Russell shares a scotch with high-wire legend Philippe Petit
New York, NY, USA
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Philippe Petit BiographyPhilippe Petit, universal poet laureate of the high wire, was born in France and took his first steps on the wire at age 16. He learned everything by himself while being expelled from five different schools. Performing on five continents, he taught himself Spanish, German, Russian, and English, and developed a keen appreciation for architecture and engineering. Using his wire to extend the boundaries of theater, music, writing, poetry, and drawing, he has become an inimitable high wire artist.
On August 7, 1974, Petit accomplished what may be the most astounding “artistic crime” of all time. He walked a high wire illegally stretched between the rooftops of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, making eight crossings over the course of an hour, a quarter mile above the sidewalks of New York. Petit’s book, To Reach the Clouds (re-titled Man on Wire in paperback), recounts that adventure and is the basis of the 2009 Academy Award-wining documentary film, Man on Wire, as well as the upcoming feature film, The Walk, to be directed by Robert Zemeckis.
In the nearly 40 years since the World Trade Center walk, Petit has performed on the high wire more than 100 times around the world in such locations as Paris, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Jerusalem, and New York City where he has been an artist-in-residence at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for more than 30 years. Petit is the recipient of the first Action Maverick Award; the New York Historical Society Award; the prestigious James Parks Morton Interfaith Award; and the Byrdcliffe Award. He is a laureate of the Foundation de la Vocation par Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, and the French Ministry of Culture bestowed upon him the title of Chevalier des Arts & des Lettres. Petit was a featured speaker at the 2012 TED Conference.
Petit’s most recent book, Why Knot? How to Tie More than Sixty Ingenious, Useful, Beautiful, Life-Saving, and Secure Knots! was released in April 2013. His forthcoming book, Creativity, the Perfect Crime, is due out in April 2014.
Petit’s new high wire project is the Rapa Nui Walk, a walk on an inclined cable set on Easter Island in homage to the Rapa Nui and their giant stone statues known as Moai. Among his most cherished goals is the continuation of his first series of high wire master classes, Tightrope! An Exploration into the Theatre of Balance.
In addition to walking the high wire, Philippe Petit writes, draws, performs close-up magic, practices lock-picking and 18th century timber framing, plays chess, studies French wine, and was recently sighted bullfighting in Peru. An internationally known speaker, he gives lectures and workshops on creativity and motivation.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Philippe Petit and other top speakers and celebrities.
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The Walk: Previously published as To Reach The Clouds
Creativity: The Perfect Crime
Why Knot?: How to Tie More than Sixty Ingenious, Useful, Beautiful, Lifesaving, and Secure Knots!
Man on Wire
To Reach the Clouds
To Reach the Clouds : My High Wire Walk Between the Twin Towers
Renowned for his illegal high-wire performance between the World Trade Center’s North and South Towers in 1974, Philippe Petit captivated Vassar students, faculty and local community members by telling his life story in the Martel Theater on the evening of Oct. 10.
Joyful adventures are what make up Frenchman Philippe Petit's tightrope- dancing daredevil career. Similarly engaging lives he says await anyone who...
High-wire artist Philippe Petit tells the amazing story of his tightrope walk between the Twin Towers in 1974.
The performer best known for his Twin Towers stunt talks about discovering his upstate New York home, which came with a zip line over the pond.
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Philippe Petit, universal poet laureate of the high wire, was born in France and took his first steps on the wire at age 16. He learned everything by himself while being expelled from five different schools. Performing on five continents, he taught himself Spanish, German, Russian, and English, and developed a keen appreciation for architecture and engineering. Using his wire to extend the boundaries of theater, music, writing, poetry, and drawing, he has become an inimitable high wire artist.
On August 7, 1974, Petit accomplished what may be the most astounding “artistic crime” of all time. He walked a high wire illegally stretched between the rooftops of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, making eight crossings over the course of an hour, a quarter mile above the sidewalks of New York. Petit’s book, To Reach the Clouds (re-titled Man on Wire in paperback), recounts that adventure and is the basis of the 2009 Academy Award-wining documentary film, Man on Wire, as well as the upcoming feature film, The Walk, to be directed by Robert Zemeckis.
In the nearly 40 years since the World Trade Center walk, Petit has performed on the high wire more than 100 times around the world in such locations as Paris, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Jerusalem, and New York City where he has been an artist-in-residence at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for more than 30 years. Petit is the recipient of the first Action Maverick Award; the New York Historical Society Award; the prestigious James Parks Morton Interfaith Award; and the Byrdcliffe Award. He is a laureate of the Foundation de la Vocation par Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, and the French Ministry of Culture bestowed upon him the title of Chevalier des Arts & des Lettres. Petit was a featured speaker at the 2012 TED Conference.
Petit’s most recent book, Why Knot? How to Tie More than Sixty Ingenious, Useful, Beautiful, Life-Saving, and Secure Knots! was released in April 2013. His forthcoming book, Creativity, the Perfect Crime, is due out in April 2014.
Petit’s new high wire project is the Rapa Nui Walk, a walk on an inclined cable set on Easter Island in homage to the Rapa Nui and their giant stone statues known as Moai. Among his most cherished goals is the continuation of his first series of high wire master classes, Tightrope! An Exploration into the Theatre of Balance.
In addition to walking the high wire, Philippe Petit writes, draws, performs close-up magic, practices lock-picking and 18th century timber framing, plays chess, studies French wine, and was recently sighted bullfighting in Peru. An internationally known speaker, he gives lectures and workshops on creativity and motivation.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Philippe Petit and other top speakers and celebrities.
Philippe Petit is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Philippe Petit for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Philippe Petit generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Doc Hendley, Benjamin Zander, Keith Ferrazzi, Hugh Evans and Dr. John C. Maxwell. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Philippe Petit for an upcoming event.
Renowned for his illegal high-wire performance between the World Trade Center’s North and South Towers in 1974, Philippe Petit captivated Vassar students, faculty and local community members by telling his life story in the Martel Theater on the evening of Oct. 10.
Joyful adventures are what make up Frenchman Philippe Petit's tightrope- dancing daredevil career. Similarly engaging lives he says await anyone who...
High-wire artist Philippe Petit tells the amazing story of his tightrope walk between the Twin Towers in 1974.
The performer best known for his Twin Towers stunt talks about discovering his upstate New York home, which came with a zip line over the pond.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent, and wish to request removal from this catalog or report an issue with your profile, please click here.
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