Lathan McKay explained

Lathan McKay
Birth Name:Erik McKay
Birth Date:10 January 1975
Birth Place:Austin, Texas
Nationality:American
Years Active:2002–present
Known For:Co-founding Evel Knievel Museum
Television:Evel Live 2 (A&E), Collision Course (Reelz)

Lathan McKay (born January 10, 1975) is an American producer, historian, actor, writer and co-founder of the Evel Knievel Museum.[1] [2] As a former professional skateboarder, he has amassed the largest collection of Evel Knievel memorabilia in the world.[3] The collection now resides at the official Evel Knievel Museum alongside Historic Harley Davidson.[4] [5]

Biography

McKay was born on January 10, 1980 in Austin, Texas. The second of the two children of Karlan McKay and Karen McCall. He and his older sister were raised in Missouri City, Texas.

He started skateboarding as a child and became sponsored at 14. Inspired by Evel Knievel, he spent a decade on the road as a professional, breaking for a year to attend college in Austin. McKay became a '70s-era cinephile and was inspired by existential films like Cisco Pike, Night Moves, Charley Varrick, Little Fauss and Big Halsy, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot,[6] films by Sam Peckinpah, and particularly Monte Hellman’s Two-Lane Blacktop.

2003–11

In 2003, McKay starred in Levelland,[7] a film about coming of age in the flatlands of Texas.[8] Several of its non-fictional characters were skateboarders, and director Clark Lee Walker, co-writer of The Newton Boys, cast avid skateboarders to act in the film.[9] Levelland premiered at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival.[10]

In 2004, McKay moved to Los Angeles to continue a career as an actor. As he was looking for a place to live, he was introduced to his favorite film director Monte Hellman by a friend, actor Nicky Katt. Hellman had a spare room in his Laurel Canyon home, and McKay moved in. He performed in several films, and in 2008, he was cast to portray Layne Staley of Alice In Chains[11] in Layne Staley: Get Born Again.[12] [13] This biographical film went into production but was never completed due to estate and legal issues.[14] [15]

McKay continued to act,[16] but became more interested in all aspects of filmmaking. In 2008 he joined Melissa and Monte Hellman’s newly formed production company, wearing many hats as his late mentor Hellman's assistant on the 2010 Golden Lion award-winning film Road to Nowhere.[17] He also performed and produced alongside the Hellman family.[18]

McKay played a significant role in the re-release of Two-Lane Blacktop,[19] assisting production on Somewhere Near Salinas with Kris Kristofferson and appearing in On the Road Again; Two-Lane Blacktop Revisited,[20] through The Criterion Collection.[21]

Evel Archaeology

2012–18

Long enamored with his own father's and Evel Knievel's “live your dreams“ philosophy, McKay began his collection of Evel Knievel memorabilia in early 2012.[22] After months of research and lengthy negotiation, he acquired his first set of Knievel's 1974 jump leathers and a performance helmet. Soon after, he traveled to Knievel's hometown of Butte, Montana for the annual Evel Knievel Days celebration.[23] [24] Forming connections with Knievel family, crew and fans. During a 2014 interview, McKay noted that none of Knievel's memorabilia was at the celebrations and that Knievel's ramps were left to rot in fields. This helped motivate him and his team.[25] [3]

With partnerships from the Knievel family,[26] McKay, Robby Hull and Marilyn Stemp set out to resurrect Evel Knievel Enterprises. Thus began a worldwide hunt for Knievel memorabilia,[27] which McKay termed "Evel Archaeology."[28] By 2015, he owned the largest Evel Knievel collection ever assembled.[29] [30] He has exhibited the collection throughout the United States consistently since it was first displayed in 2013.[31] [32] It includes six jump bikes; X-rays of Evel's broken bones Knievel's performance leathers; and most iconic helmets, wardrobe, and personal effects.[33] [34]

After it was featured on the television series American Trucker, McKay purchased the truck Big Red with the assistance of Robb Mariani.[35] The Mack truck Knievel used as living quarters and bike and ramp hauler and was badly weather-damaged. McKay, Mike Patterson, and his team of restoration experts at Historic Harley-Davidson in Topeka, Kansas, refurbished Big Red.[36] A bolt-by-bolt restoration which took 22 months, 96 people and over $300,000.00[37] The truck's interior and exterior were restored to its exact condition in the 70s when Knievel, at the height of his popularity, travelled in it.[38]

