{{short description|American body modification artist}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox person | name = Allen Falkner | birth_name = Charles Allen Huff II | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|4|17}} | occupation = Body Piercer, Suspension Practitioner, Performance Artist, Teacher | website = [http://www.allenfalkner.com allenfalkner.com] }} '''Allen Falkner''' (born April 17, 1969) is an American suspension practitioner, body modification artist, teacher, business owner, and former performance artist. He is founder of TSD, the first suspension group. He is often referred to as the "Father of Modern Suspension" and is considered the first to bring body suspension to the mainstream.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.themonitor.com/articles/body-1232-hooks-suspension.html |title=Hanging by a Moment: Locals hooking into body modification trends in the Valley |access-date=December 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913114305/http://www.themonitor.com/articles/body-1232-hooks-suspension.html |archive-date=September 13, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Career == Falkner has had many jobs since retiring from suspension performance in 2007. He's worked as a body piercer, body modification artist, laser tattoo remover, teacher, lecturer, and DJ. He owns a tattoo removal business, Fade Fast,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Larratt |first=Shannan |date=March 13, 2008 |title=Allen Falkner: Punished and Forgiven – Interview in BME/News [Publisher’s Ring] |url=https://www.bme.com/news/2008/03/13/allen-falkner-punished-and-forgiven-interview-in-bmenews-publishers-ring/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103171144/http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20080313.html |archive-date=November 3, 2008 |access-date=March 13, 2026 |website=BME}}</ref> and a bar, The Nines, both in Dallas, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LaCour |first=Brad |date=August 16, 2019 |title=Bar Owner at The Nines Blasts Soothing Music so Deep Ellum Can Calm the F Down |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/deep-ellum-bar-the-nines-blasts-soothing-music-so-the-neighborhood-can-calm-down-11734357/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006135637/https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/deep-ellum-bar-the-nines-blasts-soothing-music-so-the-neighborhood-can-calm-down-11734357/ |archive-date=October 6, 2025 |access-date=March 16, 2026 |website=Dallas Observer}}</ref>
He was hired to help realize the body suspension stunt of Criss Angel for his TV show Mindfreak in which he was suspended in suicide position from a helicopter flying over the mountains in the Valley of Fire.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Body Suspension |series=Criss Angel Mindfreak |series-link=Criss Angel Mindfreak |network=A&E |date=August 3, 2005 |season=1 |number=5}}</ref>
He also appeared in the movie ''Modify.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Allen Falkner |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2228957/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_in_0_q_allen%20falkner |url-status=live |access-date=March 15, 2026 |website=IMDB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260316011315/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0760470/?ref_=vp_ov_i|archive-date=March 16, 2026}}</ref>
== Personal Life == In a 2008 interview, Falkner describes himself as "[coming] from a family of accountants." Despite being an honor student in elementary and middle school, he dropped out of high school and received his GED. He later went to college for computer science engineering but became a full time body piercer before finishing his degree.<ref name=":0" /> He currently resides in Dallas, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berton |first=Justin |date=February 10, 2008 |title=Hang in there. This will hurt. |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Hang-in-there-This-will-hurt-2650188.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827195141/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Hang-in-there-This-will-hurt-2650188.php |archive-date=August 27, 2025 |access-date=March 15, 2026 |website=SFGate}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * Website: [http://www.allenfalkner.com/ allenfalkner.com] * Audio interview with Allen from 2000 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070710095547/http://www.bmezine.com/radio/old/index.html in the BME/radio archives].
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Falkner, Allen}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Body piercers Category:American company founders
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