Buzz
Although I’ve never been particularly interested in riding a motorcycle (I feel much safer in my van!), the recent news about George Clooney’s accident made me curious about how many celebrities have been involved in motorcycle crashes. The findings were truly astonishing. Make sure to brace yourself before diving into this list:
:: Ann-Margret: A skilled rider, she was unexpectedly thrown from her motorcycle in Brainerd, Minnesota, in 2000. The accident left her with a broken arm and four fractured ribs.
:: Gary Busey: A passionate motorcyclist who once opposed helmet use, he nearly lost his life in a severe crash in 1988 after collecting his Harley from a repair shop. Fortunately, he collapsed near a police officer who provided immediate first aid until medical professionals arrived. Today, he advocates for wearing helmets while riding.
:: Gérard Depardieu: The actor revealed in an interview that he has been in over a dozen motorcycle accidents. One incident resulted in his leg being broken in five places. Despite this, he continues to ride, stating that the "sense of freedom" is something he could never abandon.
:: Peter Fonda: After a severe motorcycle accident in 1985, he underwent surgeries that reduced his height by half an inch due to injuries to his back and neck. Despite this, he still favors motorcycles over horses, humorously noting that he’s "never been bitten by a motorcycle."
:: Billy Idol: In 1990, he was hospitalized for months after colliding with a car in Los Angeles when he ran a stop sign. His leg was severely injured and almost required amputation. A photographer quipped about the medical equipment attached to him, calling him a "Cyberpunk," which inspired the title of his next album.
:: Adrien Brody: The Academy Award-winning actor from The Pianist had a motorcycle accident in 1992, sliding through a crosswalk after hitting a car. The traumatic experience led him to avoid riding motorcycles for years.
:: Guy Burchett: A staff member at Elton John's Rocket Records, his tragic motorcycle accident inspired Elton John to compose and record "Song for Guy" as a tribute to him.
:: Eric Estrada: The CHiPs actor suffered a motorcycle accident in 1980 while filming the show. His injuries included a broken wrist, 12 fractured ribs, and collapsed lungs. The show’s producers cleverly integrated the incident into the storyline, filming scenes from his actual hospital bed.
:: Ashley Hamilton: Beyond the emotional toll of two short-lived marriages, Ashley has also faced the misfortune of being involved in at least two significant motorcycle accidents.
:: Lauren Hutton: The iconic supermodel and actress had a motorcycle accident during a charity event for the Guggenheim Museum in 2000. Fortunately, Dennis Hopper convinced her to wear full protective gear, including a full-face helmet, which minimized her injuries to a leg fractured in multiple places.
:: Brian Kelly: Famous for his role as the father in the 1960s TV series Flipper, Kelly suffered a life-altering injury in 1969 when the engine of a borrowed motorcycle exploded. The accident left his right arm and leg paralyzed, effectively halting his rising acting career.
:: Takeshi Kitano: Renowned as one of Japan’s most acclaimed filmmakers and a recipient of numerous international awards, Kitano spent a month in the hospital in 1995 following a severe motorcycle accident.
:: Mark Knopfler: The lead singer of Dire Straits collided with a car while riding his motorcycle in London in 2003, resulting in a fractured shoulder, collarbone, and seven broken ribs.
:: Daryl Mitchell: Known affectionately as "Chill," the comedian was a regular on The John Larroquette Show and Veronica's Closet before a devastating motorcycle accident in 2001 left him paralyzed from the chest down. Despite this, he continued his acting career, appearing in the sitcom Ed, proving his resilience.
:: Liam Neeson: In 2000, while riding a Harley near his New York residence, he hit a deer, resulting in a fractured pelvis. The actor was discovered lying injured by the roadside.
:: Barry Oakley and Duane Allman: Duane Allman, the 24-year-old guitarist for The Allman Brothers Band, tragically died in a 1971 motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia, after colliding with a semi-truck. Barry Oakley, the band's bassist, met a similar fate in 1972, losing his life in a motorcycle crash less than a mile from where Allman had died the previous year.
:: Keanu Reeves: In 1997, the actor suffered a broken ankle in a motorcycle accident, requiring him to use crutches for several weeks during his recovery.
:: Don Rich: A prominent figure on Hee Haw and the leader of Buck Owens' band, the Buckaroos, Rich tragically died in a 1974 motorcycle accident while en route to reunite with his family after a recording session.
:: Arnold Schwarzenegger: Despite his impressive physique, the bodybuilder wasn't spared from injury in a 2001 motorcycle accident, which left him with six broken ribs and a hospital stay. The crash happened when his chest struck the bike's windshield as he tried to avoid a car that suddenly stopped. Five years later, while riding with his son Patrick in the sidecar, another car backed into his path, resulting in 15 stitches to his upper lip.
:: Seal: The singer survived a motorcycle accident in his younger years, but the facial scars often attributed to the crash are actually from his lifelong struggle with lupus.
:: Steven Tyler: In 1981, the Aerosmith frontman suffered a severe heel injury when his motorcycle collided with a tree while he was en route to pick up his daughter Mia. The wound took almost a full year to heal completely.
:: Kerry Von Erich: The professional wrestler lost his foot in a 1987 motorcycle accident but continued his wrestling career with the help of a prosthetic limb.
:: Kellen Winslow, Jr.: The Cleveland Browns tight end sustained a knee ligament injury during a 2005 motorcycle accident. Winslow wasn't speeding or performing stunts; he simply hit a curb in a parking lot and was thrown over the handlebars, ending his NFL season prematurely.
