Francis Brunn

Francis Brunn was a German juggler born on 15 November 1922 in Aschaffenburg, Germany, who built an international performance career spanning more than five decades. He died on 28 May 2004 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Brunn began juggling in 1939 and joined a traveling show that performed throughout Europe. He later relocated to the United States to perform with Ringling Brothers circus. Over the course of his career he gave two performances for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and appeared in the Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth in 1964.

In 1967 Brunn appeared on Broadway as part of Judy Garland's show At Home at the Palace, performed at the Palace Theatre in New York. The engagement remains his sole credited Broadway appearance.

Brunn is believed to have been the first performer to juggle ten rings simultaneously, though he was particularly recognized for routines of apparent simplicity that demanded exceptional technical control, including acts built around a single ball. Outside of his own performing career, he provided financial support to Philippe Petit in advance of Petit's 1974 tightrope walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Brunn retired from performing in 1994.