Mac King (born December 2, 1959) is a comedy magician who has performed on television specials, often as a co-host. He has his own family-friendly show, "The Mac King Comedy Magic Show," at the Harrah's Las Vegas in the Clint Holmes Theater.
Mac King | |
|---|---|
 Mac King performs at TAM7 – 2009 | |
| Born | December 2, 1959 Hopkinsville, Kentucky, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Magician, Illusionist, writer, actor |
| Employer | Harrah's Las Vegas |
| Known for | Magic in a Minute videos, magic kits, and syndicated comic strip |
| Spouse | Jennifer Sils |
| Website | Mac King Show |
On the NBC The World's Greatest Magic specials, King taught the audience a minor effect before and after each commercial in segments referred to as the Mac King School of Magic. He is the only magician to be in all five of the network's specials.
In addition to the TV specials and Harrah's performances, King performs at more than 60 private corporate events each year. Some of his better-known effects involve goldfish, Fig Newtons, and a yellow raincoat he claims is a magic cloak of invisibility.
One of King's most memorable moments occurred while performing his cut-and-restored rope routine. King has said that one of his biggest pet peeves is that some magicians use dull scissors, and he makes it a point to keep his scissors razor sharp. While performing the routine, he accidentally severed the tip of his thumb. He quickly tried to stop the bleeding by wrapping his thumb in tape, but the injury was too severe. He asked the audience if there was a nurse present, and a nurse stepped forward. She managed to stop the bleeding. King continued with his show and finished his second show later that evening before going to the hospital to have his injury treated.
After performances, King greets show attendees as they exit, signing autographs on pictures or books. His typical autograph reads: "I'm Mac King."
Books
King has co-authored 3 books.
- Tricks With Your Head,[1] a humorously-written series of tricks mostly requiring few, if any props (other than the performer's anatomy), co-authored with Mark Levy.
- Campfire Magic[2] subtitled "Over 50 Amazing and Easy-to-Learn Tricks and Mind-Blowing Stunts" co-authored with Bill King.
- Great Big Ol' Book-o-Magic.
King also collaborated with cartoonist Jeff Knurek to create and market the "Magic in a Minute" line of children's promotions, toys, magic tricks, videos, books, and events.[3]
Personal life
King was born December 2, 1959 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He became interested in magic as a kid because both of his grandfathers (Elwood Huffman and Pax King) were keen amateur magicians.[4] King was a student at the J. Graham Brown School in Louisville, Kentucky and attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, graduating in 1981 with a double major in Anthropology and Magic.[4]
King married Jennifer Sils in 1985, having met her when she was his server at a restaurant he was performing at.[4] In his younger years he performed with fellow Kentuckian Lance Burton over the summers they had off between college semesters. He has one child named Eli King who is from Nevada. He is also friends with Penn & Teller, who wrote the preface to King's book Tricks With Your Head.
Television shows and specials
- An Evening at the Improv
- Comic Strip Live
- The World's Greatest Magic
- The World's Greatest Magic II
- The World's Greatest Magic III
- The World's Greatest Magic IV
- The World's Greatest Magic V
- Houdini: Unlocking His Secrets
- The World's Wildest Magic
- Penn and Teller's Sin City Spectacular
- Donny and Marie
- The Other Half
- Penn & Teller: Fool Us
King's home was also featured on HGTV.
References
- ^ King, Mac; Levy, Mark (May 12, 2010). Tricks With Your Head. Crown/Archetype. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- ^ King, Mac (March 19, 2010). Mac King's Campfire Magic. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- ^ http://www.townepost.com/indiana/geist/jeff-knurek-more-than-just-the-worlds-biggest-syndicated-puzzle-guy/
- ^ a b c "Howdy! I'm Mac King – About Mac King". Mac King Las Vegas Comedy Magic Show. Archived from the original on April 22, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2016.