Nik Wallenda Successfully Completes ‘Volcano Live!’ Tightrope Walk, Plugs His Book a Ton
Nicaragua stunt — and ABC stunt programming — went off without a hitch
Tony Maglio | March 4, 2020 @ 6:51 PM
Last Updated: March 4, 2020 @ 7:03 PM
ABC/Jeff Daly
Nik Wallenda had ice water in his veins while tightrope-walking in the Ring of Fire.
Wallenda successfully completed ABC’s “Volcano Live!” walk on Wednesday night, with the 1,800-foot-long journey on a one-inch cable clocking in at 31 minutes, 21 seconds. The pace was a hair slower than the 25-30 minutes he predicted during our discussion.
The stunt’s successful completion was never really in doubt, though ABC’s harrowing music and the Masaya Volcano’s elements did their best to heighten the drama.
Though the Nicaragua volcano sure provided a dangerous-looking setting, especially with the red lava lake far below, there were no real issues along the way. Wallenda’s harness, required by ABC, also helped mitigate the risks.
Easy for us on the ground — er, couch — to say, we know. A thermal camera helped keep track of Wallenda during the foggiest spots. Wallenda was also mic’d up and stayed in conversation with his father along the way. In the home stretch, he spoke live with hosts Chris Harrison and Sage Steele.
Wallenda elected to not wear an oxygen tank, something he told TheWrap ahead of the special would be a “last-minute decision.”
The ABC special kicked off with Wallenda’s aerialist wife Erendira performing a stunt of her own over the volcano, suspended from Nik’s wire. The original plans called for Erendira to perform the stunt while suspended from a helicopter, but that idea was altered 24 hours prior due to wind, Harrison and Steele said.
Erendira wore a gas mask for most of her performance. At a certain point, she removed the mask to hang by her teeth.
Like her husband, Erendira wore a harness at ABC’s behest.
In between the two stunts was a whole bunch of science, some interviews, and one Wallenda group prayer. The prayers continued across the wire, with Nik praising God throughout the duration.
Wallenda got pretty motivational around the 22-minute mark — that’s when he started plugging his upcoming book, “Facing Fear,” pretty hard.
“Volcano Live” was produced by Dick Clark Productions. Nik Wallenda was among the executive producers.
27 Club: Stars Who Died at Age 27, From Jimi Hendrix to Kurt Cobain (Photos)
Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Amy Winehouse all died before they reached 28.
Robert Johnson (May 8, 1911 - August 16, 1938)
The American blues legend made the Mississippi Delta style famous, but his premature death near Greenwood, Mississippi, remains as mysterious as much of his short life.
Rudy Lewis (August 23, 1936 – May 20, 1964)
The R&B singer for the Drifters sang lead on such hits as "Some Kind of Wonderful," "Up On The Roof" and "On Broadway." He was found dead in a Harlem hotel room of a suspected drug overdose.
Brian Jones (February 28, 1942 – July 3, 1969)
The founder and original leader of the Rolling Stones drowned in the swimming pool of his home in East Sussex, England.
Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970)
The rock guitarist died in London of asphyxiation while intoxicated on barbituates.
Janis Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970)
The blues singer died of a heroin overdose at the Landmark Motor Hotel in Hollywood.
Jim Morrison (December 8, 1943 - July 3, 1971)
The singer, songwriter and frontman for The Doors was found in the bathtub of a Paris apartment, apparently from an accidental heroin overdose.
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (September 8, 1945 – March 8, 1973)
A founding member of the Grateful Dead, McKiernan died of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at his home in Corte Madera, California.
Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988)
The American graphic artist famous for graffiti-inspired paintings died of a heroin overdose in his Manhattan studio.
Reggie Lewis (November 21, 1965 – July 27, 1993)
A small forward for the Boston Celtics, he suffered a sudden heart attack on the court at an off-season practice.
Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994)
The singer-songwriter and frontman for the grunge band Nirvana died of a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head.
Richey James Edwards (December 1967, - February 1, 1995)
The Welsh guitarist and lyricist for the Manic Street Preachers missed a flight for a U.S. promotional tour on February 1, 1995 and he functionally disappeared near the Wales-England border soon after that. In 2008, he was declared "presumed dead."
Jonathan Brandis (April 13, 1976 – November 12, 2003)
A child actor best known for the NBC sci-fi series "SeaQuest DSV" committed suicide in his L.A. apartment building.
Pat Tillman (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004)
The star safety for the Arizona Cardinals who left the NFL after 9/11 to enlist in the U.S. Army. He died in Afghanistan in a case of friendly fire in the midst of a firefight.
Amy Winehouse (September 14, 1983 - July 23, 2011)
The British R&B and soul singer, who had long battled an addiction to drugs and alcohol, died of alcohol poisoning at her London home.
The Chicago rapper (né Derrick Coleman) who rose to fame with his cousin Chief Keef died on in 2018. No cause of death was immediately revealed, but Santana was hospitalized three months before with kidney and liver failure.
The professional pitcher, who debuted with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012 and later played for the Los Angeles Angels, was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Southlake, Texas, in July 2019. No foul play was suspected, authorities said.
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Gone too soon
Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Amy Winehouse all died before they reached 28.
