Virginia, USA – Born on November 30, 1976, in rural Virginia, Steven Ray Tickle – known to millions simply as Tickle – has lived a life as unpredictable as the backwoods stills that made him famous. At 43 years old, Tickle remains one of the most recognizable faces from Discovery Channel’s hit docudrama Moonshiners, which first featured him in 2013 alongside master moonshiner Tim Smith.
The series, which dramatizes the illicit trade of backwoods liquor-making, quickly turned Tickle into a household name. His popularity grew so much that Discovery later launched a spin-off titled Tickle, placing him at the center of the story.
But before his television fame, Tickle was a skilled carpenter. He is credited with helping construct Clyde’s Restaurant, a well-known Washington, D.C. food landmark near the Verizon Center. Carpentry, Tickle has often said, was his first love – a trade he enjoyed long before the cameras found him.
A Brush With Politics
Riding high on fame, Tickle once considered a surprising career move – politics. In 2015, he toyed with the idea of running for Congress against Representative Robert Hurt in southern Virginia. Though the ambition raised eyebrows, his political dreams never materialized, derailed in part by his legal troubles.
Trouble With the Law
Tickle’s life has often straddled the line between notoriety and fame. In 2013, he was arrested for public drunkenness after being caught drinking from an open container in a parking lot. Two years later, he faced charges for illegal possession of a firearm, resulting in a suspended three-year sentence. However, he later violated probation, serving five months behind bars.
Adding to the chaos, unfounded rumors once circulated claiming that Tickle had died in an accident – rumors that were quickly dispelled but underscored his turbulent reputation.
Fame, Fortune, and Family
Despite his run-ins with the law, Tickle has done well financially. Since joining Moonshiners, he is believed to have earned more than $1 million, with a reported annual salary of $175,000. Combined with his carpentry work, his net worth was estimated at over $500,000 as of mid-2020.
Behind the scenes, however, Tickle keeps his personal life private. He was born to Louise Eileen Tickle, but little is known about his father. Rumors suggest his father’s illness during Tickle’s youth contributed to his struggles with alcohol and drugs – struggles he eventually overcame.
Though tight-lipped about relationships, Tickle is a proud father to a teenage daughter, Daisy, now 17, who has described him as a devoted and loving dad. Daisy’s mother has never been publicly identified.
Looking Ahead
Whether as carpenter, reality TV star, would-be politician, or father, Steven “Tickle” Ray has lived many lives – some celebrated, others controversial. And while the man behind the Moonshiners legend may keep his private world under wraps, one thing remains certain: his story continues to capture the fascination of fans across America.
