Kitty O’Neil was an American stuntwoman who lost her hearing at a very young age. Google showed a picture of her in a yellow jumpsuit. The doodle was created by Meeya Tijang, a deaf artist residing in Washington, DC. Kitty O’Neil would have turned 77 today, and Google is honoring her with a yellow jumpsuit-clad doodle.
The American stuntwoman and actress Neil was well-known for being “the fastest woman in the world.” Meeya Tjiang, a deaf guest artist, created the artwork for the doodle, which shows O’Neil launching from a helicopter and operating a racecar.
O’Neil was deaf since a disease she had as a youngster, but she saw her disability as an advantage rather than a hindrance. She nonetheless managed to have a fascinating career as a stuntwoman, appearing in a number of films and pulling off risky, life-threatening stunts. Her early years, professional life, accomplishments, and more are all included in this article.
Who is Kitty O’Neil?
Known for her accomplishments as a competitive diver, stuntwoman, actor, and race car driver, Kitty Linn O’Neil was a multi-talented American woman. She had to overcome obstacles from a young age because of a childhood ailment that left her deaf, yet she was exceptional in many areas.
She entered motor racing after having her diving career cut short by additional health difficulties, and she went on to pave the way for women in Hollywood’s stunt industry. Texas Corpus Christi welcomed Kitty O’Neil into the world on March 24. Her father served as an officer in the American Army Air Force.
During Kitty’s formative years, he perished in an aircraft disaster. Patsy Compton O’Neil was her mother’s name. She was the reason Kitty picked up lipreading after she lost her hearing. Her mother then went on to work as a speech therapist and co-founded a school for pupils who are blind.
Despite the obstacles she had to overcome since she was a little child, she went on to become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stunt performers. Her extraordinary talent helped her gain gigs as a stunt double in a number of films, including “The Bionic Woman,” “The Blues Brothers,” and “Wonder Woman.”
Related: How Old is Laura Sohn Now? Know Everything About Actress Age!
Kitty O’Neill Career
When she was a teenager, Kitty O’Neill began her career as a competitive 10-meter platform diver and as a 3-meter springboard diver. In these sports, she won diving championships for the Amateur Athletic Union. At the Summer Deaflympics in 1965, Kitty O’Neill also competed in the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke events.
She then gave up diving and began water skiing, scuba diving, skydiving, and hang gliding, according to reports. Following her success in stunts and racing, she was contacted and cast in the movies, where she equally astounded everyone.
At the age of twelve, Neil joined a swim team, which sparked her interest in diving. In place of a replacement driver who failed to arrive, she also received a gold medal. She won the junior meet for the AAU Southwest District six months after this competition.
To have Neil trained by Sammy Lee, a highly respected driving instructor, her family relocated to Anaheim, California, in the United States in 1962. She was able to achieve excellence despite all the challenges Neil had to confront when she was a child. As a result of shattering earlier records for drivers of rocket-powered cars.
she was awarded the honorary title of “fastest woman alive” in 1976. In addition, when playing a stunt double for him in an episode of the Wonder Woman Series, she established a women’s high fall record of 127 feet. Many people are inspired by her story. Silent Victory: The Kitty O’Neil Story, her biopic, was released in 1979.
Kitty O’Neill Career
Kitty O’Neill was previously married on November 2, 2018. She first wed Ronald “Duffy” Hambleton, a stunt performer who had previously worked as a bank executive, in the 1970s. Hambleton and O’Neill eventually got divorced. Later on, O’Neill remarried; however, that union also ended in divorce.
O’Neill had numerous other relationships during her life, though the identities of her other boyfriends are not well known. With her first husband, Ronald “Duffy” Hambleton, she had two kids. Coupled with her spouse, Kitty O’Neill has two kids. In addition to her marriage, she had a number of other relationships, but the names of her other boyfriends are unknown.
Related: How Old Is Carlee Russell? The Missing Alabama Woman!
Kitty O’Neil Cause of Death
Tragically, illness claimed the life of Kitty O’Neil at the age of 72. She passed away too soon, but her achievements as a trailblazing stuntwoman and racer will live on as a source of inspiration for others. She overcame the odds and excelled in sectors that were dominated by men, demonstrating that physical prowess and gender should never be obstacles in the way of pursuing one’s aspirations.
From race tracks to film sets, the ‘fastest woman in the world’, Kitty O’ Neil conquered them all ✨
Today’s #GoogleDoodle celebrates this stunt-woman and racer, who didn’t let anything stop her from chasing her dreams 💛 pic.twitter.com/LmHzZbRgtt— Google India (@GoogleIndia) March 24, 2023
Her legacy serves as motivation for people to overcome challenges and pursue excellence. O’Neill demonstrated that anything is achievable with tenacity and effort via her commitment, bravery, and fortitude.