David Copperfield

David Copperfield Headshot

Magician

Birth Date: September 16, 1956

Age: 67 years old

Birth Place: Metuchen, New Jersey

David Copperfield is an American illusionist who was one of the most commercially successful magicians of the 20th Century. Born David Seth Kotkin in Metuchen, New Jersey, Copperfield turned to magic at the age of 10 as a way to be more outgoing and sociable. It wasn't long before his magic hobby became an all out obsession. At the age of 12 Copperfield, who adopted the stage name after the classic Charles Dickens novel, was the youngest person ever accepted into the American Society of Magicians; by 16 he was teaching a class on magic at New York University. After a brief stint at Fordham University, Copperfield moved to Chicago to play the lead in the musical "The Magic Man."

The show quickly became the hottest ticket in Chicago's thriving theater scene, with Copperfield standing out for his acclaimed performance. When "The Magic Man" ended, Copperfield was offered his very own magic show on the ABC Network in 1977. The show, which had several names throughout the years, turned Copperfield into an overnight sensation, and over the course of the '80s and '90s, his numerous television specials were appointment viewing for magic fans.

Copperfield's most famous illusion during this period came in 1983 when he seemingly made the Statue of Liberty disappear. The spectacle was watched by millions of people on television, which only added to Copperfield's growing prestige. In the mid-'90s Copperfield's personal life became a source of much intrigue when he became engaged to the supermodel Claudia Schiffer. Their engagement, however, was called off in 1999 due to differences in their jet-setting schedules. By the 21st Century, Copperfield had continued performing hundreds of shows of years, while maintaining his status as one of the highest earning entertainers in the United States.

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Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of MagicStream

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2023

Joe Bob's Halloween Hoedown

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2021

CBS Saturday Morning

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2021

To Dine For With Kate Sullivan

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2018

Paul Daniels: My Life in Magic

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2017

Daily Blast Live

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2017

How Magic Changed TV

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2017

All In With Cam Newton

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2016

Unity

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2015

Top 10

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2013

The Crazy OnesStream

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2013

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

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2013

Doc McStuffinsStream

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Demitri the Dazzling
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2012

Test Your Brain

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2011

American Restoration

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2010

Oh My God?

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2009

America's Got TalentStream

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2006

The Colbert Report

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2005

Comedy Connections

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2003

ScrubsStream

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David Copperfield
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2001
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The Amazing RaceStream

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2001

Copperfield! Tornado of Fire

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2001

Live With Regis and Kelly

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2001

The Magic of David Copperfield XVI: Unexplained Forces

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1995

The Magic of David Copperfield XVI: Unexplained Forces

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1995

The Magic of David Copperfield XV: Fires of Passion -- This Time His Life Is on the Line

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1993

The SimpsonsStream

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1989
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The Magic of David Copperfield VII: Familiares

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1985

Le Monstre du train

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1980

Punto de Muerte

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1980

Express to Terror

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1980

Terror TrainStream

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Ken the Magician
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1980
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CBS News Sunday Morning

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1979

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1979

Today

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1952

News aboutDavid Copperfield