Famous 20th Century Magicians

Legendary magician Harry Houdini initially worked as a trapeze artist named “Ehrich, the Prince of the Air” and was later known for his iconic stunt of escaping from handcuffs, at times even under water and while buried alive. He died after a blow to the gut damaged his appendix.

David Blaine is a one of the most popular magicians and illusionists globally who fascinates others with his magic tricks, endurance stunts and extreme performances. His famous stunts include Frozen in Time and Above the Below. He started as a street performer and later began doing television shows.

David Copperfield is a famous American magician. Such is his popularity that his TV specials have received 38 Emmy Award nominations, out of which they have won 21 awards. He also has 11 Guinness World Records under his belt. Also known for his charitable activities, Copperfield founded a rehabilitation program called Project Magic, which is used in over 1100 hospitals.

One half of the German-American entertainer duo Siegfried & Roy, Siegfried Fischbacher teamed up with his partner Roy Horn to perform awe-inspiring stunts with white tigers and lions. They hosted one of Las Vegas’s most visited shows, till Horn was severely injured after a tiger attacked Horn on stage.

American magician and illusionist Teller is most noted for his performance with Penn Jillette as half of the famous comedy magic duo Penn & Teller. Works of Teller also includes featuring in the series Penn & Teller: Bullshit! with Jillette; co-directing and incorporating stage magic techniques in the plays Macbeth and The Tempest; and directing the documentary film Tim's Vermeer. 

Criss Angel is an American illusionist, magician, and musician. He is best known for appearing in the popular reality television series, Criss Angel Mindfreak. He also holds numerous world records as a magician and was adjudged Magician of the Century by the International Magicians Society in 2010. Criss Angel also has a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Canadian-American magician Shin Lim became an international sensation after winning on America’s Got Talent. Originally an aspiring pianist, he quit music after being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. A sleight-of-hand master, he believes magic is more of an art than a trick. He is married to fellow performer Casey Thomas.

Aleister Crowley was an occultist, writer, and ceremonial magician. He is credited with founding a religion called Thelema and promised his followers with guiding them into the Aeon of Horus, a time of self-realization. More than seven decades after his death, Crowley remains influential among those who revere counterculture and Western esotericism and is considered a prophet in Thelema.

American magician Penn Jillette is part of the magician duo Penn & Teller, which he formed with fellow magician Teller. A graduate of the Ringling Bros. clown college, he began his career with a Broadway touring show. He has been part of several TV shows and has penned the NYT bestseller God, No!

The grandson of Max Katz, who once headed the Society of American Magicians, Ricky Jay started his career as an opening act for prominent entertainers such as singer Tina Turner. He gradually established himself as the greatest sleight-of-hand artist of his time. He has also appeared in films such as Boogie Nights.

World renowned stage magician James Randi, better known by his stage name, The Amazing Randi, had been drawn to magic while recovering from a bicycle accident. He later dropped out of high school to become a road magician. He is also fond of debunking theories of paranormal activity.

American comic-magician John Edward Szeles, better known as The Amazing Johnathan, was known for his unique mix of stage magic and stand-up comedy. A regular at Las Vegas shows, he also appeared on several TV shows. He also penned a book on practical jokes, but sadly passed away due to a heart condition.

American magician Val Valentino soared to fame with his magic shows in Las Vegas. He also revealed the secrets behind several magic tricks on the 4-part special Breaking the Magician’s Code, disguised as the Masked Magician. He is a cancer survivor and is also famous in Brazil as Mister M.

Chung Ling Soo was an American magician best remembered for his final act, a failed bullet catch trick, which ended his life. Born William Ellsworth Robinson, Soo assumed the identity of a Chinese man to perform his magic tricks. He even created a back story for himself and only a few knew about his real identity until his accidental death.

Justin Willman is an American comedian, television personality, magician, and producer. He is credited with creating the popular reality television show, Magic for Humans. Justin Willman is also known for his philanthropic efforts; he serves on the board of directors for MagicAid, a non-profit organization that uses magic tricks to improve the hospitalization experience for children.

