<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 . For his unauthorized feat 1,350 feet ( 400 metres ) above the ground -- which he referred to as `` le coup '' -- 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 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 . For his unauthorized feat 1,350 feet ( 400 metres ) above the ground -- which he referred to as `` le coup '' -- 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 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 tightrope between the twin towers
who walked the tightrope between the twin towers
Philippe Petit
Philippe Petit