Karl Wallenda (1905–78) was a German-American high-wire artist and founder of The Flying Wallendas, a legendary circus troupe known for daring stunts without safety nets. His great-grandson Nik Wallenda (b.1979) continues the tradition.
Born in Magdeburg, Germany, Wallenda began performing at six, training in acrobatics and balancing acts. By the 1920s, he had formed a troupe recognized across Europe for their four-man pyramid and high-wire cycling. In 1928, they moved to the U.S., performing for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
His most famous stunt was the seven-person pyramid, first attempted in 1947. Despite tragic accidents—including a fatal fall in 1962—he remained fearless. His iconic 1970 skywalk across Tallulah Gorge, Georgia, included two headstands mid-walk.
At 73, Wallenda attempted a skywalk between the Condado Plaza Hotel towers in San Juan, Puerto Rico. High winds and a loose wire caused his fatal fall.
Ron Morris’s Wallenda: A Biography of Karl Wallenda (1976) chronicles his life, triumphs, and tragedies.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Karl Wallenda
Being on the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting.
—Karl Wallenda
Topics: Danger
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