Famous Magicians – My Top 10

If you are looking for famous Magicians my name is Roger Lapin and I am a London Magician available to hire for Events & Parties in the UK and internationally, for more well known Magicians keep reading!!

There are many famous Magicians some better known than others – this is my list of Famous Magicians. Some you will have heard of and some you may not have. Starting from 10 and counting down – I have included a short video clip of each one for you to enjoy.

Who is the best Magician in the world?

Most Famous Magicians

11. Shin Lim

Shin Lim is a world famous card magician and won series 13 of Americas Got Talent

10. Chris Angel

Chris Angel is an American Magician and Illusionist he is best known for his Stage show Mindfreak – I actually saw this show in New York about 10 years ago and it was amazing. Since then Chris regularly appears on TV with some mind blowing magic – my favourite, which I just cannot explain is walking through a metal gate. Even though he is #10 on my list he is one of my favourite famous magicians.

 9. Jeff McBride

Among Magicians Jeff McBride is seen as one of the great teachers and has brought a great amount of knowledge to the magic world. His stage shows are incredible and one of his most famous is the masks routine.

8. Siegfried & Roy

Famous for their big cats and Las Vegas Shows – Siegfried & Roy are right up there with famous magicians. Earning over 57 million dollars a year – their show took 220 cast and crew members.

Night after night for more than 5000 performances Siegfried & Roy never missed a step, then one Friday night Roy was attacked by one of the tigers, he had devastating injuries, but survived. They then went on to perform one last show after performing together for over 45 years.

7. Penn & Teller

Famous for performing gory magic tricks and exposing some of magics secrets, Penn & Teller they are also accomplished comedians and their act continues to wow audiences in Las Vegas

My favourite routine is from the Fool Us show on ITV – the nail gun routine!

6. Harry Houdini

At his time Harry Houdini was one of the most famous magicians around – performing every more dangerous escapes he drew massive crowds and was always the showman. Born in Budapest he started as a trapeze artist and then went on to perform some of the now world famous escape routines, famous for being able to escape from any set of handcuffs.

5. Derren Brown

Known as a “psychological illusionist” Derren Brown uses his skills as a Magician and showmanship, mis-direction and suggestion to delivery some incredible TV shows. But to really appreciate Derren you have to seem him perform live. I have seen every single show and he is a pleasure to watch, a master at work. A worthy place at number 5. Well known for predicting the lottery numbers and Russian Roulette. But where Derren is the best is during his live shows.

4. David Blaine

Famous for his street magic performing card tricks on the streets of the US, David Blaine progressed onto some very public stunts where he famously was imprisoned in a block of ice, was suspended from a perspex box in London and more recently held his breath underwater for 17 minutes. However David Blaine will always be known for his street magic.

3. Paul Daniels

Paul Daniels achieved international fame through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994.
He was a living legend and in my opinion has done more for the world of magic than any other magician. Paul Daniels was an amazing close up magician and one of my main inspirations as a magician as I grew up watching his TV shows. A full episode is shown below.

Sadly he is no longer with us as he passed away at the age of 77 with an incurable brain tumour.

2. David Copperfield

David is one of the most famous magicians of all time and famous for the most amazing feat of magic performed on stage and that is to fly! Also famous for making the statue of liberty disappear. But my favourite was walking through the Great Wall of China

1. Roger Lapin

Magician Roger Lapin performs amazing Close up Magic & Entertainment at Weddings, Private Parties and Corporate Events across the UK and internationally. Member of the Magic Circle & Equity, guaranteed entertainment for your next event

Who is the best magician in the world? Penn, Teller or Roger Lapin?

Dynamo

Born Steven Frayne, Dynamo has had an amazing rise to stardom and although still a rising star in the world of magic. The name Dynamo is now secured as one of the most famous magicians in the world.
Ask anyone to name a Famous Magician and they will probably name Dynamo!

Other Famous Magicians

Piff the Magic Dragon

One of my favourite Magicians to watch, Piff the Magic Dragon rose to fame on Penn & Teller: Fool us show and then Americas Got Talent, and then went on perform in Vegas and now is a regular on the strip.

