David Copperfield (illusionist)
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A press photo of David Copperfield
copyright David Copperfield |
David Copperfield (born
September 16,
1956 as
David Seth Kotkin) is a renowned
American magician and illusionist best known for his combination of spectacular illusions and storytelling. His most famous feats include making the
Statue of Liberty disappear,
flying, levitating over the
Grand Canyon, and walking through the
Great Wall of China.
Copperfield was born in
Metuchen,
New Jersey, to
Jewish immigrants from
Russia. He began performing magic professionally at the age of 12, 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 three weeks into his freshman year. At age 19, he was headlining at the
Pagoda Hotel in
Honolulu, Hawaii.
David 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 (film). Most of his media appearances have been through television specials and guest spots on television programs.
His name is taken from the
1850 Charles Dickens novel.
In 1982, Copperfield founded
Project Magic, a rehabilitation program to help disabled patients regain lost or damaged dexterity skills. The program has been accredited by the
American Occupational Therapy Association, and is in use in over 1,000
hospitals worldwide.
David Copperfield at one time was ready to open a "Theme" restaurant called "Magic Underground." There was to be two locations one in New York City and one in Walt Disney World (Built in the shape of a Hidden Mickey.) These locations would allow "D.A.V.I.D" (Digital, Audio, Video, Interface, Device) to remotely interact with the guests in the restaurant. It was basically a high tech videophone system. Other things such as the very table you were sitting at might "Float" around the room and even the waiters were to be involved performing magic as they brought your order to you. Sadly the New York project ran into trouble and it as well as the Walt Disney World location was aborted.
Copperfield has also attempted to preserve the history of the art of magic for present and future generations by providing a safe, permanent home for antiquarian props, books, and other historical ephemera related to conjuring. His vast collection, known as the
International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, is housed in
Las Vegas, Nevada.
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.
[Forbes.com 2005 listing and 2004] Copperfield performs over 500 shows per year throughout the world.
[[1]]Copperfield was engaged to the
supermodel Claudia Schiffer, but the couple parted ways in 1999 after a six year relationship. There was speculation that Schiffer was not actually Copperfield's girlfriend, but was instead a contractor working for him. The popular German tabloid
Bild published a fax from Copperfield's management to Schiffer, informing her of Copperfield's itinerary, where she should appear with Copperfield, and her fees. Copperfield labeled the fax a forgery. Richard Jeffries, the father of Schiffer's next boyfriend, art dealer Tim Jeffries, stirred up the controversy further when he publicly stated that Copperfield never had sexual relations with Schiffer.
['Nothing Personal' by Amy Reiter] Copperfield's retort was that since Jeffries was never in their bedroom, he couldn't know. Schiffer also denied the accusations by Jeffries.
[Copperfield Uses Web To Rebut Rumors]In April 2006, Copperfield and two of his female assistants were robbed at gunpoint after a performance in
West Palm Beach, Florida. His assistants gave the robbers their money, passports, and a cell phone. However, according to his police statement, Copperfield did not hand over anything. (He later claimed to have used
sleight-of-hand to hide his possessions.
[Copperfield's sleight of hand keeps wallet from robbers]) One of Copperfield's assistants wrote down most of the license plate number, and the suspects were later arrested.
[David Copperfield Robbed At Gunpoint].
* The Magic of ABC Starring David Copperfield (1977)
* The Magic of David Copperfield (1978)
* The Magic of David Copperfield II (1979)
* The Magic of David Copperfield III: Levitating Ferrari (1980)
* The Magic of David Copperfield IV: The Vanishing Airplane (1981)
* The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue Of Liberty (1983)
* The Magic of David Copperfield VI: Floating Over the Grand Canyon (1984)
* The Magic of David Copperfield VII (1985)
* The Magic of David Copperfield VIII: Walking Through the Great Wall of China (1986)
* The Magic of David Copperfield IX: Escape From Alcatraz (1987)
* The Magic of David Copperfield X: The Bermuda Triangle (1988)
* The Magic of David Copperfield XI: Explosive Encounter (1989)
* The Magic of David Copperfield XII: The Niagra Falls Challenge (1990)
* The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery On The Orient Express (1991)
* The Magic of David Copperfield XIV: Flying - Live The Dream (1992)
* David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic (1994)
* The Magic of David Copperfield XV: Fires Of Passion (1993)
* The Magic of David Copperfield XVI: Unexplained Forces (1995)
* The Magic of David Copperfield XVII: Tornado Of Fire (2001)
* Terror Train (1980)
*
Vanishing the Statue of Liberty*
David Copperfield's flying*
*
Official website*
TheMagicOfDC - Largest Unofficial website*
Videos of tricks
