Kitty O'Neil
Kitty O'Neil | |
|---|---|
O'Neil and the SMI Motivator, Oregon 1976 | |
| Born | March 24, 1946 Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | November 2, 2018 (aged 72) Eureka, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Stuntwoman, race car driver |
Kitty Linn O'Neil (March 24, 1946 – November 2, 2018) was an American stuntwoman and auto-racer, often called "the fastest woman in the world" for her various speed records. Her women's absolute land speed record stood until 2019.
An illness in early childhood left her deaf, and more illnesses in early adulthood cut short a career in competitive diving. O'Neil subsequently moved into car racing and became a pioneering woman in the stunt industry in Hollywood. She appeared in numerous television and film projects, lent her likeness to an action figure, was honored at the 91st Academy Awards, and in March 2023 with a Doodle in the Google search.