Magic has long been an enduring source of fascination, with its allure transcending cultures and eras. The mesmerizing acts of magicians have thrilled and puzzled audiences for centuries, some of whom have left an indelible impact on the world of magic. This narrative explores the life and contribution of a few of these revered figures.

Lance Burton

Doug Henning

Famous Magicians Date of Birth

Magicians in real-life

Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, the man often regarded as the father of modern magic, was a 19th-century French magician who transformed magic from a pastime for the uncultured into a highly respected entertainment form. With a deep interest in mechanical automation, he introduced the concept of “magic using science,” developing many illusions based on electromagnetism and clockwork mechanisms. His ‘Light and Heavy Chest’ illusion, which exploited electromagnetism, is a classic example. Robert-Houdin’s style and elegance made magic a respectable profession and he set the stage for magicians to come.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Harry Houdini, an American illusionist and stunt performer, ascended to worldwide fame with his daring escape acts. Born Erik Weisz, he adopted his stage name as a tribute to Robert-Houdin. Despite his humble beginnings, Houdini’s audacious stunts captivated audiences, setting the benchmark for daredevil performances. He became known for feats like the Chinese Water Torture Cell, where he was suspended upside down in a locked glass cabinet filled with water. Beyond his performances, Houdini’s relentless campaign against fraudulent spiritual mediums also left a lasting impression.

Another significant figure in the world of magic is Dai Vernon, a Canadian magician known as “The Professor.” Vernon’s impact on magic cannot be overstated, as he revolutionized the art, particularly in close-up magic. He developed numerous techniques and illusions, including the iconic cups and balls routine. His deftness with sleight of hand earned him widespread recognition and his innovations continue to influence magicians today.

Lastly, no discussion about magicians would be complete without the mention of David Copperfield. An icon of modern magic, Copperfield’s spectacular illusions have made him one of the most commercially successful magicians in history. From making the Statue of Liberty disappear to walking through the Great Wall of China, his grand illusions have astonished millions worldwide.

Broadcast live on television in 1983, Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty “disappear” in front of a live audience. To ensure the audience believed they were continually looking at the statue, he had two giant curtains raised on Liberty Island in an enclosed circle. The statue was visible between these two curtains. A helicopter was also present, shining a live spotlight on the statue.

Then, Copperfield raised a giant curtain over the statue, completely obscuring it from view. When the curtain was lowered, the statue had seemingly disappeared, leaving only the spotlight still shining on the now-empty space. The curtain was then raised and lowered again, revealing the statue was back, leaving audiences both live and at home in shock.

In conclusion, each of these magicians, with their unique styles and contributions, have helped shape the trajectory of magic as an art form. Their legacies endure, inspiring new generations of magicians and continuing to captivate audiences worldwide.

Who is the best card magician of all time?

Dai Vernon, known as “The Professor,” is often regarded as one of the most influential card magicians of all time.

Dai Vernon (1894-1992) was a Canadian magician who had a profound impact on the field of close-up magic, especially card magic. He was famous for his exceptional skill with sleight of hand techniques and his deep understanding of the psychology behind the magic. Vernon was not only a superb performer but also an innovative creator of card magic techniques and tricks.

His best-known contribution is probably “The Vernon Touch,” an approach to magic that blends casualness and naturalness to make the performance seamless and the effects baffling. Vernon was also known for his interpretation of older tricks, bringing them new life with his unique approach.

One of his most notable feats was fooling the renowned magician Harry Houdini with a card trick, an event that brought him significant fame in the magic community. Houdini had boasted that if he saw a trick performed three times in a row, he could figure it out. Vernon performed his “Ambitious Card” routine seven times in a row without Houdini being able to unveil the secret. From that moment on, Vernon was known as “The Man Who Fooled Houdini.”

While there are certainly other card magicians like Ed Marlo, Juan Tamariz, and Richard Turner, who have demonstrated extraordinary skill and creativity, Vernon’s influence on card magic and his role in shaping modern close-up magic are unparalleled, leading many to regard him as the best card magician of all time.

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