Kitty O'Neil

Diver

Birthday March 24, 1946

Birth Sign Aries

Birthplace Corpus Christi, TX

DEATH DATE Nov 2, 2018 (72)

#186,030 Most Popular

About

American competitive diver, stuntwoman, actor, and auto-racer who was known as "the fastest woman in the world" for her various speed records. Her women's absolute land speed record stood until 2019. Following her death, she was honored at the 91st Academy Awards in 2023. 

Before Fame

At the age of two, she became deaf and her mother began teaching her lip-reading and speech. As a teenager, she became a competitive 10-meter platform diver and 3-meter springboard diver, winning Amateur Athletic Union diving championships.

Trivia

She competed in 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle swimming at the 1965 Summer Deaflympics. She also trained in water skiing, scuba diving, skydiving and hang gliding. She appeared in numerous television and film projects as a stunt woman and was honored at the 91st Academy Awards. 

Family Life

Her parents were John O'Neil and Patsy Compton O'Neil. Her father died during her childhood.

Associated With

She was Lynda Carter's stunt double in the 1975 television series Wonder Woman.