Kitty O’Neill, an American stuntwoman and actor, overcame a challenging childhood illness that caused her to become deaf. Despite this obstacle, she went on to become one of the most highly regarded stunt performers in Hollywood. O’Neill’s remarkable talent landed her jobs as a stunt double in several iconic movies, including “The Bionic Woman”, “The Blues Brothers”, and “Wonder Woman”. Her achievements in the entertainment industry have inspired many people, especially those with disabilities, to pursue their dreams and never give up on their goals.

Kitty O’Neil, who was born on March 24th in Corpus Christi, Texas, experienced a tragic loss during her childhood when her father, an officer in the United States Army Air Forces, died in an airplane crash. However, her mother, Patsy Compton O’Neil, was a source of inspiration for her. After Kitty lost her hearing ability, her mother taught her how to lip-read, a skill that would prove invaluable later in her life.

As a result of her mother’s influence, Kitty became interested in helping others with disabilities. Her mother went on to become a speech therapist and co-founder of a school for visually impaired students, which further encouraged Kitty to pursue her passion for aiding those with disabilities.

In the 1970s, Kitty began her career in the film industry as a stunt double. She performed stunts in several movies and TV shows, including The Bionic Woman and

Wonder Woman. Kitty’s talent and fearlessness quickly earned her a reputation as one of the top stunt performers in Hollywood.

Kitty’s achievements did not stop there. In addition to her work as a stunt double, she made history by becoming the first woman to be accepted into Stunts Unlimited, an exclusive organization for elite stunt performers. Her membership in this organization is a testament to her exceptional skill and talent in the field of stunts.

At the age of twelve, Kitty discovered her passion for diving when she joined a swim team. Her dedication and hard work soon paid off when she won a gold medal as a substitute driver at an event where the original driver failed to show up. Six months later, she went on to win the AAU Southwest District Junior meet, showcasing her exceptional talent.

In 1962, Kitty’s family moved to Anaheim, California to allow her to train under the guidance of a nationally recognized driving coach, Sammy Lee. This move helped to further develop her driving skills, setting her on the path to becoming a successful race car driver and stunt performer.

On December 6, 1976, Kitty O’Neil made history by setting the land-speed record for female drivers in the Alvord Desert in southeastern Oregon. She accomplished this feat by piloting a state-of-the-art, hydrogen peroxide-powered three-wheeled rocket car called the “SMI Motivator.” The vehicle, built by Bill Fredrick, cost $350,000 (equivalent to $1.7 million in 2021).

During her run, Kitty’s rocket car reached an average speed of 512.710 mph (825.127 km/h), with a peak speed of 621 miles per hour (999 km/h). Remarkably, Kitty used only 60% of the available thrust during her runs, and she estimated that she could have exceeded 700 miles per hour (1,100 km/h) if she had used the full power of the rocket car. This incredible achievement further solidified Kitty’s place in history as one of the most talented and accomplished stunt performers and drivers of all time.

Despite facing numerous challenges from a young age, Kitty O’Neil’s determination and hard work allowed her to achieve greatness. Her remarkable achievements include breaking previous records for rocket-powered car drivers and earning the title of ‘fastest woman alive’ in 1976. Additionally, she set a women’s high fall record of 127 feet while performing as a stunt double in an episode of the Wonder Woman series.

In 1977, Kitty O’Neil piloted a hydrogen peroxide-powered rocket dragster built by Michaelson in the Mojave Desert. She achieved an average speed of 279.5 mph (449.8 kkm/h). However, since the run was not repeated according to NHRA rules, it is not recognized as an official drag racing record.

In 1979, Kitty’s remarkable life experiences were depicted in a biographical film titled “Silent Victory: The Kitty O’Neil Story,” starring Stockard Channing. O’Neil commented that about half of the film was an accurate depiction of her life.

In 1982, Kitty stepped away from stunt and speed work after witnessing the deaths of some of her colleagues during performances. She moved to Minneapolis with Michaelson and eventually settled in Eureka, South Dakota, with Raymond Wald.

Throughout her career, Kitty had set 22 speed records on both land and water. She passed away on November 2, 2018, at the age of 72, due to pneumonia in Eureka, South Dakota. In 2019, Kitty was featured in the Oscars’ in Memoriam segment, honoring her contributions to the entertainment industry and her remarkable achievements.

Kitty’s story has served as an inspiration to many, and in 1979, a biopic was made about her life. Titled Silent Victory: The Kitty O’Neil Story, the movie chronicled her incredible journey and accomplishments, highlighting her resilience, perseverance, and dedication to achieving her dreams.