DAVID COPPERFIELD
Name: David Copperfield
Born: September 16, 1956 Metuchen, New Jersey
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.
Born in New Jersey as David Seth Kotkin, Copperfield began practicing magic
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 (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.
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. Copperfield performs over 500 shows per year throughout the world.
Name: David Copperfield
Born: September 16, 1956 Metuchen, New Jersey
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.
Born in New Jersey as David Seth Kotkin, Copperfield began practicing magic
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 (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.
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. Copperfield performs over 500 shows per year throughout the world.