It debuted and led the yearly parade at Evel Knievel Days in Butte in 2015.[39] Driven by Mike Draper,[40] who began driving for Knievel in the early 1970s, Big Red was displayed on tour at events throughout the United States with the support of Mack Trucks.[41] The tour schedule included Evel Knievel days, Sturgis, Hollywood, Texas Motor Speedway and the Great American Trucking Show.[42] [43] It was the star attraction at the premiere of the documentary Being Evel.[44] [45] Big Red is to be permanently housed at the Evel Knievel Museum, which opened in Topeka, Kansas in July 2017. McKay refers to it as the "mothership" of his collection.[46] [47]

McKay was also a co-producer and rare film and photo archivist for the Emmy nominated documentary Being Evel[48] [49] with producers Johnny Knoxville[50] and George Hamilton.[51] He appeared in Derik Murray's documentary I Am Evel Knievel,[52] with Matthew McConaughey,[53] for which he was also a co-producer/archivist, and executive produced the Leo Award-winning feature-length documentary Chasing Evel: The Life of Robbie Knievel,[54] which premiered at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival in 2017.[55] [56] It was released worldwide in 2018.[57]

2019–20

In 2019 editing began on Resurrecting Evel/Evelution. Both films documenting the undertaking that was the restoration of Evel Knievel's Mack truck and the six-year journey that lead to the opening of the Museum.[58] McKay co-produced and was featured in both the Austin, Texas-based film Off The Record[59] and Reelz channel's Collision Course.[60] [61] In April 2019 production began on Evel Live 2 for A&E Networks and the Evel Knievel Museum received a THEA Award awarded by Themed Entertainment Association for being one of the best new attractions in the United States.[62] [63] [64] Production for NBCUniversal's limited series Evel starring Milo Ventimiglia began in early January, 2020. The limited series was shut down just three days prior to principal photography due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[65] [66]

2021–24

In October 2021 Network Entertainment began production on The Evel Way. A biographical series documenting the ten-year journey of Mckay’s Evel Archaeology project intertwined with the reconnecting of Evel’s original crew and the arduous journey to the Snake River Canyon Jump.[67]

In August 2022 It was leaked that the Evel Knievel Museum was relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada.[68]

In May 2022 History Channel began production on The Icons Who Built America which Mckay appeared, co-produced and provided the original Evel Knievel archival materials.

On June 28, 2023, Variety magazine announced that Mckay’s Sam Peckinpah archive and collection found its permanent home at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[69] [70]

May 14th 2024, The official announcement of the Evel Knievel Museum’s relocation to Las Vegas was announced. [71]

Personal life

The years 2015 to 2017 were fortuitous as the inaugural tour of Big Red (partnering with Mack Trucks) went nationwide. It led the parade at Evel Knievel Days in Butte, Montana. McKay and Doug Danger successfully completed their mutual dream of the world record 22-car jump on Evel's Harley Davidson XR750.[72] During the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally at the legendary Buffalo Chip Campground. In 2015 he again partnered with the Knievel family on Evel Ale, a custom beer made by South Austin Brewery.[73]

The Evel Knievel Museum opened in June 2017.[74] [75] [76]

In July 2021 The Divine Horsemen released a reunion recording of new material that included a song titled "Falling Forward". Mckay co-wrote the song with founding member Julie Christensen.[77] [78]

In October 2021 pre-production began on a feature-length narrative docudrama on Mckay’s life with Derik Murray’s Network Entertainment.Principal photography began in Kansas, California, Idaho, Montana and continues throughout 2023–24.

