David Blaine

David Blaine (born David Blaine White on April 4, 1973), is an American illusionist and stunt performer born in Brooklyn, New York City. He made his name as a performer of close-up magic, usually working on the streets. Amongst magicians this is commonly known as street magic. His father is Puerto Rican and his mother was of Russian Jewish descent.

Overview

Blaine's act includes levitation, illusion and bringing apparently dead flies back to life. This format, recorded by a small camera crew, provided the basis for his breakthrough television special, "David Blaine: Street Magic". He stayed with the format for David Blaine: Magic Man and David Blaine: Mystifier.

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He later turned his attention to feats of endurance, including being buried alive for seven days and spending 61 hours encased in ice. In 2002, Blaine stood on a tiny platform at the top of a 100 foot high pole in Bryant Park for 35 hours (see Vertigo below). In 2003, Blaine lived in a transparent Perspex (Plexiglas) box for 44 days, supposedly without food (see Blaine's London stunt below).

Related Topics:
2002 - Bryant Park - 2003 - Perspex (Plexiglas)

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The show-business press often describe Blaine as a modern day Harry Houdini and indeed Blaine himself has cited Houdini as one of his inspirations.

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