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Nani Darnell

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American magician's assistant
Nani Darnell
Darnell (bottom) as part of The Magic Land of Allakazam cast in 1960
BornToledo, Ohio, U.S.
Other namesNani Darnell Wilson
Occupation(s)Magician's assistant, dancer, stewardess
Spouse Mark Wilson ​ ​(m. 1952; died 2021)​
Children2, including Greg Wilson

Nani Darnell (born c. 1930) is an American former magician's assistant. As a co-star of her husband, magician Mark Wilson, throughout his television magic career, Darnell heavily influenced public perceptions of magicians' assistants.

Biography

Darnell worked as a dancer and stewardess before marrying magician Mark Wilson in 1952.

The role that most defined Darnell's public image was as a magician's assistant in Wilson's television series The Magic Land of Allakazam, which premiered in October 1960 and ran for four years nationally in the United States. The series has been widely credited with establishing the credibility of magic as a form of television entertainment. In doing so, it also established Darnell as a nationally-known figure. She subsequently appeared with Wilson in a host of other television shows, including Magic Circus specials and the fictional mystery series The Magician starring Bill Bixby.

Darnell and Wilson had two children, both boys. Their younger son, Greg, followed in their footsteps by becoming a professional illusionist. As of 2011, Darnell and Wilson lived in Valencia, California. Wilson died in 2021.

References

  1. "Nani Darnell". IMDb. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  2. "Nani's Vintage Closet". Etsy. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  3. "(untitled)". Facebook. December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2023. Here I am in 1948. I had just graduated high school and was invited to tour the islands of Hawaii with my own acrobatic act.
  4. Daniels, Mary (April 20, 1971). "He's a Space Age Enchanter". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-3. Retrieved December 12, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  5. "Magical Ex-Dallasite to Rule 'AllaKazam' Land at WT Fair". Abilene Reporter-News. August 24, 1962. p. B1. Retrieved December 12, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  6. "The Magician: The Illusion of the Fatal Arrow". TV.com. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  7. ^ Barnes, Mike (March 8, 2021). "Mark Wilson, Magician on TV's 'The Magic Land of Allakazam,' Dies at 91". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  8. "Greg Wilson Website". 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-07-25. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  9. Beck, Ken (January 2, 2011). "'Alakazam!' Mark Wilson still has magic up his sleeve". The Murfreesboro Post. Murfreesboro, Tennessee. p. 31. Retrieved December 12, 2023 – via newspapers.com.

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