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David Copperfield (illusionist)

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

Biography

Copperfield was born David Seth Kotkin in Metuchen, New Jersey, the son of Jewish parents, Rebecca, an insurance adjuster, and Hyman Kotkin, who owned and operated a men's haberdashery in Metuchen called Korby's. Copperfield's mother was born in Jerusalem, Israel, while his paternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia. Copperfield began practicing magic at the age of twelve, 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.

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.

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. The warehouse is entered via a secret door in a fake lingerie shop. He calls the collection the International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts. It is not open to the public.

Personal life

FBI investigation

In 2007 Copperfield was investigated by a Seattle federal grand jury on allegations of sexual assault. Copperfield’s accuser, a 21-year-old Seattle woman, alleged that she was raped and assaulted by Copperfield while alone with him on his private island in the Bahamas in late July, 2007. She also alleged that Copperfield threatened her, telling her she'd better keep quiet. Upon her return to Seattle, the woman went directly to the Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress and a rape kit was assembled. Some of her clothing was taken as evidence. The Seattle office of the FBI, which headed the investigation, then raided Copperfield's property warehouse and magic museum in Las Vegas. The search warrant remains sealed. Copperfield's attorney denied the allegations and stated that the accuser's accusations are false, and that Copperfield was targeted because of his celebrity status.

Lawsuit

In November 2007, California-based Viva Art International Ltd and Maz Concerts Inc. sued Copperfield for nearly $2.2 million, after he canceled a tour of Southeast Asia and Abu Dhabi. Filed November 6, 2007 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the breach of contract suit names Copperfield, his company and one of his attorneys. The lawsuit claims Copperfield backed out of a deal involving 48 shows because he did not want to face questioning by reporters over rape claims. The plaintiffs claimed that the cancellation occurred shortly after it had become public knowledge that Copperfield was under investigation by a federal grand jury in Seattle for sexual improprieties, and after federal authorities executed search warrants for premises owned and/or controlled by him.

The plaintiffs claimed they gave Copperfield approximately $2.2 million to cover his costs before he cancelled the shows. To date the money remains in an escrow account pending the outcome of the promoters' suit against Copperfield and his countersuit against the promoters for breach of contract. Copperfield, through his attorney, allegedly refused to return any portion of the money.

Copperfield has countersued the promoters. The countersuit alleges that Copperfield canceled the tour because the promoters failed to honor their contractual commitments, and cites an email from one of the promoters which indicates Copperfield had the right to cancel the entire tour after the promoters canceled a performance in the United Arab Emirates.

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.

"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 14 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.

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.

Television specials

Filmography

See also

References

  1. ^ Peres, Daniel. "Hy about Life". rememberHy. Retrieved 2008-09-20. Hy turned down a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and went into retail, settling his family in Metuchen, New Jersey, where he owned and operated the men's haberdashery, Korby's.
  2. Witchel, Alex (1996-11-24). "A Maestro of the Magic Arts Returns to His Roots". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-06. 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.
  3. Mike Hughes (2006). "David Copperfield has made a career out of dazzling people". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2008-09-22. His dad, who managed a men's clothing store, was the son of Russian immigrants. His mom was born in Jerusalem; both wanted him to go to college and into a profession.
  4. ^ David Copperfield Bio from A&E
  5. Short bio from Chicago Gigs on Copperfield
  6. C. Spenser Beggs (2002). "The magic of David Copperfield". The Online Observer. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  7. USA Today
  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. "COP-A-FEEL - New York Post". nypost.com. Retrieved 2009-03-30. says, 'Push the nipple on that mannequin over there,' so I pushed it and these doors slid open and we walked into this room the size of four football fields filled with magic memorabilia," Jackman told Handbag.com
  12. Barrett, Katherine (2007-10-19). "Copperfield raid related to Bahamas incident". Authorities are investigating a Seattle woman's allegation that she was sexually assaulted by illusionist David Copperfield, two law enforcement sources told CNN on Friday. An attorney for the magician "categorically denied" the accusation.
  13. ^ Carter, Mike (2007-10-27). "Grand jury investigates Copperfield allegations". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2007-10-28. A Seattle federal grand jury is investigating allegations by an aspiring model from Washington who said she was raped, assaulted and threatened by magician David Copperfield at his private island in the Bahamas in July
  14. "$2M up magician David Copperfield's sleeve?". www.nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  15. Barrett, CNN, footnote 12 (Copperfield's counsel stated, "We're obviously disturbed that those kind of allegations are being made, but we believe that that's a common event now, unfortunately, for celebrated people to be falsely accused.")
  16. ^ "Promoters Sue David Copperfield for $2.2 Million". Voice of America. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  17. ^ "Viva Art International Ltd. & MAZ Concerts Inc.: Media Advisory". findarticles.com. Retrieved 2009-05-17. {{cite web}}: Text "Find Articles at BNET" ignored (help); Text "Market Wire" ignored (help)
  18. "Viva Art International Ltd. & MAZ Concerts Inc.: Media Advisory". www.marketwire.com. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  19. "SFGate: Daily Dish : David Copperfield". sfgate.com. Retrieved 2009-05-17. Copperfield has reportedly refused to return any portion of the sum.
  20. NY Daily News, Nov. 9, 2007, "David Copperfield rep says shows canceled over money" Retrieved on 17 May 2009. Available at http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/11/09/2007-11-09_david_copperfield_rep_says_shows_cancele-1.html
  21. "David Copperfield tricks robbers". CNN. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  22. "David Copperfield Robbed At Gunpoint". The Smoking Gun. 2006-04-26.
  23. "Thief tricked by David Copperfield pleads guilty". ehmac. 2006-11-10.
  24. ^ David Copperfield Finds the Fountain of Youth | Photos and Exclusive Interview from VegasPopular.com
  25. "Records of Emmy Awards". Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  26. "Living Legends". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2008-04-13.

External links

Template:Famous Magicians

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