Philippe Petit

Apr 13, 1949 (76 years old) in Nemours, Seine-et-Marne, France

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, New York, on 7 August 1974. For his feat (that he referred to as "le coup"), he used a 450-pound (200-kilogram) cable and a custom-made 26-foot (8-metre) long, 55-pound (25-kilogram) balancing pole.

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