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David Copperfield (illusionist)

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Template:Infobox celebrity David Copperfield (born David Seth Kotkin on September 16, 1956) is an Jewish American magician and illusionist best known for his combination of illusions and storytelling.

Biography

Born in Metuchen, New Jersey as David Seth Kotkin to Israeli parents, Hyman and Rebecca , 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, 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, 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 met supermodel, Claudia Schiffer in 1993 at a Berlin celebrity gala when he brought her on stage to participate in a mind reading act. They were engaged three months later, but the couple parted ways in the fall of 1999 never having set a wedding date. Copperfield has also been romantically linked to models, Ambre Frisque and Terry Holladay.

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.”

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.

Copperfield has a collection of magic and conjuring memorabilia and historical artifacts that he stores in a warehouse in Las Vegas. He calls the collection the International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts. It is not open to the public.

Personal life

"Fountain of Youth"

David Copperfield said in August 2006 that he has found the "Fountain of Youth" in the southern Bahamas, amid a cluster of four tiny islands called Musha Cay, which he had purchased on July 14th of that year. He claims that the water brings dead leaves back to life, and brings near dead insects back to life. He said he has hired biologists and geologists to examine its potential effect on humans.

Rape and assault investigation

On October 18, 2007, the website TMZ.com reported that David Copperfield was being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The raid reportedly stemmed from an ongoing case in Seattle. KTNV-TV Channel 13 in Las Vegas reported that 12 agents stormed a warehouse belonging to Copperfield. The agents seized a computer hard drive, a digital camera system and—according to early reports—nearly US$2 million in cash.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal printed a story confirming the raid at the warehouse in an investigation of possible sexual misconduct by the illusionist, citing a source with knowledge of the investigation. Copperfield’s accuser, a 21-year-old Seattle woman, claimed she was raped, assaulted and threatened by Copperfield while alone with him on his private island in the Bahamas, described as a $50-million private retreat at Musha Cay, in a tiny string of white-sand islands 85 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas. The young woman told Seattle police, and later the FBI, that Copperfield raped and struck her during her two days on the island, said sources familiar with her allegations. She said that, afterwards, Copperfield threatened her, telling her she'd better keep quiet, and then escorted her onto a plane. A rape kit was assembled, and a federal source has confirmed that some of her clothing was taken into evidence.

The case was under the FBI’s jurisdiction because the accuser is a U.S. citizen and did not report the incident while staying in the Bahamas.

Copperfield later issued a statement through his attorney denying all allegations of misconduct. The investigation is ongoing.

Lawsuit

In November 2007, promoters sued Copperfield for nearly $2.2 million, after he pulled out of 48 shows in the face of rape claims. Filed November 6 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the breach of contract suit names Copperfield, his company and one of his attorneys. The new lawsuit claims Copperfield backed out of a deal involving 10 performances in the United Arab Emirates and 38 shows in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore this autumn because he did not want to face questioning by reporters. An attorney for Copperfield said last month that the shows were cancelled after Asian tour operators defaulted on their contracts.

The lawsuit was filed by California-based Viva Art International Ltd. and Maz Concerts Inc. of Ontario. They claim they gave Copperfield approximately $2.2 million to cover his costs before he cancelled the shows.

Mugging

In April 2006, Copperfield and two female assistants were robbed at gunpoint after a performance in West Palm Beach, Florida. His assistants gave the robbers their money, passports, and a cell phone. However, according to his police statement, Copperfield did not hand over anything, claiming that he used sleight-of-hand to hide his possessions. One of Copperfield's assistants wrote down most of the license plate number, and the suspects were later arrested, tried and sentenced.

Achievements and awards

File:Copperfield.JPG
The hand prints of David Copperfield in front of The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.
  • David Copperfield was nominated 5 times for Emmy Awards and has won once.
  • Copperfield received a Living Legend Award from the Library of Congress.
  • Copperfield is the first living magician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
  • Copperfield was knighted by the French Government

Television specials

Filmography

See also

References

  1. Witchel, Alex. " A Maestro of the Magic Arts Returns to His Roots", The New York Times, November 24, 1996. Accessed December 6, 2007. "David Seth Kotkin was born in Metuchen, N.J., 40 years ago; David Copperfield was born when David Kotkin turned 18, at the suggestion of the wife of a New York Post reporter. Which is why his passport reads David Kotkin, a k a David Copperfield."
  2. David Copperfield Biography
  3. ^ David Copperfield Bio from A&E
  4. Short bio from Chicago Gigs on Copperfield
  5. USA Today
  6. David Copperfield's and Claudia Schiffer's Relationship Details | Famous Hookups
  7. David Copperfield's Relationship History | Famous Hookups
  8. Forbes.com 2005 listing and 2004
  9. Basquille, Mark (May 2004). "David Copperfield to Captivate Seoul Audience". The Seoul Times.
  10. "Cops: Seattle Woman Claims David Copperfield Raped Her". Fox News. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  11. ^ David Copperfield Finds the Fountain of Youth | Photos and Exclusive Interview from VegasPopular.com
  12. "Copperfield raid related to Bahamas incident".
  13. ^ "Grand jury investigates Copperfield allegations". Seattle Times. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-28.
  14. "FBI raids Copperfield's warehouse". reviewjournal.com.
  15. "Promoters Sue David Copperfield for $2.2 Million". Voice of America. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  16. "David Copperfield tricks robbers". CNN. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  17. "David Copperfield Robbed At Gunpoint". The Smoking Gun. 2006-04-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. "Thief tricked by David Copperfield pleads guilty". ehmac. 2006-11-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. "Records of Emmy Awards". Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  20. "Living Legends". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2008-04-13.

External links

Template:Magicbox

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