Biography David Blaine

David Blaine was born April 4, 1973 in Brooklyn New York. In his life he has gone by several last names; Blaine is his middle name. Patrie White, his single mother, raised him while taking on as many as three jobs. He never met his real father. At age four he saw a magician perform in a subway; he then decided to purchase his first trick, The Pencil Through the Card. Magic struck him because of its relationship with math and science. David's grandmother was a gypsy, and passed down some tarot cards to him. Since he did not have the money to go to a magic shop, he spent countless hours in libraries researching magic. There he would read every book he could get his hands on and continued fiddling with his tarot cards. At age five, he learned what his dream was; after showing a neighbor an effect with the tarot cards, he saw for the first time the impact magic can have emotionally on people. He immediately told his mom he wanted to be a showman. She encouraged him in everyway.

At ten his mother got remarried to John Bukalo, a banker, and moved to Jerseyville. His half-brother Michael was born. He began to develop an interest in acting. He traveled to Manhattan everyday to attend an acting school. He did a few commercials and small appearances on soap operas. At sixteen, David Blaine levitated for his doctor who immediately took him in for examination. A year later he moved back to New York and lived in Hell's Kitchen. When David was 21, his mother died of ovarian cancer. She was 48 and they were very close. It was then that he devoted his life to magic.

Magic got into David. He was your regular street magician who got gigs at rich parties. Because of his talent and uncanny character, he was able to draw up connections to ABC. After seeing a tape of his magic, they requested an interview and began planning a special. David Blaine: Street Magic, his first special, was the beginning of a new era. The special was not about disappearing tigers and thick stage lights; it was the streets, real people, and David. This had never been done before. The show was an instant success. People still talk about David Blaine's levitation. At only 24 years old, David Blaine became famous.

David has dated Madonna, Fiona Apple, and model Josie Moran. He was last heard dating the German former model Manon von Gerkan. He told Howard Stern he still seems to be close to all of his ex's. He has also had a close friendship with Leonardo DiCaprio. He has performed magic before and after he became famous to such people as Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mike Tyson, and President Clinton. He has also made guest appearances on nearly every major talk show of the decade including Oprah, Conan O'Brien, Rosie, Carson Daily, and Howard Stern. Even Comedy Central's SouthPark has an episode featuring him.

David Blaine became a stuntman after his idol, Houdini. His first stunt, getting buried alive for seven days, had the approval of Houdini's granddaughter. He did the stunt to promote his second special, David Blaine: Magic Man. According to a letter Magic Directory received, David Blaine: Magic Man was named after an old website. Since then, David has been frozen alive, trapped standing on a poll over a hundred feet from the ground, and viewed hanging from a crane over the River Thames bridge in London. He likes to get trapped in secluded areas with no food. Each stunt seems to be more dangerous. David Blaine will probably continue performing magic and stunts to his 'audience' for the rest of his life.

David Blaine Website

Biography Lance Burton

Lance Burton appeared for the very first time in 1960, when he was born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He was christened William Lance Burton and grew up in the beautiful countryside of the American South.

Lance took an interest in magic at the tender age of four and performed to neighbours and friends a handful of tricks throughout childhood into early adulthood.

By the age of eight, Lance was set to enter the world of classical magic as his destiny to become the world's top magician was accelerated by his meeting of the magician Harry Collins who was to become his mentor.

Before performing professionally, Lance practised for eleven years, attending magic conventions and learning from other magicians. His influences across the years have been many; one was Channing Pollack, who's dove magic inspired Lance to create his own dove routine which won him the prestigious 'Grand Prix' award. Other magical sources of inspiration included Harry Collins, his mentor, escapologist Harry Houdini, the close-up performances of The Great Tomsini (in particular John Thompson) and the floating illusions by his advisor, top magician of the 1940's, Lee Grabel.

He entered the public eye at seventeen years of age, winning his first magic competition as a young magician. Three years later, in 1980, Lance was awarded the prestigious "Gold Medal for Excellence" from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. This occasion was to mark his move from Kentucky to California in order to forward his career and to enter the sparkling world of showbusiness. It was in California, Lance Burton obtained his first agent who launched him into stage work, which led him to TV. The first was "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson which led to an overwhelming influx of offers. The offer Lance decided to accept was a contract to appear in Las Vegas, at the Folies Bergere for eight weeks... he was an astounding success and as it turned out stayed for nine years.

Lance Burton's career took another upward turn in 1982 when the Federation International Society de Magic, in Switzerland, awarded him the "Grand Prix"; magic's highest honour. With this, not only had he become a world champion magician, but he was the first American and the youngest magician ever to achieve this significant award!

Lance Burton left the Follies Bergere to present his own show at the Hacienda Hotel and whilst continuing to win many prestigious awards in magic, was offered his own theatre in Las Vegas. To top this, he was offered a thirteen year contract at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. No magician had ever been offered a contract with such a lengthy duration. He can be seen performing there today.

Biography David Copperfield

Copperfield was born David Seth Kotkin in Metuchen, New Jersey, the son of Jewish parents, Rebecca, an insurance adjuster, and Hyman Kotkin, who owned and operated a men's haberdashery in Metuchen called Korby's. Copperfield's mother was born in Jerusalem, Israel, while his paternal grandparents were Jewish Russian immigrants. Copperfield began practicing magic at the age of twelve, and became the youngest person ever admitted to the Society of American Magicians. By age 16, he was teaching a course in magic at New York University.At age 18, he enrolled at Fordham University, and was cast in the lead role of the Chicago-based musical The Magic Man (directed by Holland, MI's John Tammi) three weeks into his freshman year,adopting his new stage name "David Copperfield" from the Charles Dickens book of the same name. At age 19, he was headlining at the Pagoda Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Copperfield played the character of Ken the magician in the 1980 horror film Terror Train. He also made an uncredited appearance in the 1994 film Prêt-à-Porter. Most of his media appearances have been through television specials and guest spots on television programs. His illusions have included making the Statue of Liberty disappear, flying, levitating over the Grand Canyon, and walking through the Great Wall of China.

In 1982, Copperfield founded Project Magic, a rehabilitation program to help disabled patients regain lost or damaged dexterity skills by using sleight-of-hand magic as a method of physical therapy. The program has been accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association, and is in use in over 1100 hospitals throughout 30 countries worldwide.

Copperfield met supermodel Claudia Schiffer in 1993 at a Berlin celebrity gala when he brought her on stage to participate in a mind reading act. They were engaged three months later, but the couple parted ways in the fall of 1999 never having set a wedding date.

In 1996, Copperfield joined forces with Dean Koontz, Joyce Carol Oates, Ray Bradbury and others for “David Copperfield’s Tales of the Impossible,” an anthology of original fiction set in the world of magic and illusion. A second volume was later published in 1997, called “David Copperfield's Beyond Imagination.”

Forbes magazine reported that Copperfield earned $57 million in 2003, making him the tenth highest paid celebrity in the world. It also estimated that he made $57 million in 2004 (35th) and $57 million in 2005 (41st) in merchandise and tour revenue. Copperfield performs over 500 shows per year throughout the world.

Copperfield has a collection of magic and conjuring memorabilia and historical artifacts that he stores in a warehouse in Las Vegas.The warehouse is entered via a secret door in a sex shop. He calls the collection the International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts. It is not open to the public.

David Copperfield Website