Dean Gunnarson

Dean Gunnarson (born 27 January 1964) is a Canadian escapologist (escape artist). He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He is noted for a series of large scale spectacular stunts done for television. Gunnarson has appeared on television in over 165 countries around the world performing his escapes. Gunnarson has performed over 500 shows across China and his TV escapes have been seen by millions of people there. In 2012 the Chinese Government presented him with "The World's Top Escape Artist" award after a successful escape on live TV. He has also performed across Canada and the US on TV, fairs, shopping malls, sporting events, and for many of the countries top corporations.

Career Gunnarson narrowly escaped death in October 1983 during a stunt in which he was handcuffed and chained and nailed into a coffin which was then submerged into the Red River in Winnipeg. The stunt went wrong as the coffin was lowered into the water, leaving him unable to escape. He was eventually pulled from the river and freed by the support crew, at which point he was not breathing and had to be resuscitated by paramedics. The incident led Johnny Carson to refer to Gunnarson on The Tonight Show as "that crazy Canadian".

Gunnarson has appeared in several television specials. In the 1987 special The Search for Houdini, Gunnarson replicated two of Houdini's most famous escapes.

Major stunts Buried Alive, where he dug himself out of a grave after being buried for two days with no food or water on Friday 29 October 2010 and escaped on 31 October 2010 to coincide with Harry Houdini's date of death. Cement Tomb Escape – Gunnarson was handcuffed, chained and buried alive under tons of wet cement on 31 October 2008. Houdini's Milk Can Escape for the Search for Houdini television special on Halloween Night, 1987 – he was a last minute replacement for James Randi, who was injured just before his scheduled live performance. The Challenge at Hoover Dam straitjacket escape hanging by his toes from a trapeze 726 feet over Hoover dam on The World's Most Dangerous Magic – 30 August 1998 Gator Bait on The World's Most Dangerous Magic 2 – 2 May 1999 – escape from a straitjacket and chains while hung upside down by his toes from a trapeze above 130 hungry alligators at Gatorland in Florida. Airplane Jump for the 500th episode of the Japanese television show Naruhudo! The World – Chained with handcuffs, locked in a straitjacket and thrown from an airplane 13,500 feet in the air Gunnarson had one minute of freefall in which to release himself and open his parachute. Tractor Pull – Chained between two 450 horsepower tractors and had to escape before Gunnarson was pulled to pieces (9 June 2007). Car Crusher Escape for the television show "The Spectacular World of Guinness Records", hosted by David Frost. He was handcuffed and chained into a 1970 Cadillac, with his neck chained to the steering wheel, his legs to the brake pedal, and his arms to the doors. Beer Can Escape – handcuffed and chained inside a 200-liter can of beer and escaped. The famous Trailer Park Boys from their TV show dumped beer and ice over Gunnarson as he was shoved into the over flowing beer can. Gunnarson received International media coverage for his crazy escape. Roller Coaster Escape chained to the tracks of a Bullet Coaster in China. Houdini's Chinese Water Torture Cell Shark Cage Escape Packing Crate Escape Car Wash Escape Under Water Coffin Escape Hanging Upside Down Burning Rope Escape Death Cage – Zhangjaijei, China Burning Viking Ship Escape – Iceland Snake Temple Escape – Malaysia Russian Death Tank

Awards 2013 Ripley's Record New York, N.Y. – Ripley's Believe It Or Not – World's Most Daring Escape Artist 2012 Merlin Award Shenzhen, China – International Magicians Society – World's Best Escape Artist 2004 Silver Cuffs Award Indianapolis, U.S. – Life Time Achievement Award for his many extreme and daring escapes over nearly three decades of performing Guinness World Records Los Angeles, U.S. – Set two World records for escaping on the TV Show Spectacular World of Guinness Records Humanitarian of the Year Chicago, U.S. – United Commercial Travelers presented the Award out of 185,000 Nominated in North America for Dean's devotion to help raise money for numerous charities Houdini Award Tokyo, Japan – Magic Star TV Awards Show- Legendary movie actor Tony Curtis, who played Houdini in 1953 movie about Houdini, presented Houdini Award for " World's Greatest Escape Artist"