Paul Binder

Paul Binder (born October 19, 1942, Paul Lewis Binder) is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Big Apple Circus.

The native of Brooklyn, has earned many doctorates, including an honorary from Dartmouth College, his alma mater. At Dartmouth, he would have his first show business experience, as an improv comedian with the Dog Day Players. He would also reinforce his beliefs in community-oriented thinking, a philosophy of Dartmouth's. He also graduated with an MBA from Columbia University.

After college, Binder went north to Boston, where he was hired by WGBH-TV as a stage manager for "The French Chef", and he also worked as talent coordinator with Merv Griffin. That same year, Paul married Mary Strocker. Later on, Binder went to San Francisco, where he joined the "San Francisco Mime Troupe", meeting his partner for many years to come, Michael Christensen, while performing with that company.

Binder became known across the city of New York as well for his juggling abilities, but he wanted to reach more people. With this in mind, he set to tour around Europe, bringing in his performing instruments with him.

Binder was a street artist when he and Christensen decided to make circus performing their profession. At the time, they were in Kent, England. Soon after, they finalized an accord to participate in circus in France.

Along with Christensen, Binder participated in the famed Casino de Paris, as well as on French television shows. Then, they joined the prestigious Nouveau Cirque de Paris.

Binder founded the Big Apple Circus, with Christensen later being named co-founder, after they returned from Europe in 1977.

Binder's dedication to circus life and the success of the Big Apple Circus have helped him collect many honorary awards and honors, many of which he shares with Christensen.

In 2001, Binder was declared a "New York City Living Landmark" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy society.