaotic stunts and suburban rebellion into a defining, and often destructive, youth television phenomenon of the 2000s.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American skateboarder and stuntman·Birthday: September 28·Generation X
Biography
Bam Margera emerged from the skate parks of West Chester, Pennsylvania, not just as a talented boarder but as a ringleader of anarchy. With a camcorder and a crew of friends, he captured a raw, reckless brand of humor that caught MTV's eye, propelling him into the Jackass universe. His spin-off, Viva La Bam, transformed his family home into a stage for elaborate pranks, blending skate culture with a surreal, often cruel, domestic sitcom. This fame, however, became a double-edged sword, with his personal struggles playing out publicly as the stunt-driven chaos of his youth gave way to a more difficult adulthood. His impact lies in democratizing fame—proving that with enough audacity and a video camera, you could build an empire from your own backyard, for better or worse.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Bam was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bam Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Bam's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became a central figure in the global success of the MTV reality stunt franchise Jackass through his filmed skateboarding antics and pranks.
- Created and starred in Viva La Bam, a hit MTV series that ran for five seasons and centered on pranking his family and friends.
- Co-wrote, directed, and starred in the independent film Haggard, which was based on a personal relationship and funded largely by his own earnings.
- Helped pioneer a DIY, video-based path to mainstream television fame that influenced a generation of content creators.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Bam' came from his childhood habit of running into walls, inspired by the cartoon character Bam-Bam Rubble.
He was a sponsored skateboarder for Element Skateboards and had several pro-model skate shoes with DC Shoes.
He directed music videos for bands like HIM and Queens of the Stone Age.
His home in Pennsylvania, known as 'Castle Bam,' featured a skate ramp in the living room and was a central location for his shows.
“I'm not a jackass, I'm Bam.”
