Do you love the thrill of watching a talented magician execute a trick that leaves you awed, making you wonder “how on earth did he or she do that?” If so, then you’ll relish reading about these five ingenious practitioners of magic, some of the most compelling illusionists of all time:
Harry Houdini, 1874 – 1926
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born magician and stunt performer known for his brilliantly innovative escape acts. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the field of stunt work and illusion. His most famous acts included putting himself in situations of entrapment involving items like handcuffs, chains, and straightjackets, and then freeing himself in spectacular displays of skill. Houdini appeared in a variety of movies, received several accolades for his talents as a magician (including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame), and quickly became a major figure in American popular culture, an iconic status that he continues to hold today.
Doug Henning, 1947 – 2000
Doug Henning was a Canadian-born magician, escape artist, and stunt performer. Early on in his career, he developed a live magic show called “Spellbound,” which broke box office records in Toronto and went on to have a successful four year Tony-nominated run on Broadway under the title The Magic Show. He followed his stage success by breaking into the world of American television with special on NBC called Doug Henning’s World of Magic, in which he re-enacted Harry Houdini’s famous (and extremely treacherous) water torture escape. The TV special was a hit and he followed it with six more annual CBS broadcasts that attracted a large audience. Henning’s brilliant illusions and on-stage charisma made him one of the most respected magicians of his time.
David Copperfield, 1956 – present
David Copperfield is a hugely popular American illusionist who has been described by Forbes Magazine as the most commercially successful magic performer of all time. He is particularly famous for his dazzling television network specials that have earned him multiple Emmy Awards. He has garnered nearly a dozen Guinness World Records, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a “Living Legend” title dubbed by the US Library of Congress. He has also had significant success on Broadway, earning the highest Broadway gross ever to have been garnered in a single week. He still performs over 500 shows a year and currently holds the distinction of having sold the most tickets worldwide of any solo entertainer in history.
Criss Angel, 1967 – present
Criss Angel is a popular contemporary magician and illusionist famous for his television show Criss Angel Mindfreak and his live Las Vegas show Criss Angel Believe. He has dazzled audiences with signature illusions like walking on water, floating between two buildings, walking up the side of the Luxor Hotel, and cutting himself in half. He has also done performances and interviews on numerous television shows, including the Oprah Winfrey show and the Late Show with David Letterman. His Las Vegas show, which mixes his magic tricks with visually stunning Cirque Du Soleil elements, is currently one of the most popular Vegas attractions.
Lance Burton, 1960 – present
Lance Burton is a stage illusionist famous for his appearances on numerous television shows and for having performed for major cultural figures like Queen Elizabeth and President Reagan. He also headlined as a massively popular entertainer in Las Vegas for over two decades. He first came to national attention when he appeared, as a very young man, on the Johnny Carson Show, performing a series of tricks that wowed Carson and the audience. He has also performed multiple times on the Jay Leno Show. Burton has also hosted and starred in multiple successful network television specials. He has twice been awarded “Magician of the Year” by the Academy of Magical Arts.
