Google Doodle Celebrates Kitty O'Neil

Kitty O'Neil was a stuntwoman and race car driver who was born on March 24, 1946, in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. She began her career as a stuntwoman in the late 1960s and quickly gained a reputation for performing dangerous stunts that few others were willing to attempt.

O'Neil's most famous stunt was a 127-foot fall from a hotel in the TV series "The Bionic Woman" in 1976. She also performed stunts in other popular TV shows and movies, such as "Wonder Woman," "The Blues Brothers," and "Airport '77." In addition to her work in the film industry, O'Neil was also a successful race car driver, setting a land speed record for women in 1976 by driving a rocket-powered car at a speed of 512 mph.

O'Neil was deaf since the age of five due to contracting measles, but she never let that stop her from pursuing her dreams. She passed away on November 2, 2018, at the age of 72 due to pneumonia.

Kitty O'Neil was born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1946. When she was just five years old, she contracted measles, which caused her to lose her hearing. Despite this setback, O'Neil was determined to pursue her dreams.

In the late 1960s, O'Neil began her career as a stuntwoman. She quickly gained a reputation for being fearless and skilled at performing dangerous stunts that few others were willing to attempt. She worked on a variety of TV shows and movies, including "Wonder Woman," "The Blues Brothers," and "Airport '77." But it was her role as the stunt double for Lindsay Wagner in the TV series "The Bionic Woman" that made her famous.

In one particularly daring stunt, O'Neil was asked to jump from the top of a 12-story hotel and land in an airbag below. The jump was estimated to be 127 feet, and it was one of the highest freefalls ever attempted by a stunt performer. O'Neil was initially hesitant about taking on the challenge, but she eventually agreed to do it. The stunt was a success, and O'Neil became known as one of the most talented and daring stunt performers in the industry.

In addition to her work as a stuntwoman, O'Neil was also a successful race car driver. In 1976, she set a land speed record for women by driving a rocket-powered car at a speed of 512 mph. The record still stands today, and O'Neil's accomplishment was even more remarkable given that she was deaf.

Throughout her career, O'Neil faced numerous challenges and setbacks, but she never let anything stand in the way of her dreams. She was a trailblazer in the stunt industry, and she inspired many women to pursue careers in male-dominated fields. O'Neil passed away in 2018, but her legacy as a pioneer in both the stunt and racing worlds lives on.

There are several lessons we can learn from Kitty O'Neil's life and career:

• Determination: Despite being deaf since the age of five, O'Neil was determined to pursue her dreams of becoming a stuntwoman and race car driver. She did not let her disability hold her back and instead used it as a source of motivation to achieve her goals.
• Fearlessness: O'Neil was known for performing dangerous stunts that few others were willing to attempt. She had the courage to take on challenging and risky tasks, even if they seemed impossible at first.
• Resilience: O'Neil faced numerous setbacks and challenges throughout her career, but she never gave up. She continued to push herself and pursue her dreams, even in the face of adversity.
• Breaking barriers: O'Neil was a trailblazer in the stunt industry and paved the way for other women to pursue careers in male-dominated fields. She was a role model and an inspiration to many.
• Pursuing passions: O'Neil's passion for stunts and racing was evident throughout her career. She pursued what she loved and did not let anything stand in the way of her dreams.