Jessie Graff

Born Jessica Lauren Graff on January 12, 1984, in New York City, New York, Jessie Graff began her athletic journey at an early age. She started circus classes at six and competitive gymnastics by age nine, continuing for six years with the Frederick Gymnastic Club. By age 12, she was performing as a trapeze artist. Graff excelled scholastically, graduating from Urbana High School in Ijamsville, Maryland, in 2002 as a Track Team Leader, honor roll student, and National Honor Society member, having also been a pole vaulter during high school. She pursued higher education, majoring in aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech and completing a theatre degree at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2007. Her diverse skill set includes black belts in Taekwondo and Kung Fu, alongside training in five other martial arts styles.

Graff commenced her stunt career in 2007, quickly making a name for herself in the film and television industry. Her work includes roles in major productions such as “X-Men: First Class,” “Bridesmaids,” “John Carter,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Supergirl,” “The Mandalorian,” and “Wonder Woman 1984,” where she also served as a stunt double for Gal Gadot. She has performed a wide array of stunts, including tumbling, trampoline work, rooftop sequences, and dramatic falls. Her dedication to continuously learning new skills from other stunt professionals underscores her commitment to her craft.

Beyond stunt work, Jessie Graff gained significant public recognition as a competitor on “American Ninja Warrior.” Her career on the show includes numerous milestones: in 2013, she became the first woman to qualify for a City Finals course. In 2016, she made history as the first woman to clear Stage 1 of the Las Vegas Finals course. The following year, during the “USA vs. The World” competition, she became the first woman to successfully complete Stage 2 in Las Vegas. She replicated this success in “Sasuke” 34, the original Japanese version, becoming the first woman worldwide to finish Stage 2. Despite injuries requiring stem cell treatment for her shoulders and neck, she continued to compete, participating in “The Titan Games” season 2 and returning to “American Ninja Warrior” in season 14 after a recovery period, demonstrating her resilience and enduring competitive spirit.