Biography

August 13, 1949 · Nemours, Seine-et-Marne, France

5′ 7″ (1.70 m)

Traversed a 1,350 foot high, one-inch wide cable stretched across the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. He crossed the 131 foot long cable 8 times in 45 minutes.

Philippe's father wanted him to enter a military career, but when he was given a magic set for Christmas at the age of six, there was no looking back. He didn't care for school (and was expelled from five of them), and ran away from home at the age of 15. In Paris he became a street performer, juggler, mime, and unicyclist, and taught himself aerialism by walking across a rope between two trees in a park by the Seine.

I don't have respect for people who walk on the wire with any kind of safety net. I don't really like the fact that if you fall you die, but it's part of what the wire is.

It's an irony to be both poor and famous, but that's what I am. As far as money goes, I'm usually in a disaster situation, just barely afloat. I helped a benefit committee raise half a million dollars, but I couldn't afford the taxi home. I get lots of offers to walk the high wire, but I choose what I say yes to. I've been a street juggler for ten years...and, yes, I pass my hat....I have no shame. Last winter, I demolished a house for $5 an hour. And I wash windows very well. [1986]

We live in a world where our senses are dulled by so many images, where we surrender ourselves to little robots. I hate my century, I hate what's going on around me, so I don't participate. I don't have a laptop, I don't have a cellphone, I can't send an email. I'm an imbecile! But I say that with pride.

[on future plans] One of those dreams of mine is to walk in that beautiful place called Easter Island and to involve my wire to encompass in the theatrical presentation the beautiful statue called the Moai and to involve in my presentation the Rapa Nui who live on the island to be part of the celebration and the show. That is the very mysterious almost mystic performance I would like to put together. For that, I need the help of producers, but by talking about it someday I will meet somebody who will say, okay, let's construct that dream. Let's make it happen.[Oct.2015]