Bam Margera Biography

Brandon Cole Margera, born September 28, 1979, is an American former professional skateboarder, stunt performer, television personality, and filmmaker. He gained widespread recognition in the early 2000s as a central figure in the MTV reality stunt series Jackass and its associated film franchise. The name CKY, which stands for 'Camp Kill Yourself,' was adopted by his brother Jess Margera's band and inspired by the 1983 horror film Sleepaway Camp. After his videos achieved popularity, particularly within skateboarding circles, Jeff Tremaine, formerly of Big Brother, invited him and Ryan Dunn to join the core group that evolved into the Jackass production team. In 1994, Margera left high school to focus entirely on his professional skateboarding career. In 2001, he joined Team Element, the demonstration team for Element Skateboards, and remained connected to the brand throughout his professional skating years. In 2012, he ceased active skateboarding due to medical issues involving bone spurs and ongoing struggles with alcohol use.