David Copperfield (illusionist)

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David Copperfield
Image:David.jpg
BornSeptember 16 1956 (1956-09-16) (age 53)
Metuchen, New Jersey
Occupationmagician, illusionist, director, Producer, Writer
Religious stanceJewish
Websitewww.dcopperfield.com

David Copperfield (born David Seth Kotkin on September 16, 1956) is an American magician and illusionist best known for his combination of illusions and storytelling.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Born in New Jersey as David Seth Kotkin[1], Copperfield began practicing magic at the age of twelve, and became the youngest person ever admitted to the Society of American Magicians.[2] By age 16, he was teaching a course in magic at New York University.[3] 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,[citation needed] 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.[4]

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. 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,[5] 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 was engaged to the supermodel Claudia Schiffer, but the couple parted ways in 1999 after a six-year relationship.

David Copperfield at one time was ready to open a theme restaurant called "Magic Underground." There were 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. Eventually the New York project ran into trouble and the Walt Disney World location was aborted.

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.”

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.[6] Copperfield performs over 500 shows per year throughout the world.[7]

According to Copperfield's official website, his tour schedule shows that throughout December 2007 he will perform at the MGM Hollywood Theater every night.

[edit] Personal life

In February 2006, David's father, Hy (who often accompanied David on his many tours around the world), died in San Diego, CA. David set up a website, Remember Hy, so fans and friends could pay tribute.

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.[8]) One of Copperfield's assistants wrote down most of the license plate number, and the suspects were later arrested.[9] Seventeen year old Terrance Riley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison for three counts of robbery with a weapon and one count of attempted robbery. Riley was also ordered to testify against his two co-defendants, his brother eighteen year old Dwayne Riley, and seventeen year old Markeith Jones.[10]

David Copperfield said in August 2006 that he has found the "Fountain of Youth" in the southern Bahamas, amid a cluster of four tiny islands called Musha Cay, which he had purchased on July 14th of that year. He claims that the water brings dead leaves back to life, and brings near dead insects back to life[11]. He said he has hired biologists and geologists to examine its potential effect on humans. [2] [3] This claim echoes the precursor to many of his previous illusions and seems to predict what his next illusion will be.

[edit] FBI investigation

On October 18, 2007, the website TMZ.com reported that David Copperfield was being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The raid reportedly stemmed from an ongoing case in Seattle. KTNV-TV Channel 13 in Las Vegas reported that 12 agents stormed a warehouse belonging to Copperfield. The agents seized a computer hard drive, a digital camera system and—according to early reports—nearly $US2 million ($2.25 million) in cash.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal printed a story confirming the raid at the warehouse in an investigation of possible sexual misconduct by the illusionist, citing a source with knowledge of the investigation.[12] Copperfield’s accuser, a 21-year-old Seattle woman, claimed she was raped, assaulted and threatened by Copperfield while alone with him on his private island in the Bahamas, described as a $50-million private retreat at Musha Cay, in a tiny string of white-sand islands 85 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas.[13] The young woman told Seattle police, and later the FBI, that Copperfield raped and struck her during her two days on the island, said sources familiar with her allegations. She said that, afterwards, Copperfield threatened her, telling her she'd better keep quiet, and then escorted her onto a plane.[13] A rape kit was assembled, and a federal source has confirmed that some of her clothing was taken into evidence.

The case is under the FBI’s jurisdiction because the accuser is a U.S. citizen and did not report the incident while staying in the Bahamas.[14]

Copperfield later issued a statement through his attorney denying all allegations of misconduct.

[edit] Lawsuit

In November 2007, promoters sued Copperfield for nearly $2.2 million, after he pulled out of 48 shows in the face of rape claims. Filed November 6 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the breach of contract suit names Copperfield, his company and one of his attorneys.[15] The new lawsuit claims Copperfield backed out of a deal involving 10 performances in the United Arab Emirates and 38 shows in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore this autumn because he did not want to face questioning by reporters. An attorney for Copperfield said last month that the shows were cancelled after Asian tour operators defaulted on their contracts.

The lawsuit was filed by California-based Viva Art International Ltd. and Maz Concerts Inc. of Ontario. They claim they gave Copperfield approximately $2.2 million to cover his costs before he cancelled the shows.

[edit] Achievements and awards

Image:Copperfield.JPG
The handprints of David Copperfield in front of The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.

David Copperfield's success has been recognized by a number of awards. The illusionist has been nominated 35 times for Emmy Awards and has won 21 times[verification needed].

The Guinness Book of World Records has calculated that he has sold more tickets in his career than any other solo entertainer. Other Guinness World Records held by Copperfield include being the most awarded magician in history and being the first living magician to receive a star on the Hollywood 'Walk of Fame'.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London created a wax likeness of Copperfield.

David Copperfield has a French knighthood, received the Living Legend Award from the Library of Congress and appears on postage stamps in 6 countries.[verification needed]

He is the founder of The International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, the largest museum of its kind.[16]

He starred in “Dreams and Nightmares," the Broadway show that set box-office records[17], including the most tickets sold in a week. He has been featured on the cover of Forbes[18], Architectural Digest[19] and Esquire[20] .[Cite]

[edit] Television specials

[edit] Famous illusions

[edit] Filmography

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Witchel, Alex. " A Maestro of the Magic Arts Returns to His Roots", The New York Times, November 24, 1996. Accessed [{December 6]], 2007. "DAVID SETH KOTKIN WAS BORN IN Metuchen, N.J., 40 years ago; David Copperfield was born when David Kotkin turned 18, at the suggestion of the wife of a New York Post reporter. Which is why his passport reads David Kotkin, a k a David Copperfield."
  2. ^ A&E Biography - David Copperfield Bio
  3. ^ Short bio from Chicago Gigs on Copperfield
  4. ^ Short bio from Chicago Gigs on Copperfield
  5. ^ USA Today [1]
  6. ^ Forbes.com 2005 listing and 2004
  7. ^ Basquille, Mark. "David Copperfield to Captivate Seoul Audience", The Seoul Times, May 2004. 
  8. ^ "Copperfield's sleight of hand keeps wallet from robbers", Indy Star, 2006-04-27. 
  9. ^ David Copperfield Robbed At Gunpoint. The Smoking Gun (2006-04-26).
  10. ^ Thief tricked by David Copperfield pleads guilty. CNN (2006-11-10).
  11. ^ David Copperfield's Fountain of Youth.
  12. ^ "Copperfield raid related to Bahamas incident". 
  13. ^ a b Grand jury investigates Copperfield allegations. Seattle Times (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  14. ^ "FBI raids Copperfield's warehouse", reviewjournal.com. 
  15. ^ Promoters Sue David Copperfield for $2.2 Million. Voice of America (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
  16. ^ Houdini in the Desert. Forbes (2006-05-08). Retrieved on 2007-12-28. “The greatest collection of magic in the world lies hidden inside a nondescript Las Vegas warehouse.”
  17. ^ New York Times article reviewing Dreams and Nightmares
  18. ^ Picture of David on Forbes cover
  19. ^ Picture of David on Archictectural Digest cover
  20. ^ Picture of David on Esquire cover

[edit] External links



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