in memory of ryan dunn, pt. 22—rick kosick

It seems like just yesterday when I first met Ryan Dunn. I remember that day very well. MTV had just picked up the jackass TV series, and all of us from LA flew out to West Chester, PA, for the first time to film with Bam and the rest of his buddies. That’s when I met Ryan and it was the beginning of our working relationship that would last for the next eleven years.

When we arrived at Bam’s parents’ house, I was introduced to Ryan. I remember him being really excited about the opportunity to shoot with all of us, and that’s when we drove over to the septic treatment tank. Boy, let me tell you, Ryan was ready to jump into some shit. I was shocked. I still can’t believe it to this day that he would want to do such an act, but that was our introduction to what would become known as the Random Hero.

I always liked shooting with Ryan. He was really easy to work with and didn’t have an ego; he was very humble about his jackass success. Ryan knew his role with everything and played it very well. When finished up with a day's worth of shooting, he would be the first one to disappear and head straight for the bar. There was this place in West Chester he would always take us to—a "members only" bar. I think it was called the Eagles Club. Ryan loved this place. You would walk into this “club” and it would be filled with so much cigarette smoke you could barely see the other side of the bar. I would be gasping for air 'cause I don’t smoke, but Ryan would be sitting at the bar, drinking his beer and smoking his cigarette, sharing stories with a big smile on his face. You can take it or leave it, but this was Ryan’s paradise.

We didn’t get to see Ryan very much during the filming of jackass 2.5 ... he kind of went on hiatus for a while and took a break from everything. But a few years later, during the end of jackassworld, Chris Pontius, Loomis Fall, Mike G. and myself took a trip out to West Chester to visit with Ryan. It was good to see him again and you could tell he was feeling better about things, getting excited again. That’s when I learned Ryan was really passionate about building race cars and going out and competing. Ryan took us over to his custom shop where he would spend a lot his time. He had like ten cars sitting around, some worked, others didn’t, but when it came down to it he would like to drive them hard and fast! I think it was just so he could blow up the engine. That way he would have to rebuild it.

During that same visit to West Chester, Ryan insisted we come over to his house and hang out. When we arrived at his place, he gave us the full tour of his house, showing us everything he had. We ended up staying for a while, kicking back in his living room, all of us having a good time and enjoying each others company. That’s when Ryan decided to break out his photo books of his and Angie's life together. After I would finish looking at one the photo books, he would give me another book to look at and then another one. By the time I was finished, I think I'd looked at at least five photo books. Now, when I look back on that evening, I think Ryan wanted to show me how happy he was spending his life with Angie and how much he loved her.

When jackass 3D rolled into production, Ryan seemed to be the happiest I’ve ever seen in all the years of knowing him. Just take note of any of the shots from the movie. Ryan had a glow to him and looked content with his life. During the first week of shooting, Ryan and Bam decided to call the cops on Danger Ehren. They reported to the police that a crazy fan was stalking them on set and ordered a restraining order against him. After half an hour they finally called the cops back and changed the request, but Ryan and Bam couldn’t stop laughing for like an hour. And anytime Danger would walk near Ryan and Bam, both of them would start laughing all over again. You could tell Ryan was enjoying everything around him and was happy with his life.

One of my favorite days working on jackass 3D was during our stay in West Chester. It was a Sunday afternoon and we had the day off. Jeff Tremaine, Knoxville and myself went to go play softball with Ryan and his friends at a park in the woods. Ryan really loved America’s pastime, and getting the chance to see him with Angie and the rest of his friends enjoying the simple things that life has to offer is just another nice way to remember him by.

I really don’t know what else to say other then that I’ve been a little devastated and saddened by Ryan’s death. He was such a great guy and had so much going on at the moment—not to mention he really was at the top of his game. This accident has been such a shock to all of us at Dickhouse and the rest of the jackass family. I’m really going to miss my Random Hero.

—Rick Kosick

(Top photo by Sean Cliver; Los Angeles, CA 2010; Bottom photo by Rick Kosick; Los Angeles, CA 2011)

Comments

[jperana]

R.I.P. Ryan!

[Lysette Summer]

makes me sick horrible way to go...too young and good looking
so sorry for bam
RIP ryan
<3

[Thais]

<3 We love you Ryan

[Mara]

I've just started to be able to watch Jackass again without tearing up.

RIP, Ryan. You'll be missed, Random Hero. No one will have as glorious a beard as you.

[raaby-girl]

RIP Dunn <3

[Gregorio Ramirez]

missing ryan so much he was a good guy RIP

[Miriam]

R.I.P Ryan <3 You'll be missed, but you will be remembered in the movies <3

[kelsey gaubatz]

i love you ryan well i love ryan i love jackass but i was told nad i seen that he really isint dead it was jsut for his new movie

[Maraki Zr]

RIP Ryan.
You'll be missed.

[Daniel Castillo]

You are the best Ryan. We will miss you

[Robin T-J]

RIP man, biggest legend ever, got everything you did on dvd (that that's available) and it never gets boring, the one thing i will remember you for is your quotes :') so funny, a real legend to have been brought up with...

RIP Random Hero

<3

[Salman Salic]

i will miss you all very much

[SpYdA]

R.I.P Ryan Dunn ... :(

[Rido]

RIP ryan
indonesia sad

[Igor Ruano]

RIP Ryan Dunn <3

[paul manocchio]

:/

[Laura Z]

Very nicely done, Rick... The word "humble" keeps popping up again and again to describe Ryan, and I love that. No better quality in a person, I don't think. (That last photo is very beautiful, by the way.)

