David Copperfield

Date of Birth: September 16, 1956 Place of Birth: Metuchen, New Jersey Claim to Fame: The illusionist who made the Statue of Liberty disappear Given name: David Seth Kotkin An illusionist with a dramatic sense of theater, David Copperfield has made the Statue of Liberty vanish, has walked through the Great Wall of China, and has made volunteers disappear and reappear in a variety of unusual places. Known as the greatest illusionist of our time, Copperfield began his career as a magician at age 12, was the youngest person ever admitted to the American Society of Magicians, and was teaching magic at New York University at the age of 16. After college, Copperfield starred in "The Magic Man," a musical in which he sang, danced and, of course, performed magic. His series of television specials, "The Magic of David Copperfield," has been seen by viewers throughout the world and won dozens of Emmy awards. Similarly, his show "Dreams and Nightmares" was critically acclaimed on Broadway. Copperfield has also published two fictional books set in the world of magic and illusion: David Copperfield's Tales of the Impossible and David Copperfield's Beyond Imagination. Among the many honors that he has received, he has been knighted by the Government of France and his image appears on postage stamps issued by several countries. Copperfield is most proud of his Project Magic, a rehabilitative program established to use sleight of hand as a method of therapy that will strengthen dexterity and motor skills in people with disabilities. Recognized by the American Association of Occupational Therapists, the program, which enhances the self-esteem of patients, has been implemented in over 1,000 hospitals worldwide.