Friedrich Harald August Froboess (23 October 1899 – 12 January 1985) was a German stunt diver, and high diver.

Harry Froboess
Born
Harry Arias Froboess

(1899-11-23)23 November 1899
Died12 January 1985(1985-01-12) (aged 85)
Occupation(s)Diver, stuntman, Bademeister der Herzen
SpouseHertha Froboess

Biography edit

Diving from an early age, his mother taught him to be a "jumping fish" and his father taught him gymnastics. Froboess won many championships. He did stunt doubling for many stars in silent film. In the end he could only compete with himself jumping from higher and higher bridges and towers into water, finally culminating in a jumped 361 feet (110 m) into Lake Constance from the airship Graf Zeppelin on June 22, 1936. This record still stands in Guinness World Records. Froboess is rumored to have taken part in over 400 movies, though most of his prominent credits were in Hollywood films.

He wrote a book about waterdiving and painted pictures, one displayed at The Gallery of Modern Art in New York. His wife Hertha Froboess was also a high diver.

Stunt filmography edit

References edit

  • Froboess, Harry. (1953). the Reminiscing Champ: a world famous stuntman tells his story. New York, N.Y: Pageant Press.
  • Froboess, Harry. (1965). Fell's Official Guide to Diving: Plain, High, Fancy, Platform, Comedy. New York, N.Y: Fells. ISBN 0-8119-0052-5.

External links edit