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Criss Angel

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Criss Angel
Born
Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos

East Meadow, New York, USA
Occupation(s)illusionist, musician, mentalist, hypnotist, stunt performer, actor
Height6"0 (as stated by Criss Angel on an episode of his show)
SpouseJoann Sarantakos (separated)
WebsiteCrissAngel.com

Criss Angel (born Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos on December 19 1967) is an American magician, illusionist , musician, mentalist, hypnotist, escapologist, stunt performer, and actor. He is best known for starring in his own television show, Criss Angel Mindfreak.


Early Life

Angel was born on December 19, 1967, raised in East Meadow, New York and is of Greek descent. Angel grew up loving music (playing drums, flute and accordion) and has always had an interest in magic. His parents are John and Dimitra Sarantakos. He has two brothers, Costa and JD, as well as two cats, Minx and Hammy (short for Hamlet). One of Criss's biggest influences has been his father, who died from stomach cancer.[1]

Criss Angel first became interested in magic at the age 6, when his Aunt Stella showed him a card trick.[2] Two of his biggest magic influences are Harry Houdini and Aldo Richiardi.[2] As a teenager, Angel performed at birthday parties, at night clubs, at home to entertain his family, and at private events.[2] Early in his magic career, magician James Randi designed Angel's professional business card.[3]

He played in a band called AngelDust with friend Klayton Scott who produced, co-wrote and helped arrange the music for his show, Mindfreak.

Magic career

Angel performed in World Of Illusion at Madison Square Garden in 1998. Criss then scored a show on Broadway titled "Criss Angel Mindfreak," which ran up until January 6, 2003 following a run of 600 1/2 performances at The World in The World Underground Theater in Times Square. He also starred in several television specials.

Criss Angel won the Academy of Magical Arts' Magician of the Year award in 2005[4] and the IMS Magician of the year in 2001 and 2004.[5]

He has even revealed the methods for many of his tricks to viewers at home on TV and in videos, although the effects revealed are usually very simple such as making a toothpick disappear, picking a pocket, or making a Styrofoam cup float. Angel discusses magic and his life in Mindfreak: Secret Revelations (published April 24, 2007), which became a Los Angeles Times best seller.

Angel is scheduled to appear in a new illusion-based Cirque du Soleil production at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, and it is expected to open in September 2008.[6] Angel has recently said that there are plans for this attraction to run for 10 years, including 4,600 shows with a possible 5 year renewal option of his contract. The show is a permanent Las Vegas show and will not be in any other city.

In an interview with friend Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller) Angel has declared he does not have any paranormal powers, saying: "I do not believe that anybody has the ability to do anything that's supernatural."[7]

In July 2007 NBC signed Angel and Uri Geller for a fall show aimed at searching for the next great mentalist.[8] Angel does not believe Geller has any paranormal abilities.[9]

Criss Angel Mindfreak

Main article: Criss Angel Mindfreak

Angel was the star and creator of the A&E Network show Criss Angel Mindfreak. Seasons 1 and 2 were filmed at the The Aladdin in Las Vegas, with Season 3 at the Luxor Hotel. Premiering on July 20, 2005, the illusions have included walking on water, levitating above the Luxor Hotel, floating between two buildings, disappearing a lambo, exploding himself in a C4 Crate, and cutting himself in half in full view of an audience.[10] Criss is scheduled to begin filming Season 4 of Mindfreak in September of 2007, and the show is scheduled to run for two more seasons after that.

In the first episode of season three of his series "MINDFREAK", Angel demonstrated his levitation skills at the Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas. In one scene, he appears to levitate from the 26th floor inside the hotel, slowly descending through the hotel's atrium to the entrance lobby. Later, he levitated above the 500-foot-high apex of the hotel at night, in the middle of the famous Luxor's spotlight which has an output of 42.2 billion candlepower.[11] This episode was viewed by almost 3 million viewers making it the most watched episode in series history and the number one show in its time slot on cable television.

Other television appearances and movies

Angel was the featured guest star on CSI: NY on February 28, 2007 in an episode titled "Sleight Out of Hand" as a character named Luke Blade, a famous magician whose assistants die in unusual circumstances.[12] In the episode, he performed three illusions (being sawed in half, being set on fire, and a version of his "Submerged" illusion).

Angels' more notable television appearances include but are not limited to Las Vegas, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, as well as VH1's Rock Honors Awards performing and introducing legendary Honoree Ozzy Osbourne. In June 2007, Angel appeared on the cover of the DUB Magazine. He also appeared on CNN's Larry King Live on July 12, 2007. On June 8, 2007, he stated on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson that Richiardi was one of his greatest influences.

Criss Angel is cast to star in the upcoming movie Mandrake the Magician.[13]

Bibliography

  • Mindfreak: Secret Revelations. HarperEntertainment (April 24, 2007) ISBN 0061137618 and ISBN 978-0061137617

References

  1. ^ Criss Angel, Mindfreak: Secret Revelations. HarperEntertainment (April 24, 2007) ISBN 0061137618
  2. ^ a b c Karlin, Susan (July 4, 2005). "The Daredevil". Forbes. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  3. ^ Paul Harris's show on KMOX interview with James Randi, 26th July 2007 http://www.harrisonline.com/audio/jamesrandi-geller-nbc.mp3
  4. ^ "Criss Angel Named 2005 Magician of the Year". magic.about.com. 2005. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  5. ^ "Where Criss Angel dares to tread". Newport Mercury. May 31, 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  6. ^ "Magician Criss Angel in New Cirque Show". happynews.com. August 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  7. ^ "Where Criss Angel dares to tread". Newport Mercury. May 31, 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  8. ^ "NBC Offers Reality Show For Wanna-Be Mentalists With Uri Geller, Criss Angel". Tampa Tribune. Jul 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  9. ^ Paul Harris's show on KMOX interview with James Randi, 26th July 2007 http://www.harrisonline.com/audio/jamesrandi-geller-nbc.mp3
  10. ^ "That Gaze! That Hair! Those Trippy Tricks!". New York Times. July 20, 2005. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  11. ^ "Luxor Hotel Attractions". Luxor Hotel. 2005. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  12. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0965331/
  13. ^ "Criss Angel Doing 'Mandrake' Movie". cinematical.com. June 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
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