Kitty O’Neil is a famous American stunt woman, racer, and actress, known for her movies like The Fastest Woman on Earth. The Bishop’s Wife, Back Street, Isle of Missing Men, and Kathleen Mavourneen. She got the honour of the title of “the fastest woman in the world later in 2019.

Although she married, she did have a long-term partner and collaborator. Kitty O’Neil husband, Duffy Hambleton, played an important role in her life and career. Duffy Hambleton was also a stuntman and racer. Also, he first met Kitty in the early 1970s, when they were both working on a movie set.

Who is Kitty O’Neil?

Kitty Linn O’Neil was a multi-tasker, American woman known for her achievements as a competitive diver, stuntwoman, actress, and race car driver. Despite facing challenges from an early age due to a childhood illness that left her deaf. She excelled in various fields. After her diving career became short by more health issues. So, she ventured into car racing and became a trailblazer for women in the stunt industry in Hollywood.

Kitty O’Neil was born on March 24, 1946, in Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. Her father, John O’Neil, was an officer in the United States Army Air Forces and an oil wildcatter. During Kitty’s childhood, he perished in an aviation disaster. Patsy Compton O’Neil, her mother, was a native Cherokee. O’Neil lost her hearing after contracting two childhood illnesses at the age of five months.

 She had numerous appearances in movies and TV shows. Even having her likeness made into an action figure. Her accomplishments people recognized by the 91st Academy Awards and a Google Doodle in March 2023. O’Neil’s most impressive feat was setting the women’s absolute land speed record, which stood until 2019.

Kitty O’Neil Husband

Until November 2, 2018, Kitty O’Neil was a married woman. She was first married in the 1970s to Ronald “Duffy” Hambleton, who was a bank executive before becoming a stunt performer. O’Neill and Hambleton eventually divorced.

O’Neill later remarried, but that marriage also ended in divorce. During her lifetime, O’Neill had several other relationships, although the names of her other boyfriends are not publicly known. She had two children with her first husband, Ronald “Duffy” Hambleton.

Her career

By 1970, O’Neil had taken up sea and land racing, competing in the Baja 500 and the Mint 400. She met stuntmen Hal Needham & Ron Hambleton while racing motorbikes. Also, she lived with Hambleton for a spell, giving up racing. However, She began stunt work in the mid-1970s, training with Needham, Hambleton, and Dar Robinson.

She was the first woman to act with Stunts Unlimited, the top stunt agency, in 1976. She worked as a stuntwoman in films such as The Bionic Woman, Airport ’77, The Blues Brothers, Smokey as well as Bandit II, and others. Mattel produced a Kitty O’Neil action figure based on her daredevil career in 1978.

Kitty Linn O’Neil struggled to find sponsors at the time because she was constrained by her contract. People only hired her to break the women’s land speed record. Also, she was required to let Hal Needham establish the overall record. According to her contract, she was not meant to surpass 400 miles per hour (640 km/h).

Toy maker Marvin Glass and Associates, Needham’s sponsor, was producing a Hal Needham action figure. She sought an injunction to halt additional runs by O’Neil. According to Sports Illustrated, a spokeswoman stated that it is “unbecoming and demeaning for a woman to establish a land speed record.

The Profession of Kitty O’Neil

In the AAU, Kitty O’Neil first competed as a diver on the 10-metre platform and the 3-metre springboard when she was 16 years old. Kitty O’Neil tried out the diving events at the 1965 Summer Deaflympics.

However, she got so much inspiration that she went on to try other extreme sports like water skiing, scuba diving, skydiving, and hang gliding. She first became well-known for her work as a stunt performer and race car driver. She prompted Hollywood to swiftly hire her.

Kitty O’Neil’s Net Worth

Before Kitty O’Neil passed away, she had an estimated net worth between $1 million – $5 million. She made such an amount from her profession as a stuntwoman and racer.

Kitty O’Neil Cause of Death

Tragically, Kitty O’Neil passed away at the age of 72 from pneumonia. Despite her untimely death, her life and accomplishments as a trailblazing stuntwoman. She defied the odds and succeeded in male-dominated fields. She shows that gender and physical ability should never be barriers to achieving one’s dreams.

Her legacy encourages individuals to push past obstacles and strive for greatness. Through her dedication, courage, and perseverance. O’Neill proved that anything is possible with determination and hard work.

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