# Allen Falkner

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**Allen Falkner** (born April 17, 1969) is an American [suspension practitioner](/source/Suspension_(body_modification)), [body modification](/source/Body_modification) artist, teacher, business owner, and former [performance artist](/source/Performance_art). 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.[1]

## 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](/source/Tattoo_removal), teacher, lecturer, and [DJ](/source/Disc_jockey). He owns a tattoo removal business, Fade Fast,[2] and a bar, The Nines, both in [Dallas](/source/Dallas), [Texas](/source/Texas).[3]

He was hired to help realize the body suspension stunt of [Criss Angel](/source/Criss_Angel) for his TV show [Mindfreak](/source/Criss_Angel_Mindfreak) in which he was suspended in [suicide position](/source/Body_suspension#Suicide) from a helicopter flying over the mountains in the [Valley of Fire](/source/Valley_of_Fire_State_Park).[4]

He also appeared in the movie *Modify.*[5]

## 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](/source/General_Educational_Development). He later went to college for [computer science engineering](/source/Computer_science_and_engineering) but became a full time body piercer before finishing his degree.[2] He currently resides in Dallas, Texas.[6]

## References

1. ["Hanging by a Moment: Locals hooking into body modification trends in the Valley"](https://archive.today/20120913114305/http://www.themonitor.com/articles/body-1232-hooks-suspension.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.themonitor.com/articles/body-1232-hooks-suspension.html) on September 13, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.

1. Larratt, Shannan (March 13, 2008). ["Allen Falkner: Punished and Forgiven – Interview in BME/News \[Publisher’s Ring](https://www.bme.com/news/2008/03/13/allen-falkner-punished-and-forgiven-interview-in-bmenews-publishers-ring/)"]. *BME*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081103171144/http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20080313.html) November 3, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 13, 2026.

1. LaCour, Brad (August 16, 2019). ["Bar Owner at The Nines Blasts Soothing Music so Deep Ellum Can Calm the F Down"](https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/deep-ellum-bar-the-nines-blasts-soothing-music-so-the-neighborhood-can-calm-down-11734357/). *Dallas Observer*. [Archived](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/) October 6, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 16, 2026.

1. "Body Suspension". No. 5. Criss Angel Mindfreak. Episode 5. A&E. August 3, 2005.

1. ["Allen Falkner"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2228957/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_in_0_q_allen%20falkner). *IMDB*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260316011315/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0760470/?ref_=vp_ov_i) March 16, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 15, 2026.

1. Berton, Justin (February 10, 2008). ["Hang in there. This will hurt."](https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Hang-in-there-This-will-hurt-2650188.php). *SFGate*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250827195141/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Hang-in-there-This-will-hurt-2650188.php) August 27, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 15, 2026.

## External links

- Website: [allenfalkner.com](http://www.allenfalkner.com/)
- Audio interview with Allen from 2000 [in the BME/radio archives](https://web.archive.org/web/20070710095547/http://www.bmezine.com/radio/old/index.html).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Allen Falkner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Falkner) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Falkner?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.