Filmography

YearTitleCreditMedium
1995411 Video Magazine - Houston MetrospectiveSkateboarder (himself)Video magazine
1997Ten LosersSkateboarder (himself)Video
1997Austin StoriesSkateboarder, Episode 7MTV series
1999ATXSkateboarder (himself)Video
2000Reflection UnderstoodSkateboarder (himself)Video
2000Miss CongenialityActor (himself)Feature Film
2001Logic #2 Scope-Austin TexasSkateboarder (himself)Video magazine
2001The Right GirlActor (skateboarder)Film
2002PastimeEditor, skateboarder (himself)Video feature
2002The New GuyStunts (skateboarder)Feature film
2003LevellandActor (Nick Stanley)Feature film
2005Protest KidsActor (Varan)Short film
2007Two-Lane Blacktop (Revisited)Production, actor (himself)Short film
2007Somewhere Near Salinas, Kris KristoffersonProductionShort film
2008HaroldActor (Officer Shannon)Feature film
2009Layne Staley and DemriActor (Layne Staley)Short film
2011Road to NowhereAssociate producer, actor (Erik), director’s assistant Feature film
2011TrichotomyWriter, actor (The Kid)Video short
2011Echo Park Love StoryActor (The Artist)Short film
2012Snake River CanyonArchivalShort film
2012True EvelArchival, film, photoTV documentary
2013Pure EvelArchival, film, photoTV documentary
2014I Am Evel KnievelHimself, Archival, Consulting ProducerTV documentary
2014Sal and the GoonCo-executive producerShort film
2014Evel Knievel Lives On Archival, (himself)Documentary short
2015Being EvelCo-producer, archival (himself)Feature documentary
2015Road to the Record; Doug DangerAssociate producerTV movie
2016Color Me LuckyExecutive producer, actor (Evel)Video short
2016Tim Montana - Shredneck USAHimself, Episode 3Web series
2016BBC Four StoryvilleCo-producer, archival, 1 episodeTV series
2017Resurrecting Evel KnievelDirector, executive producer, editor (himself)Documentary short
2017Mysteries at the MuseumArchival, contributor (himself), 1 episodeTV series
2017Chasing Evel; The Life of Robbie KnievelExecutive producer, contributor (himself), archivalDocumentary
2018Collision Course Evel Knievel Reelz Co-producer, Archival, (himself)Reelz TV series
2018Off the Record Producer, actor (Simms)Feature film
2018Evel LiveArchivalHistory TV series
2019Evelution; Evel KnievelDirector, executive producer, editor, writer (himself)Documentary
2019Evel Live 2Panelist (himself), archivalHistory TV series
2020Evel Live RedemptionPanelist (himself), archivalHistory TV series
2020EvelAssociate producer, consulting producerUniversal TV series
2020The Evel Knievel Way 1 & 2Director, WriterShort Film
2021StuntmanArchival FilmFeature Film
2022Evel WaysExecutive producer, (himself)Feature film
2023The Icons That Built AmericaAssociate Producer, Archival (himself)History TV Series
2024Talking EvelAssociate producer, (himself)Docu-Series

