David Copperfield - the popular illusionist and his greatest tricks

 David Copperfield is a famous American magician who organized spectacular shows and did incredible tricks. To this day, the magician has left unsolved mysteries that still puzzle people. The biggest tricks Copperfield has done include the disappearance of the Statue of Liberty or the penetration of the Great Wall of China. How much did the magician's illusion surprise the viewers? Which other shows are unheard of? This is the story of the world's most famous illusionist, David Copperfield.

David Copperfield was born on September 16, 1956, as David Seth Kotkin in Metuchen (New Jersey, United States). His parents - Rebecca and Hyman Kotkin - were Jewish immigrants. The mother was born in Jerusalem and sold insurance. David's father, on the other hand, was of Ukrainian origin, and in the United States, he was selling haberdashery in a men's store. Although David's parents were quite conservative, they always supported their only son in his passion for magic.

When David turned 10, he and his mother went to the magic accessories store. He really wanted Rebecca to buy him a puppet. David dreamed of becoming a ventriloquist in the future. However, when he saw many other magical items in the store, he decided it was better to start a career as an illusionist. The boy read every magic book he could get his hands on. He went to magician shows and later began practicing magic himself under the pseudonym "Davino the Boy Magician". For his shows, which he usually gave in the vicinity of his place of residence, with time he began to charge people for ... 5 dollars for admission. It can therefore be said that from an early age David saw in magic not only his passion but also a good way to earn money. Besides, thanks to his magic tricks, he also felt special, which helped him overcome his innate shyness.

At the age of twelve, David was accepted into the Association of American Illusionists, becoming its youngest member. When one day at a magicians' convention, he met a journalist who suggested that David change his nickname to a more recognizable one. He suggested to the boy that it could be David Copperfield - the famous hero of the novel by Charles Dickens. The boy thought it was an excellent idea. From that day on, he was already performing as David Copperfield.

David Copperfield began studying at Fordham University at the age of eighteen but dropped out after only three weeks. The teenager decided to devote himself fully to what he loved the most - and these were magic tricks. Copperfield got into the musical The Magic Man in Chicago by being a member of the magicians' association. Not only that, he played the main role in this production! In the musical, David not only did fascinating tricks but also sang and danced. Most of the illusions that ran through the show were invented by himself. Copperfield became convinced by his performance in the musical that the theatrical style of depicting magic was something it was created for. So the young magician decided to do everything to be able to earn a living in this way.

David's career took off in 1997, when the illusionist was discovered by Joseph Cates, one of the Broadway producers. He is the one who produced the magic program "The Magic of ABC" for ABC. David Copperfield became the host of the show, quickly winning the hearts of viewers. Soon after, Copperfield also received the show "The Magic of David Copperfield" on CBS (1978-2001). In total, as many as 18 television programs with David Copperfield were aired, as well as 2 documentaries about the magician. Copperfield has shown some incredible tricks on his shows. The largest of them include the disappearance of the Statue of Liberty (1986), levitation over the Grand Canyon (1984), penetration through the Great Wall of China (1991), escape from Alcatraz prison (1987), or the disappearance of the Orient Express wagon (1991). The unexplained mysteries of Copperfield's tricks continue to arouse great interest in viewers. Many of them have a hard time finding meaningful answers to the magician's amazing tricks.

Most people know the character of Copperfield or have at least once seen one of the tricks with which the magician charmed viewers on TV. Few, however, know interesting facts from the life of a magician. Before we get into the Guinness World Records and awards David Copperfield received for his work, let's check out some interesting facts about him.

1. In May 2001, David Copperfield entertained guests at a UNICEF show at the White House. He performed a trick where he cut singer Jennifer Lopez into six pieces.
2. In April 2009, Copperfield made his first live television appearance. He entertained the audience at the 44th edition of the Academy of Country Music Awards. During the show, he made Taylor Swift suddenly appear in an empty elevator.
3. In May 2009, Copperfield was reportedly removed from Michael Jackson's villa after demanding $ 1 million from the singer for his show.
4. In July 2012, OWN-TV aired an hour-long special with David Copperfield as part of "Oprah's Next Chapter." From this program, you could learn more about the personal and family life of the famous illusionist (including his home in the Bahamas and a museum devoted to magic).
5. In 1991, Copperfield bought the Mullholland Library of the Wizarding and Related Arts at an auction (for about $ 2 million). In the museum, opened by the magician in the place of the library, there are, among others 15,000 books on magic and rare magic books. David continues to enrich the museum with new, magical artifacts. This is how he created the amazing Museum and Library of Magic Arts, which is the largest museum of its kind in the world. The museum is located in Las Vegas, but cannot be visited. Only the magician's friends, as well as historians or collectors, have access to it. Interestingly, the entrance to the museum is located in Copperfield's headquarters, and it is ... a secret door.
6. In 2006, the magician bought over a dozen Bahamian islands called Musha Cay. He changed their name to "The Islands of Copperfield Bay".
7. In 1984, Copperfield was about to break free from a trap - a water tank he was chained in. He got tangled, however, and began to take on water. He was quickly pulled out and taken to the hospital. The magician rode a wheelchair for a week and then walked with a cane.
8. In 1989, Copperfield accidentally cut off the tip of his finger while performing a trick with sharp scissors.
9. Prior to 2020, David Copperfield performed daily. He gave as many as 15 shows a week at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
10. In 1994, the magician sued Herbert L. Becker, author of the book Secrets of the Great Illusionists, to prevent us from being published. However, Becker did manage to publish the book, although - as Copperfield had requested - he did not directly address the magician's tricks in it.
11. In 2007, David Copperfield was charged with sexual assault by a man named Lacey L. Carroll. However, the investigation ended without any charges being brought - in 2010 the prosecution brought charges against Carroll for prostitution and a false accusation of rape of another person.
12. Copperfield was in a relationship with Claudia Schiffer from 1993-1999.
13. According to Forbes magazine in 2016, David Copperfield was ranked fifth in America's Richest Celebrities ($ 0.85 billion). The magician's total fortune is estimated at over $ 3 billion.
14. In 1982, the illusionist founded Project Magic - a rehabilitation program aimed at helping the disabled to regain physical coordination and fitness. The magic tricks that illusionists teach patients are meant to be a form of physical therapy.

David Copperfield has as many as 11 Guinness records. The most important that he established are:

• Highest earnings in a career of an illusionist.
• The most expensive magic poster sold at auction.
• The greatest illusion on display.
• The largest archive of magical works.
• Highest Broadway attendance of the week.
• The largest international television audience for the illusionist.

It is worth adding that Copperfield was hailed the "King of Magic" by the Association of American Illusionists. David was also nominated for the Emmy 38 times, of which he won 21 times. He is also the first living illusionist to have a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Interestingly, the French government made Copperfield… knighted. It was thanks to this that David became the first magician to receive such an award.

Bibliography:

• Herbert L. Becker: Secrets of Great Illusionists, Świat Książki Publishing House, Warsaw 1996
• David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic, 1994 (film documentary)