<P> Philippe Petit ( French pronunciation : ​ ( filip pəti ) ; 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 as well as his high wire walk between the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris , 1971 . For his unauthorized feat 400 metres ( 1,000 feet ) above the ground -- which he referred to as `` le coup '' -- he rigged a 200 - kilogram ( 440 - pound ) cable and used a custom - made 8 - metre ( 30 - foot ) long , 25 - kilogram ( 55 - pound ) balancing pole . He performed for 45 minutes , making eight passes along the wire . The following week , he celebrated his 25th birthday . All charges were dismissed in exchange for him doing a performance in Central Park for children . </P>
<P> Philippe Petit ( French pronunciation : ​ ( filip pəti ) ; 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 as well as his high wire walk between the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris , 1971 . For his unauthorized feat 400 metres ( 1,000 feet ) above the ground -- which he referred to as `` le coup '' -- he rigged a 200 - kilogram ( 440 - pound ) cable and used a custom - made 8 - metre ( 30 - foot ) long , 25 - kilogram ( 55 - pound ) balancing pole . He performed for 45 minutes , making eight passes along the wire . The following week , he celebrated his 25th birthday . All charges were dismissed in exchange for him doing a performance in Central Park for children . </P>
who walked the high wire between the twin towers
who walked the high wire between the twin towers
Philippe Petit
Philippe Petit