Carl Ronald Boenish (/ˈbeɪnɪʃ/ BAY-nish;[2] April 3, 1941 – July 7, 1984), considered the father of modern BASE jumping,[3] was an American freefall cinematographer, who in 1978 filmed the first jumps from El Capitan using ram-air parachutes.
Carl Boenish | |
|---|---|
 Carl Boenish after successful jump from Trollveggen in 1984 the day before his death. | |
| Born | Carl Ronald Boenish April 3, 1941 |
| Died | (aged 43) |
| Occupation | Cinematographer |
| Spouse | Jean Boenish (December 30, 1979 – July 7, 1984; his death) |
Biography
editBoenish repeated his jumps, not as a publicity exercise or as a movie stunt, but as part of the development and popularization of BASE jumping as recreational activity, distinct from other disciplines of parachuting. This approach defined the modern sport of BASE jumping. Boenish helped popularize this sport by filming and presenting the footage. Boenish also published BASE Magazine to promote safety in this new sport.[4]
Boenish's cinematography work included the 1969 John Frankenheimer parachuting film classic The Gypsy Moths, starring Burt Lancaster and Gene Hackman, and a National Geographic Explorer segment on jumps from El Capitan.
His life and death is the subject of the 2015 documentary film by Marah Strauch, Sunshine Superman.[5] Boenish was a Christian Scientist and had an improperly-set broken leg that hampered his walk.[6][7]
Boenish died in a BASE jump off the Stabben pinnacle in Trolltindane range (not Troll Wall proper)[8] in Rauma, Møre og Romsdal, Norway, the day after completing a successful double BASE jump with his wife, Jean Boenish, for a Guinness World Records television special hosted by David Frost and young Kathie Lee Johnson, now Kathie Lee Gifford.[9] Jean Boenish did another jump two days after the fatal jump.[10]
References
edit- ^ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claim Index, 1936-2007
- ^ "Sunshine Superman Official Trailer #1 (2015) - Carl Boenish Documentary HD". YouTube. 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Suddath, Claire (October 18, 2008), "A Brief History of BASE Jumping", Time, archived from the original on October 21, 2008
- ^ Di Giovanni, Nick. "BASE Jumping History". Archived from the original on 2007-01-28. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
- ^ Rogerebert.com
- ^ "BASE-Jumping Doc Sunshine Superman Plunges You From Cliffs and Skyscrapers". The Village Voice. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
- ^ "Exhilarating film follows inventor of BASE jumping". New York Post. 2015-05-20. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
- ^ Lindin, Ina-Kristin (2012-07-18). "Basehoppulykke i Stabben". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- ^ Rogerebert.com
- ^ Ellingseter, Tore (2011-09-06). "Tilbake 27 år etter basehoppulykke". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2019-09-25.
External links
edit
- Carl Boenish at IMDb
- "Carl Boenish photo". Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
- Jean Boenish jumping off Bruraskaret, Trollveggen, photo at DigitaltMuseum/Romsdalsmuseet