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: How Did An Evel Knievel Museum End Up In Kansas. Goodwin. Shaun. Kansas City Star. November 17, 2019.
  2. Web site: Evel Knievel Museum. Staff. Team. Roadside America. November 17, 2019.
  3. Web site: Stemp . Marilyn . Lathan Mckay . Evel Knievel Museum . November 20, 2019 . December 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202005846/http://evelknievelmuseum.com/the-collector . dead .
  4. Web site: Robbie Knievel Sees Father's Museum For The First Time. Dienes. Angela. CJ Online. November 17, 2019.
  5. Web site: Inside Evel. Bruner. Melissa. WIBW. April 26, 2017 . November 17, 2019.
  6. Web site: Christensen . Julie . Lathan Mckay Biography . IMDB . November 20, 2019.
  7. Web site: Young . Neil . Film Festival Day Five . Jigsaw Lounge . May 31, 2005 . November 20, 2019.
  8. Web site: Levelland Details. movies.com. 27 June 2016.
  9. Web site: Levelland. Staff Writer. Rotten Tomatoes. November 17, 2019.
  10. Web site: Levelland Review. Scheib. Ronnie. Variety. November 18, 2019. 2003-05-07.
  11. Web site: Staff . MTV . MTV Music News . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126070150/http://www.mtv.com/news/1582305/britney-spears-case-wont-move-to-federal-court-plus-miley-cyrus-amy-winehouse-perez-hilton-bono-more-in-for-the-record/ . dead . January 26, 2021 . MTV News . November 21, 2019.
  12. Web site: Alice In Chains Biopic Finds It's Man. Perez. Rodrigo. The Playlist. November 17, 2019.
  13. Web site: Actor To Portray Layne Staley. Staff Writer. Brave Words. November 17, 2019.
  14. Web site: Staff Writer . Get Born Again Movie . Blabbermouth . November 20, 2019. February 20, 2008 .
  15. News: Actor cast as Layne Staley in biopic rocks out with fake AIC. Hay. Travis. March 20, 2008. Seattle Post Intelligencer. 21 June 2016.
  16. Web site: Staff . IMDB . Lathan Mckay . IMDB . November 20, 2019.
  17. Web site: Road To Nowhere-Review. Feeney. F.X.. Variety. November 17, 2019. September 9, 2010.
  18. News: Goldstein . Patrick . The Big Picture . LA Times . November 20, 2019. September 13, 2010 .
  19. Web site: Jones . Kent . Two-Lane Black Top . Criterion . November 20, 2019.
  20. Web site: Staff . IMDB . On The Road Again . IMDB . November 20, 2019.
  21. Web site: Staff . IMDB . Somewhere Near Salinas . IMDB . November 20, 2019.
  22. Web site: Evel Knievel Enterprises Inc.. Galvin. John. Thunder Press. November 18, 2019. 2013-09-09.
  23. Web site: Evel Knievel Days-2014. Smith. Sam. Ultimate Motorcycling. November 18, 2019. 2014-07-07.
  24. Web site: Evel Knievel Sky Cycle Displayed In Butte. Standard. Montana. Ravalli Republic. July 5, 2013 . November 18, 2019.
  25. News: Man Makes it his Mission to Collect Evel Knievel Goods. Jesselson. Rob. July 24, 2013. Fox KFBB. 4 July 2016.
  26. Web site: Associated Press . Knievel's Widow Talks Of Crazy Ride . Billings Gazette . July 24, 2008 . November 20, 2019.
  27. Web site: Stemp . Marilyn . Evel Knievel Is Back . Iron Trader News . July 2, 2014 . November 20, 2019.
  28. Web site: Patterson . Mike . Evel Knievel Enterprises Resurrected. Evel Knievel Thrill Show . November 20, 2019. May 16, 2016 .
  29. News: Largest Evel Knievel Collection at COTA GP. Stamp. Marilyn. March 15, 2015. Motorcycle USA. 4 July 2016.
  30. Web site: The Largest Evel Knievel Collection In The World. Stemp. Marilyn. Cycle Source. November 17, 2019. 2015-03-22.
  31. Web site: Evel Knievel X2 Sky Cycle. Staff Writer. National Motorcycle Museum. November 17, 2019.
  32. Web site: Evel Exhibition. Smith. Vicki. New Atlas. November 17, 2019. 2015-04-21.
  33. Web site: Evel Knievel. MacNaughton. Lanakila. Women’s Motorcycle Exhibit. November 17, 2019.
  34. Web site: Barker . Stuart . Whatever Happened To Evel Knievel's Bikes . Motorcycle News.
  35. Web site: Stokes . Keith . Big Red . Kansas Travel . November 20, 2019.
  36. Web site: Painting The Evel Knievel Rig. Dills. Todd. Overdrive. October 2, 2015 . November 17, 2019.
  37. Web site: Dillls . Todd . A Special Mack Is Back . Overdrive . September 30, 2015 . November 21, 2019.