Kreskin became mentalist inspired by comic-strip Mandrake the Magician. He gained attention with television series The Amazing World of Kreskin and has appeared on shows like The Tonight Show and Late Night with David Letterman. An active performer till-present, Kreskin prefers to present himself as an entertainer instead of a psychic and never claims of having paranormal or clairvoyant powers.

Carl Ballantine was an American magician, actor, and comedian. He is best remembered for his vaudeville-style comedy routine which involved his famous transparent magic tricks. Carl Ballantine is credited with creating comedy magic and was honored by the Academy of Magical Arts with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Fellowship in 2006. He has influenced magicians and comedians alike.

American magician, comedian and actor Ed Alonzo starred in the television sitcom Saved by the Bell and guest-starred in series like Full House and Murphy Brown. He showcased his comedic and magic skills in a daily show at California's Great America; performed for Worlds of Fun, Valleyfair! and Knott's Berry Farm; and also worked with Katy Perry and Britney Spears.  

Lance Burton is an American retired stage magician who performed over 15,000 shows in Las Vegas alone. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Burton entertained over five million people with various tricks. Lance Burton is the recipient of several prestigious awards such as the Blackstone Theatre Award and the David Devant Award.

Banachek is an English magician, mentalist, and mind reader. He is best known for his contribution to James Randi's Project Alpha experiment. Banachek is also known for testing the genuineness of numerous self-described psychics as part of the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge organized by the James Randi Educational Foundation.

Ian Brackenbury Channell, who is popularly known as The Wizard of New Zealand, is an illusionist, comedian, educator, and politician. He is best known for his public speeches, especially in front of the famous Christchurch Cathedral. His life and career have inspired a couple of documentaries.  

American magician, comedian, podcaster and YouTuber Brian Brushwood quit his Dell job to follow his passion for magic. Every year, he performs 100–200 live-shows of Bizarre Magic (which combines old sideshow-stunts, conventional-magic, mind-reading and comedy) on college campuses across the US. He has also gained attention with internet broadcasting shows like Scam Nation, Weird Things and The Modern Rogue.

Dai Vernon was a Canadian magician best remembered for his sleight of hand technique, which involves close-up magic and card tricks. Respected by fellow magicians, Vernon served as a mentor to his contemporaries and aspiring magicians. His life and career inspired a documentary film titled Dai Vernon: The Spirit of Magic, which released in 1999.

One of the most popular magicians of his time, Howard Thurston was born to working-class parents and ran away from home as a child to join a circus. He popularized the floating woman illusion previously performed by Harry Kellar and was best known for his card tricks.

Cyril Takayama is an American magician best known for his performances around Japan and on the internet. He has also appeared on MTV and AXN, performing various magic tricks amidst unsuspecting victims. Cyril Takayama has also won several awards, including the Magic Woods Award.

Harry Blackstone Jr. was an American magician, television performer, and author. Apart from modernizing and developing the techniques and routines developed by his father, Harry Blackstone Jr. also created best-selling magic kits and appeared on popular TV shows like The Tonight Show. He was also one of the most decorated magicians at the time of his death in 1997.

Popular magician and entertainer Bob McAllister started his entertainment career as a ventriloquist on the Today Show and soared to fame in the 1970s with his children’s show Wonderama. He also performed in the award-winning series Kids Are People Too and The Bob McAllister Show.

Harry Kellar was an American magician who performed extensively around the world. A predecessor of Harry Houdini, Kellar was nicknamed the Dean of American Magicians. Harry Kellar is best remembered for his levitation trick where he would make a girl levitate.

Roy Horn was a German-American entertainer and magician. He was one half of the magician duo Siegfried & Roy. Horn and Siegfried were famous for appearing alongside tigers and lions. From 1990 to 2003, their show performed at The Mirage was considered the most-visited show in Las Vegas. Their act inspired the biographical movie Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Box.

Starting as an amateur magician in his village, Jewel Aich soon became a worldwide sensation. The Bangladeshi performer is also a talented bansuri player. He has been associated with several charitable causes, such as acid survivor rehabilitation and disaster relief management. He has also been UNICEF's Celebrity Goodwill Ambassador.