13 Video Game Characters You Didn't Realise Were Based On Real People
6. Travis Touchdown - Johnny Knoxville
You don't need to look too hard to see the resemblance between masochistic entertainer and Jackass star Johnny Knoxville, and No More Heroes' hyperactive protagonist. Sure, Knoxville was a bit more self-loathing and subdued than Travis, going into many of his Jackass stunts with a despondent 'What the hell am I doing?' look on his face, but the physical resemblance between the two - from the aviator shades to the haircut - is irrefutable. No More Heroes creator Suda 51 acknowledged this inspiration, saying that he'd show the development team Knoxville doing his thing in Jackass so they could "understand the kind of person that Travis is". The two clips that Suda particularly wanted to base Travis' character on were on Knoxville getting his nipple gnawed by a baby alligator, and of Knoxville getting beaten up by Butterbean - though I like to think that Travis would have handled himself better against the doughy boxer.
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
