If you’ve ever watched a Jackass stunt and wondered how the guy pulling it off sounds like that, you’re not alone. Steve-O’s raspy voice is practically a trademark, but the story behind it is darker than any prank. From lost teeth to a life-saving intervention, his health journey reveals how addiction and recovery reshape a body — and how some damage sticks around even after getting clean.

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Born: June 13, 1974 (age 50) ·
Birth name: Stephen Gilchrist Glover ·
Nationality: British-American ·
Known for: Jackass, stunt performance, comedy ·
Years active: 1997–present ·
Sobriety: Sober since 2008

Quick snapshot

1Health & Diagnoses
2Physical Changes
3Sobriety Journey
4Personal Life
  • Married to Lux Wright (Men’s Health)
  • No children (Men’s Health)

Six quick facts paint the silhouette of a career built on pain and punchlines.

Label Value
Full name Stephen Gilchrist Glover
Born June 13, 1974, London, England
Occupation Stunt performer, comedian, TV personality
Years active 1997–present
Spouse Lux Wright (m. 2018)
Net worth Estimated $4 million

What is Steve-O diagnosed with?

  • Bipolar disorder — Steve-O has spoken openly about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder (Men’s Health).
  • ADHD — He has also discussed having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder alongside his bipolar diagnosis (Men’s Health).
  • Substance use disorder — His history of addiction is well documented. The Amethyst Recovery profile describes him as a recovering alcoholic and drug addict (Amethyst Recovery).

Steve-O’s mental health diagnoses

In interviews, Steve-O has connected his chaotic Jackass persona to his bipolar disorder. He told Men’s Health that the manic phases fueled his willingness to perform dangerous stunts — and that getting a proper diagnosis after getting sober helped him understand the roots of his risk-taking.

Substance use disorder history

His addiction went far beyond alcohol. According to his own account in Men’s Health, he used nitrous oxide heavily — buying 600 units at a time that would last only 24 to 36 hours. He also named cocaine, crystal meth, PCP, and even chewing glass among the substances and behaviors that damaged his body (Men’s Health).

Bottom line: Steve-O’s diagnoses are bipolar disorder, ADHD, and substance use disorder. His mental health conditions fueled his stunt career, while addiction compounded physical damage that persisted even after recovery.

The recognition of these conditions has been pivotal in his understanding of his own behavior.

Why does Steve-O’s voice sound like that?

The rasp is iconic, but it’s not a stylistic choice. Men’s Health describes his voice as instantly identifiable because of its hoarse, strained quality (Men’s Health). The cause is cumulative: years of screaming during stunts, combined with drug abuse.

Vocal cord damage from stunts

  • Otolaryngologist Dr. J. Randolph Schnitman examined Steve-O and concluded that he was using his throat muscles rather than his vocal cords to produce sound (Men’s Health).
  • Steve-O himself told Men’s Health that “nitrous oxide did the most damage” to his voice among everything he used (Men’s Health).

Effect of drug use on voice

The chemical assault from inhalants and other drugs corroded his vocal cords over years. Steve-O noted on Instagram: “When I got sober and started living real healthy, nothing changed” (Instagram reel). In a Facebook video, he said that after getting clean his voice seemed to worsen (Facebook video). The damage is permanent.

Bottom line: Steve-O’s voice is hoarse because of nodule-like damage from screaming and heavy nitrous oxide use. The rasp worsened after sobriety, and a voice doctor confirmed he compensates with throat muscles instead of vocal cords.

The permanent nature of his vocal damage underscores the lasting consequences of his lifestyle.

When did Steve-O lose his teeth?

His dental story is as dramatic as his stunts. Multiple Jackass segments show Steve-O getting slammed in the mouth, but the real culprit was a combination of physical trauma and drug-related neglect.

The story of Steve-O’s fake teeth

  • He lost several teeth during stunts and from grinding due to drug use (YouTube: Don’t Read The Comments).
  • By the early 2010s, he had permanent fake teeth implanted. The exact date isn’t widely reported, but his smile changed noticeably between Jackass 3D (2010) and later appearances.

Why he had dental reconstruction

The damage went beyond aesthetics. Missing teeth affected his speech and eating. The reconstruction was both cosmetic and functional. In his YouTube interview with “Don’t Read The Comments,” he called the fake teeth part of his “rebuild” after getting clean (YouTube: Don’t Read The Comments).

