Colleagues and TV chiefs have paid tribute to Jackass daredevil Ryan Dunn, who perished in a car crash.

Ryan appeared on MTV shows Jackass and Viva La Bam and the three Jackass big-screen adaptations.

He was also the star of his own MTV show, Homewrecker, and hosted Proving Ground on the G4 cable network.

Ryan's long-time friend and fellow Jackass daredevil Johnny Knoxville tweeted last night: "Today I lost my brother Ryan Dunn. My heart goes out to his family and his beloved Angie. RIP Ryan, I love you buddy."

MTV praised Ryan's tireless humour and enthusiasm and said he would be missed.

"We are devastated by the tragic loss of Ryan Dunn - a beloved member of the MTV family for more than a decade," said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music/Films Group. "The Jackass brotherhood will never be the same."

Ryan, 34, famous for his stunts in the multimillion-dollar TV and movie franchise, was driving his 2007 Porsche in suburban Philadelphia when it left the road, flipped over a guardrail and crashed into woods before bursting into flames.

A passenger, identified today as Zachary Hartwell, 30, was also killed, and speed may have been a factor in the crash, police said.

Photo: © Getty Images