Philippe Petit date of birth:
August 13, 1949
How old is Philippe Petit?
77
Where was Philippe Petit born?
Nemours, France
How tall is Philippe Petit?
5' 7" (170 cm)
Philippe Petit body shape:
Athletic
What color is Philippe Petit's hair?
Red
What is Philippe Petit's ethnicity?
White
What is Philippe Petit nationality?
French
What is Philippe Petit's occupation?
High-wire artist
Philippe Petit claim to fame:
French high wire artist who gained fame for his high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center
Short Biography
Philippe Petit (born 13 August 1949) is a French high-wire artist who gained fame for his high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, on the morning of August 7, 1974. For his unauthorized feat (which he referred to as "le coup") 1, 350 feet (400 metres) above the ground, he rigged a 450-pound (200-kilogram) cable and used a custom-made 26-foot (8-metre) long, 55-pound (25-kilogram) balancing pole. He performed for 45 minutes, making eight passes along the wire. The next week, he celebrated his 25th birthday. All charges were dismissed in exchange for his doing a performance in Central Park for children.