[Esteban]

ola soy d argentina. Mis condolencia para ustedes y sus familiares. Un abrazo a todos..

[alec riehle]

we miss you all ryan. you had the best of things and the best of friends around you. i had on my list of people to meet and one of them was say you and the time i will meet you is in heaven. i bet god just made his own little place so he can continue his stunts and acts of pure laughter.
R.I.P RYAN we all miss you

[Kyle]

I know this doesnt really mean anything coming from an 18 year old kid, but I am sorry for the loss shared by all of you at Dickhouse. Losing such a close friend is a hard thing to have to go through. All i can say is keep your heads up high and dont let the memory of Ryan dwindle as the years pass.

[Sarah S.]

i almost dont believe he is dead, he is my hero

[Anthony Rodriguez]

U'll be missed Ryan, im very sorry for the jackass krew.
R.I.P Ryan, we love u man!

[SIMON S]

R.I.P RYAN WILL BE MISSED

[DM]

I loved Dunn.. No offense to the rest of the Jackass crew, but he was my favorite of the bunch of you. I truly felt sad when I heard the news and I don't know why. I didn't know him personally, I never will, but there's still this small hole I feel and I'm not quite sure how to close it. I used to watch your shows to escape. While watching I would feel like I was there, like I was one of you. It was really cool. I'll miss him and the entirety of the Jackass repertoire. Good luck to you all and my condolences to your families. Rest in peace Sir Ryan Dunn, you will be missed by all. (And my apologies if I may come across as a jackass by posting this, it was not meant.)

[mogi99999]

R.I.P Hero

[Tim]

wow are u serious kelsey gaubatz??? whoever told u that is a nut-case because it was all over the news and everything...The news wouldn't cover something that was fake like that....so tell whoever told you that to keep dreaming...i mean it would be nice for that to be true but its not...Ryan is dead

[Krys]

Ryan in my eyes was one of the funniest guys on jackass and I am glad to have grown up watching him and his hilarious antics. He was truly a legend in and out of jackass. We will all miss you Ryan.
RIP Ryan Dunn <3

[troy ellison]

u were the best.u did some crazy stunts man.you were funny as shit.
r.i.p ryan :(

[Hunter]

R.I.P. Ryan

[Edward "Crazy " Espinoza]

Hey i'm CRazy Mr.Ed from LOja Equador I'm truly saddened by Ryan Dunn's death still , definetely Jackass wont be samewithout him but to rest of the crew I just want to say keep your spirits high and put in practise whatever Ryan taught you guys Peace ! .

[NOx]

RIP Ryan...
Our Random Hero will not be forgotten !!!

[zonacide]

R I P my brother ;) <3

[saskia]

RYAN ): we miss you ! you was a awesome people.
so sorry to bam, and the other guys from jackass.
you live ever in our hearts <3 !

[Ufkes]

I was watching some old episodes yesterday, when Ryan didn't have a beard yet and all. It was so cool to see how all of you have grown, you won't notice when growing up with you guys, but when you look back it all seems so different. I have to agree that Ryan looked so much happier then he was back then. I think all of you are doing great and have to keep doing what you're good at, even when that is being a complete idiot haha. Yes you too Rick, even the backstagers have to be a little crazy. Keep it up guys and much love <3

[mike venditti]

rip ryan your funny as hell on jack ass...will miss you and your crazy antic's...

[nate]

another fantastic person takin by alcohol.call a friend a cab hell your mom, but please dont let a similar tradgedy befall you. dont drink and drive. the life you save could be your own.

[chris saedlo]

Ryan dunn was the man. i didnt even know him but i been watching n following you guys since the beginning hope everyone is doing ok. R.I.P. Dunn!

[jazz]

love dunn in memory i have drawn a portrait of him which has taken over the cause of 4 days, this can be found on facebook :) <3 R.I.P random hero. love the movie its great keep it up, been watching like every thing i can find on jackass and ryan dunns younger life he was a great guy much love :) <3

[Just_Lisa_Marie]

i watched Jackass 3 for the first time after ryan died... and when i saw that he was in almost every scene of the movie it made me feel horrible.... and i just wanted to turn back the time!! honestly??? i watched it around 10 times in 3 days... and i couldn't stop crying...
I cryied the most when i saw it on the newschannel (it was even in german tv!!) even if i already knew it... because at that time i noticed that it wasn't a very bad nightmare...
And i'm so sorry that i'm writing so much but i can't stop because he was such a great person... he made me laugh, no matter how depressed i felt...
And one of my biggest dreams was meeting him one time! but now i know that that will never happen... that I can never tell him what he has done for me and how great he was (although I've never met him personally)
sooo that'S everything i just wanted to say.. Thank you!

[mikey]

rip ryan

[Cassie]

RIP Ryan Dunn. I really wish I had the opportunity to know you.

[jim]

This pissed me off

[Luis Guilherme]

RIP ryan
Brazil sad

[JoyJoy]

I remember watching the Ryan Dunn episode of "My Awesome Crap"...he was so proud of those half-built cars in his shop...

[Miguel Da Silva]

R.I.P Ryan, desde Venezuela!

[JEROME]

RIP Ryan
Jérôme FRANCE

[pako]

R.I.P RYAN DUNN

[patyfan]

Ryan you is my hero love you forever my love for you never will end

[alan medina]

muchas gracias ryan desde colombia deseamos paz en tu largo sueño...ryan the best 4eva!thanks R.D. ♥

[ethan]

I was just starting to lke accept his death, but then I just had to read this :/ and imso srry fot angies and bams loss :/