Steve Mills (juggler)

Steve Mills (1957 – June 3, 2023)^[1] was an American juggler and unicyclist from Morristown, New Jersey. He was the inventor of the "Mills' Mess" juggling pattern.^[2][3] Mills was taught to juggle by Ron Graham, a juggler and mathematician.^[4]

The Dazzling Mills Family

In 1978, Mills married Carol Sue Haines.^[5] They began performing a juggling and unicycle act,^[6] later accompanied by their children Michelle and Anthony. Together the group became known as The Dazzling Mills Family.

They had performed at venues such as Harlem Globetrotters basketball games,^[7] the Arnold Fitness Expo, fairs,^[8] and schools.^[9] Television appearances included PM Magazine, The Statler Brothers Show, The Penn and Teller Show, Daily Planet, Most Daring, Smoking Gun Presents, and The Shotgun Red Variety Show.^[10]

Carol stopped performing in 2004 because of a nerve disorder.^[5] Kris Groth, who married Michelle in 2009,^[11] joined the group in 2008.^[12] In 2011, a baby girl, Chloe, was born to Kris and Michelle.^[13] In 2014, the group's web site stopped advertising for the group and was moved to advertising Steve as a solo act.^[14] The web site subsequently went dark in late 2017.^[15]

Awards

Mills was a winner of the International Jugglers' Association Championships in 1975, 1976 and 1978.^[16]