  38. Web site: Sneak Peak At Evel Knievel's Mack Truck. Dills. Todd. Overdrive Online. August 27, 2015 . November 17, 2019.
  39. Web site: Mack Trucks Promotes Pure Evel. Staff Writer. Today’s Trucking. November 18, 2019. 2015-07-17.
  40. Web site: Big Red Revives Legacy. Griffith. Tom. Rapid City Journal. August 2, 2015 . November 17, 2019.
  41. Web site: Mack Partnership To Revive Evel's Legacy. Staff Writer. Fleet Owner. November 18, 2019. 2015-07-20.
  42. Web site: Trucks . Mack . Mack Brings Big Red To Texas Motor Speedway . Mack Trucks . November 20, 2019.
  43. Web site: Tour The Evel Knievel Truck At Gats. Allan. Jim. 365 Trucking. November 17, 2019.
  44. News: Evel Knievel's 'Big Red' Mack Restored for Documentary on Famous Daredevil. Abt. Neil. August 31, 2015. Transport Topics. 4 July 2016.
  45. News: Mack helps revive Evel Knievel's spirit. Straface. Sonia. August 21, 2015. Truck News. 4 July 2016.
  46. Web site: Evel Knievel's Big Red Mack Restored. Staff Writer. Transport Topics. November 17, 2019. 2015-08-31.
  47. Web site: Evel Knievel To Thrill A New Generation. Trucks. Mack. Concrete Construction. November 18, 2019.
  48. Web site: SXSW Being Evel. Cerda. Debbie. Slackerwood. November 17, 2019.
  49. Web site: Being Evel Hollywood Movie Premiere. Staff Writer. Trucking Info. November 18, 2019.
  50. Web site: Big Red Mack A Hit At Hollywood Premiere. Mele. Jim. Trucker. November 17, 2019. 2015-08-24.
  51. Web site: Sundance Review-Being Evel. Taylor. Drew. Indie Wire. November 18, 2019. 2015-01-26.
  52. Web site: I Am Evel Knievel Premieres On Spike TV. Ilimen. Gary. Ultimate Motorcycling. November 18, 2019. 2014-09-08.
  53. Web site: I Am Evel Knievel Review. Jacobson. Colin. DVD MG. November 18, 2019.
  54. Web site: New Documentary Tells Robbies Story-Chasing Evel. Stemp. Marilyn. Iron Trader News. May 22, 2017 . November 17, 2019.
  55. Web site: Sky . Big . Big Sky Film Fest-Chasing Evel . Big Sky Film Festival . November 21, 2019.
  56. Web site: Film . Nashville . Chasing Evel . Nashville Film Festival . November 21, 2019.
  57. Web site: Clock . Cinema . Chasing Evel . Cinema Clock . November 21, 2019.
  58. Web site: Evel Knievel Museum Is Open. Screaming Thunder. November 17, 2019. 2017-05-15.
  59. Web site: Staff . IMDB . Off The Record . IMDB . November 21, 2019.
  60. Web site: Collision Course Evel Knievel. Sanchez. Rosa. Radar Online. August 23, 2018. November 17, 2019.
  61. Web site: Reelz Announces Summer 2018 Slate. News. BWW. Broadway World. November 17, 2019.
  62. Web site: Thea Award For Outstanding Achievement-Museum. Gagnon. Benjamin. TEA Connect. November 17, 2019.
  63. Web site: Evel Knievel Museum Receives International Honor. Dattilio. Natalie. WIBW. November 13, 2018 . November 17, 2019.
  64. Web site: Evel Knievel Museum Wins Entertainment Award. Davis. McKenzi. KSNT News. April 15, 2019. November 17, 2019.
  65. Web site: Milo Ventimiglia to Play Evel Knievel in USA Network Limited Series. . September 5, 2019.
  66. Web site: Evel (TV Series 2020–) - IMDb. .
  67. https://www.networkentertainment.ca/
  68. Web site: Evel Knievel Museum moving to Las Vegas | Arts & Culture | Entertainment . August 10, 2021 .
  69. Web site: Private Collection of Legendary Director Sam Peckinpah's Personal Effects, Manuscripts Heads to Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma . variety.com . June 28, 2023.
  70. Web site: Saving Sam Peckinpah . December 17, 2023 .
  71. https://www.wibw.com/2024/05/14/evel-knievel-museum-formally-announces-move-las-vegas/?outputType=amp
  72. Web site: Doug Danger Nails World Record. Ring. Kim. Telegram. November 18, 2019.
  73. Web site: Evel Ale Fuels Thirst. Auber. Arianna. Austin Statesman. November 18, 2019.
  74. Web site: Evel Knievel Museum-Ribbon Cutting. Staff Writer. November 19, 2019. May 31, 2017 .
  75. Web site: Evel Knievel Special Section. Media. CJ. ISSUU. November 8, 2017 . November 18, 2019.
  76. cite web|url=https://easyridersmag.com/articles/an-eye-for-evel/
  77. Web site: Divine Horsemen Ride Again: Chris D & Julie Christensen Speak to PKM. July 15, 2020.
  78. Web site: The Divine Horsemen Ride Again. August 4, 2020.