Steve Brodie

Steve Brodie (1863–1901) was a Brooklyn bookmaker who claimed to have jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge and survived on July 23, 1886. It was subsequently determined that Brodie had not jumped, but instead used a dummy he had hidden in the area. The newspaper reports at the time gave Brodie lots of publicity, and the New York tavern he opened shortly afterward was a success. Years later, actor Steve Brodie used the Brooklyn man's name for his movie stage name.