Frank Richards (performer)

Frank Anson Richards, also known as Frank "Cannonball" Richards and Cannonball Richards (February 20, 1887 – February 7, 1969), was an American carnival and vaudeville performer whose act involved taking heavy blows to his abdomen.

Richards began by letting people (including heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey) punch him in the gut. Dempsey hit him in the abdomen a reported total of seventy-five times. He then progressed to letting people jump on his belly, being struck by a two-by-four, being struck by a sledgehammer, and finally being shot by a 104-lb. (47 kg) cannonball from a 12 foot (3.6m) compressed air cannon. Richards limited his cannonball act to twice per day, as performing it more often was too painful.