David Copperfield

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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.

llusionist David Copperfield appears in court in Las Vegas on April 24, 2018. The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld a jury’s findings that Copperfield and the MGM Grand weren't financially responsible for a British tourist’s injuries during a Las Vegas Strip show in 2013.

Copperfield trick participant loses appeal in injury lawsuit: Friday, April 15, 2022; By Ken Ritter, Associated Press; The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld a jury’s findings that illusionist David Copperfield and the MGM Grand hotel-casino were not financially responsible for a British tourist’s ...

In this Nov. 6, 2017, file photo, magician David Copperfield attends the 14th Annual CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund Gala in New York.

Jewish museum to honor magicians Houdini, David Copperfield: Thursday, October 22, 2020; Associated Press; The Philadelphia-based National Museum of American Jewish History will honor two men who entertained the world with ...

Trial begins in civil case focused on David Copperfield show: Friday, April 13, 2018; By Regina Garcia Cano, Associated Press; The tricks behind a disappearing act that magician David Copperfield performed for years in Las Vegas were revealed in court Friday, the first day of trial in a civil case brought by a British ...

Las Vegas-based magician David Copperfield.

Whether in magic or business, relevancy, communication count, David Copperfield says: Tuesday, October 7, 2014; By Ed Komenda; What do a young entrepreneur and an illusionist have in common? Ask David Copperfield, the world-renowned master of illusion, and he’ll tell you the jobs are very much the same: from a demand to push limits to ...

Longtime assistant to magician David Copperfield dies at 61: Monday, August 18, 2014; By Ed Koch; Joanie Spina, longtime assistant to magician David Copperfield, died Sunday at a Houston hospital while awaiting lung and liver transplants. She was 61. Spina, a Las Vegas resident who also coached young magicians and an aspiring filmmaker, suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung disease. She also had been...

Settlement talks in lawsuits between magician David Copperfield, stagehands: Friday, April 4, 2014; By Ken Ritter, Associated Press; Attorneys for magician David Copperfield and several current and former Las Vegas stagehands say they're talking about settling a pair of lawsuits filed in a dispute about trade secrets and overtime pay. A Feb. 15 federal lawsuit accuses...

Video slot machines themed after the magic of David Copperfield are displayed during the G2E convention at the Sands Expo Center Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013.

David Copperfield's new act: the face of a new line of slot machines: Gaming:; Tuesday, September 24, 2013; By Ed Komenda; His slot machine makes your money disappear. Considered by most to be the world's greatest illusionist, David Copperfield now has another line to add to his resume: He has his own slot machine.

David Copperfield sued over alleged sex assault: Thursday, August 20, 2009; By Las Vegas 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.

Magician sues insurance firm: Monday, August 28, 2000; Kim Smith; Magician David Copperfield filed a $4 million lawsuit against Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. Friday because the company has refused to reimburse him for money he spent freeing property held hostage in Russia last year.

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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.

Las Vegas Sun

David Copperfield

David Copperfield