The catch

Steve-O’s dental reconstruction was one of the few physical fixes that actually improved after recovery. His voice, by contrast, got worse — a reminder that some organs don’t heal the same way as dentures.

The dental reconstruction was a positive step, but it did not erase the underlying health issues.

Is Steve-O completely sober?

Yes — and he has been since a 2008 intervention staged by his Jackass co-stars and friends.

Steve-O’s intervention story

  • The intervention was led by his Jackass castmates and the show’s director. They confronted him about his alcohol and drug abuse, which had escalated to life-threatening levels (Men’s Health).
  • He entered a rehab program and has remained sober since that year.

His sobriety timeline

  • 2008: Intervention and entry into recovery.
  • 2008–present: Continuous sobriety confirmed by multiple sources including Amethyst Recovery (Amethyst Recovery).
  • He now advocates publicly for sobriety through his comedy, podcasts, and social media.
Bottom line: Steve-O has been sober since 2008 after an intervention by his Jackass family. He is now a vocal advocate for recovery, using his platform to share the reality of addiction.

His sustained sobriety is a cornerstone of his current life and message.

Did Steve-O have kids?

No — Steve-O does not have children. He has said in interviews that he chose not to become a father, and he is currently married to Lux Wright.

Steve-O’s family life

  • He married Lux Wright in 2018 (Men’s Health).
  • The couple has no children, and Steve-O has been open about focusing on his career and recovery rather than parenting.

His relationship status

Lux Wright is a photographer and the two keep a relatively private life compared to his earlier years. Steve-O has described his post-recovery life as one of “celibacy and sobriety” on his Spotify podcast (Spotify episode summary).

Bottom line: Steve-O is married to Lux Wright and has no children. His personal life reflects a deliberate shift from chaos to stability.

His choice to remain childless reflects his focus on recovery and his marriage.

Timeline signal

  • — Born in London, England.
  • — Graduated from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College.
  • — Rose to fame on MTV’s Jackass.
  • — Underwent intervention and became sober.
  • — Appeared in Jackass 3D.
  • — Married Lux Wright.
  • — Released comedy tour ‘Crash & Burn’.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Steve-O has bipolar disorder and ADHD (Men’s Health).
  • He has been sober since 2008 (Amethyst Recovery).
  • He lost his teeth due to stunts and drug use (YouTube: Don’t Read The Comments).
  • He has vocal cord damage (Men’s Health).

What’s unclear

  • Exact medical diagnosis for his voice change is not publicly detailed beyond the otolaryngologist’s report.
  • Specific date of dental reconstruction is not widely reported.

Perspectives from Steve-O and experts

“Nitrous oxide did the most damage to my voice.”

— Steve-O, interviewed by Men’s Health

“He’s using throat muscles rather than his vocal cords to produce sound.”

— Dr. J. Randolph Schnitman, otolaryngologist, in Men’s Health

“When I got sober and started living real healthy, nothing changed.”

— Steve-O, via Instagram reel

“Addiction takes away peace, confidence, relationships, health, and identity — recovery can rebuild them.”

— Steve-O, caption on Instagram reel

The narrative of Steve-O’s transformation isn’t one of a neat redemption arc where everything gets fixed. His voice got worse, his teeth were replaced, and his mental health diagnoses remain part of his life. But the core shift — from a self-destructive performer to a sober advocate who openly discusses the costs — is the part that sticks. For anyone watching from the outside, Steve-O proves that recovery can rebuild identity even when it can’t undo the physical ledger of addiction.

For a deeper look into his career and personal journey, Steve-Os biography and stunts provides additional context on his stunts and sobriety.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Steve-O’s real name?

Stephen Gilchrist Glover.

How old is Steve-O?

Born June 13, 1974, he is 50 years old as of 2024.

Is Steve-O married?

Yes, to Lux Wright since 2018.

What is Steve-O’s net worth?

Estimated at $4 million.

Does Steve-O have any children?

No, he does not have children.

What happened to Steve-O’s teeth?

He lost several teeth from stunts and drug use, and later got permanent fake teeth in the early 2010s.

Why is Steve-O’s voice hoarse?

Permanent vocal cord damage from screaming during stunts and heavy nitrous oxide abuse. He now uses throat muscles to produce sound.

Is Steve-O still doing stunts?

Yes, he continues to perform stunts in his comedy tours and occasional appearances, though with a greater emphasis on stand-up and personal storytelling.

These questions cover the most common queries about Steve-O’s life and health.

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