Dark, sleek American illusionist with huge brown eyes and fashion-model good looks who has performed live around the world and starred in a series of well-received TV specials since the end of the 1970s. Copperfield began performing magic professionally (and teaching it at NYU) while still a teenager. He left Fordham University when he was cast in the title role of the Chicago stage musical, "The Magic Man" (1974), in which he not only performed sleight-of-hand but also acted, sang and danced.
Copperfield made his TV debut in a special for ABC several years later, and shortly after that began his long-term relationship with CBS. He has produced or executive produced several of his specials, and directed or co-directed (sometimes credited under his original name, David Kotkin) most of them as well. Copperfield's carefully courted elegance and self-consciously sexy performing style has lent dash and grace to a series of exciting escapes from exploding buildings and Niagara Falls, and he has regularly made large objects ranging from elephants to jet airliners to the Statue of Liberty disappear.
- Also Credited As:
David Seth Kotkin
- Born:
September 16, 1956 in Metuchen, New Jersey
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Job Titles:
Magician, TV director, TV producer, Actor, Restaurateur
Family
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Father: Hy Kotkin.
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Mother: Rebecca Kotkin.
Significant Others
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Companion: Ambre Frisque. Belgian; reportedly dating as of late 1999
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Companion: Angelica Castro. Chilean; dated briefly in 1999
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Companion: Claudia Schiffer. former model for "Chanel" colognes and perfumes; became engaged in 1993; separated in 1999
Education
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Fordham University, New York, New York
Milestones
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1972 Taught magic at New York University
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1974 Left college when he was cast in the lead of the original musical, "The Magic Man", produced in Chicago
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1977 Hosted and performed in his first TV program, the ABC special, "The Magic of ABC"
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1980 Appeared in the Canadian-made feature film, "Terror Train"; played a magician and staged several illusions
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1981 Signed by CBS to star in a series of magic specials; first for the network, "The Magic of David Copperfield", which he also produced
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1982 Founded Project Magic, a rehabilitation project which helps disabled hospital patients learn basic sleight-of-hand tricks to strengthen motor skills
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1983 First executive producer credit, "Kraft Salutes the Magic of David Copperfield IX: The Escape from Alcatraz"
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1983 TV directorial debut, the CBS special, "The Magic of David Copperfield"
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1991 Bought much of the collection of the International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts from the Resolution Trust Corporation when the company had to clean up the assets troubles of First Network Savings of Los Angeles and its chairman Carl M. Rheuban, a magic buff
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1994 Executive produced, produced, directed and starred in the retrospective compilation, "David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic"
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1996 Made Broadway debut in "Dreams and Nightmares"
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1999 Toured with magic show "You!"
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2000 Starred in the CBS special "David Copperfield: The Great Escapes"
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Began performing professionally as a magician while still a teenager; was youngest person ever admitted to the Society of American Magicians