Paul Binder is the founder and artistic director of the Big Apple Circus. Born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, Binder has earned many doctorates, including an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Dartmouth College, his alma mater. He also was honored by Long Island University, Pratt Institute and Rhode Island College. At Dartmouth, he would have his first show business experience, as an improv comedian with the Dartmouth 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 moved to Boston, where he was hired by WGBH-TV as a floor manager for Julia Child's The French Chef, and he later worked in New York and Los Angeles as talent coordinator with Merv Griffin. That same year, Paul married Vivian Bachrach. 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. 

October 19th, 1942 in Brooklyn (Age 81)