Magicians

Creating a definitive list of the 100 most famous magicians in history is challenging, as “fame” is subjective and changes over time. However, here is a list featuring a mix of the most historically significant, influential, and publicly well-known magicians and illusionists, ranging from the “Golden Age of Magic” to modern television and stage stars.

  1. Harry Houdini (Escapology Legend)
  2. David Copperfield (Modern Stage Illusionist)
  3. Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (“Father of Modern Magic”)
  4. Penn & Teller (Iconic Comedy/Skeptic Duo)
  5. David Blaine (Street Magic & Endurance Artist)
  6. Siegfried & Roy (Las Vegas Big Cat Illusions)
  7. Dai Vernon (“The Professor” of Card Magic)
  8. Criss Angel (Mindfreak TV Star)
  9. Howard Thurston (Golden Age Grand Illusionist)
  10. Harry Kellar (Successor to Herrmann)
  11. Harry Blackstone Sr. (Floating Light Bulb)
  12. Doug Henning (Revived Magic in the 1970s)
  13. Derren Brown (British Mentalist)
  14. Alexander Herrmann (“Herrmann the Great”)
  15. Chung Ling Soo (Died performing the Bullet Catch)
  16. Cardini (Master of Silent Manipulation)
  17. Dynamo (British Street Magician)
  18. Max Malini (Close-up Master for Royalty)
  19. Lance Burton (Las Vegas Stage Star)
  20. Juan Tamariz (Spanish Card Legend)
  21. Adelaide Herrmann (“The Queen of Magic”)
  22. John Nevil Maskelyne (Established Egyptian Hall)
  23. P. T. Selbit (Invented Sawing a Woman in Half)
  24. The Great Lafayette (Extravagant Stage Show)
  25. The Amazing Kreskin (Televised Mentalist)
  26. Harry Blackstone Jr. (Continued Family Legacy)
  27. Ricky Jay (Card Specialist and Historian)
  28. P. C. Sorcar Sr. (India’s Grand Illusionist)
  29. P. C. Sorcar Jr. (Continued Sorcar Stage Show)
  30. Dr. Lynn (Victorian Stage Magician)
  31. Carter the Great (World-Touring Illusionist)
  32. Theodore Annemann (Influential Mentalism Theorist)
  33. Fred Kaps (Triple FISM Grand Prix Winner)
  34. Mark Wilson (Pioneer of Televised Magic)
  35. Orson Welles (Director and Skilled Magician)
  36. Shin Lim (AGT Winner, Card Manipulator)
  37. Paul Daniels (British TV Magician)
  38. Tommy Wonder (Elegant Stage Performer)
  39. Max Maven (Prominent Mentalist/Consultant)
  40. Jeff McBride (Theatrical, Mask-Based Magician)
  41. Teller (The Silent Half of Penn & Teller)
  42. Tony Slydini (Master of Close-up Misdirection)
  43. Eugene Burger (Philosopher of Magic)
  44. Michael Ammar (Coin & Card Close-up Expert)
  45. Al Baker (Inventive Close-up Magician)
  46. T. Nelson Downs (“King of Koins”)
  47. René Lavand (One-Handed Argentine Magician)
  48. Harry Anderson (Comedy Magician/Actor)
  49. John Henry Anderson (“The Great Wizard of the North”)
  50. Channing Pollock (Dove Act Master)
  51. Mac King (Las Vegas Comedy Magician)
  52. Cyril Takayama (Unique Close-up Magician)
  53. Marco Tempest (Tech-Focused Digital Magician)
  54. Richard Turner (Blind Card Manipulator)
  55. David Roth (Premier Coin Magician)
  56. Kalanag (Post-WWII German Illusionist)
  57. Joseph Pinetti (Pioneer of Sophisticated Stage Magic)
  58. Okito (Chinese-Style Illusionist)
  59. Black Herman (African-American Traveling Magician)
  60. The Great Dunninger (Radio/TV Mentalist)
  61. Leo Herrmann (Continued Herrmann Family Name)
  62. Le Grand David (Long-Running Stage Show Leader)
  63. Jeff Sheridan (Influential Street Performer)
  64. Bob Sheets (Comedy Close-up Expert)
  65. Dorothy Dietrich (Female Escapologist)
  66. The Amazing Randi (Magician and Skeptic)
  67. Richard Potter (Early American Magician)
  68. David Devant (Respected British Stage Magician)
  69. Horace Goldin (Fast-Paced Illusionist)
  70. Al Flosso (“King of the Coney Island Fakirs”)
  71. Walter B. Gibson (Magic Author and Historian)
  72. Harry Price (Magician and Psychic Researcher)
  73. Al Koran (Influential British Mentalist)
  74. Eugene Rouclere (19th-Century European Star)
  75. Billy McComb (Irish Comedy Performer)
  76. Lennart Green (Chaotic Card Magic)
  77. The Zancigs (Two-Person Mind-Reading Act)
  78. J.B. Bobo (Author of *Modern Coin Magic*)
  79. Jay Marshall (Comedy Ventriloquist)
  80. Dean Dill (Creator of Close-up Illusions)
  81. Apollo Robbins (“Gentleman Thief,” Pickpocket)
  82. Dani DaOrtiz (Casual Card Magician)
  83. Michael Carbonaro (*The Carbonaro Effect* Host)
  84. Justin Willman (*Magic for Humans* Host)
  85. Matthias Buchinger (18th Century Limbless Magician)
  86. Bill Malone (Highly respected card magician)
  87. John Scarne (Expert on Gambling and Cheating)
  88. Mac King (Las Vegas Comedy Magician)
  89. Shamsudheen Cherpulassery (Indian Escapologist)
  90. Teller (The Silent Half of Penn & Teller)
  91. Dai Vernon (“The Professor” of Card Magic)
  92. Harry Anderson (Comedy Magician/Actor)
  93. Derren Brown (British Mentalist)
  94. Shin Lim (AGT Winner, Card Manipulator)
  95. Jeff McBride (Theatrical, Mask-Based Magician)
  96. Paul Daniels (British TV Magician)
  97. P. C. Sorcar Jr. (Continued Sorcar Stage Show)
  98. Michael Ammar (Coin & Card Close-up Expert)
  99. Max Maven (Prominent Mentalist/Consultant)
  100. Juan Tamariz (Spanish Card Legend)
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