David Copperfield

March 25, 2009 · 4:25 p.m.

David Copperfield performs at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The following are photos of him over the years.

"The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" stars Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi and Jim Carrey.

Photos: ‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,’ starring Steve Carell and Jim Carrey, reveals headliner magician feuds: Tuesday, March 12, 2013; By Robin Leach; Moviegoers who see the new “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” this weekend and say lead stars Steve Carell (Burt Wonderstone) and Steve Buscemi ...

David Copperfield uses Skype for his "Today" interview at the airport in Peoria, Ill.

Emergency landing forces David Copperfield to use Skype for ‘Today’ appearance: Monday, March 4, 2013; By Robin Leach; MGM Grand headliner magician David Copperfield had to rely on Skype instead of his magic tricks to appear on NBC’s “Today” this morning. A 4 a.m. ...

Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson at the Victory Lap of 2012 NASCAR Champion's Week on the Strip on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.

Photos: 2012 NASCAR champions cruise the Strip in Victory Lap: Friday, November 30, 2012; By Don Chareunsy; NASCAR took over the Strip as Mayor Carolyn Goodman, resplendent in red, presented NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, ...

David Copperfield discusses hospitalization, brush with death and more: Friday, September 28, 2012; By Robin Leach; For the first time, magician David Copperfield has admitted that he thought he would die while attempting his death-defying stunt ...

David Copperfield is flanked by Jersey Boys stars Jeff Leibow, Rick Faugno, Peter Saide and Colby Foytik.

Strip Scribbles: David Copperfield offers $50,000 for missing award: Tuesday, September 27, 2011; By Robin Leach; It’s the disappearing act that incredible illusionist David Copperfield wishes hadn’t happened. One of his most treasured possessions simply ...

NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, David Copperfield and the street-legal Mobil 1 Chevy stock car on March 2, 2011.

David Copperfield dashes to NYC to host party, receives two awards: Thursday, September 15, 2011; By Robin Leach; The MGM Grand headliner was awarded the Society of American Magician’s highest honor last night as Magician of the Century, as well as King ...

David Copperfield's Musha Cay in the Caribbean.

David Copperfield, Part 2: A tour of his Caribbean hideaway Musha Cay: Sunday, June 5, 2011; By Robin Leach; When the master illusionist isn’t creating magic spectacles at his secret Las Vegas warehouse and memorabilia museum for his shows, David can be ...

Inside David Copperfield’s holy grail of wizardry in Las Vegas: Saturday, June 4, 2011; By Robin Leach; In all the years that I've known David, I’ve never been able to talk him into opening the doors of his secured museum for me to take the ultimate ...

David Copperfield sued over alleged sex assault: Thursday, August 20, 2009; By Sun Staff; Magician David Copperfield faces a lawsuit over allegations he sexually assaulted a Seattle woman two years ago, and federal prosecutors continue to weigh potential criminal charges in the case.

Vegas names round out Forbes Top 100 list: Thursday, June 4, 2009; By Amanda Finnegan; A magical team, a longtime illusionist and a cooking legend all represent Las Vegas on Forbes’ annual list of "The World’s Most Powerful Celebrities." The Celebrity 100 is a measure of power based on money and fame.

David Copperfield: Older, humbler, better

David Copperfield: Older, humbler, better: REVIEW: Copperfield, working harder than ever, makes it look easy; Monday, March 30, 2009; By Joe Brown; While a pair of ladies of a certain age are dominating the Colosseum at Caesars, across the street, David Copperfield and Tom Jones are turning the Hollywood Theatre into an arena for middle-aged male performers.

Poof. Allegations of rape against David Copperfield have disappeared like magic.

A real magic trick: David Copperfield and the amazing disappearing allegations; Thursday, December 4, 2008; By Steve Friess; Accused in October 2007 of raping a 21-year-old Seattle woman whom he allegedly picked out of his audience and lured to his Bahamian getaway for a sexual liaison, David Copperfield underwent media scrutiny, a FBI raid and grand jury investigation. The thing that happened next is the most important: nothing.

Morality in between the lines: Monday, November 19, 2007; By Jerry Fink; The morals clause in a performer's contract. It got George Carlin fired from the Frontier twice and Linda Ronstadt escorted from the Aladdin. It has popped up again in discussions of magician David Copperfield.

Topping Copperfield: Master illusionist constantly tries to top himself: Thursday, October 10, 2002; By Jerry Fink; David Copperfield is constantly trying to top himself, to perform a feat more astounding than the previous one.

Copperfield's illusions packing them in at MGM Grand: Friday, December 29, 2000; Joe Delaney; David Copperfield's "Unknown Dimension," in the intimate MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre through New Year's Day, compresses an arena-styled show, produced to be performed in venues that have 12,000 capacity and more, into an incredible hour and 35 minutes.

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David Copperfield

Occupation: Illusionist, producer, writer, magician
Venue: MGM Grand Hollywood Theater since 2000.
Official Web page: www.dcopperfield.com
Birthday: Sept. 16, 1956, Metuchin, N.J.
Birth name: David Seth Kotkin
Years performing: 1974 to present (as David Copperfield).
Las Vegas venues: Caesars Palace, 1985-2000; MGM Grand, 2000-present
Early life: In 1968, began performing at age 12 as "Davino, the Boy Magician," and became the youngest person ever to be admitted to the Society of American Magicians. In 1972, at the age of 16, he was teaching a course in magic at New York University.
Breakthrough: In 1974, during his freshman year at Fordham University, he was cast as the lead in a Chicago musical, "The Magic Man" and took the stage name David Copperfield. Three years later, he starred in "The Magic of ABC Starring David Copperfield." That success led to 17 TV specials, "The Magic of David Copperfield," that have aired 1978-2001 in more than 40 countries.
Top illusions: 1981, made a jet airplane vanish; 1983, made the Statue of Liberty disappear; 1984, levitated across the Grand Canyon; 1986, walked through the Great Wall of China; 1987, escaped from Alcatraz Prison; 1989, escaped from an imploding building; 1990, survived going over Niagra Falls; 1991, made an Orient Express car vanish.
Notable: He has won several Emmy Awards and two "Entertainer of the Year" awards. A wax likeness of him is in Madame Toussaud's in London. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The French government has knighted him. The U.S. Library of Congress named him a "Living Legend" in 2000. Four countries have made postage stamps with his likeness.
Tickets: Vegas.com.