The Road
to Stuntman.
Ilian Simeonow was born on 13 February 1980 in Dresden. His mother, Irina Simeonow (née Schönball), was an active athlete from 1964 to 1977 — DDR youth champion and DDR national champion in sports acrobatics — and has been a coach at PSV Dresden since 1989 (sports acrobatics and trampoline). His father, Stefan Iliev Simeonow, worked as a truck driver for a coal merchant and, after reunification, for a furniture moving company; he is now retired.
His brother Marko attended KJS Dresden (Children's and Youth Sports School, diving) and, in 1989 during a time of upheaval, enrolled at the State Ballet School and School for Performing Arts Berlin. He specialised in teeterboard acrobatics; his other disciplines include the Wheel of Death, trampoline and Globe of Speed — with the latter, he entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1999.
Ilian spent his first six school years at the 35th Secondary School in Dresden, followed by four more years at the 36th Secondary School. He then completed a 5½-year training as a diploma artist at the State Ballet School Berlin, where he also learned to play guitar and discovered the secrets of magic. From the age of eight, his dream was to become a stuntman.
After his engagement in 2000/2001 at the Friedrichstadtpalast Berlin, he was called up on 2 January 2002 and completed his military service with the 2nd Parachute Battalion 373 in Doberlug-Kirchhain. In 2004 he joined the stunt team "Artist of Stunt", followed by two years of intensive training and numerous stunt shows. In 2006 he founded his own stunt team, Action Artist, with a unique concept: half the team consisted of acrobats and extreme performers, opening up a new niche. Due to stress culminating in a heart attack, the team was disbanded in 2009 — though the deep friendships and collaborations continue to this day.
Since 2005, Ilian has been a regular rider with the Globe of Speed team, and since 2008 a Wheel of Death runner. In 2003 he worked for a full year as a teeterboard acrobat and high diver, and has been performing as a magician since 2000. His ability to quickly absorb, recall and execute movement sequences has allowed him to establish himself across many genres — many consider him one of the most versatile all-rounders, artists and stuntmen in the business.
Ilian is based in Heiligenhaus and is available for international bookings in film, TV and live productions.
