10 Magicians Killed while Performing Magic Tricks in the History

Magic tricks have always been fascinating and interesting for the people. There are many of us who believe that the magicians don’t fear of what they do, but it is actually not. They are, in fact, the humans so fear of the tricks and risks always accompanies with their lives. Being a magician is not an easy job because of its dangers. But it seems that these persons have no other ways to earn money and appreciation. There are so many magicians who even lost their lives during their tricks. This clearly indicates that these persons live extremely risky lives and have to be in the field, no matter how awful their trick is. Let us check the list of 10 magicians killed while performing magic tricks in the history.

10. Tommy Cooper

The name of Tommy Cooper is still taken in Britain with pride as he was a famous magician of all time. Tommy was known for his unique magic tricks. For many times, he had performed on television and did various stage shows. In one of his acts, Tommy Cooper had a sudden heart attack. This is said that he died while performing the magical trick and the whole death incident was aired on national television.

9. Balabrega

Born John Miller in Helsingborg, Sweden, Balabrega went to America in 1868 with his family. He was a famous magician, known for his unique and impressive magical tricks. In January 1900, Balabrega made a tour to Brazil for showing off his magical skills to the audience there. He bought “The Moth and the Flame” illusion from one of his fellow performers, Harry Rouclere. For this pyrotechnic vanishing trick, Balabrega has to be very careful because it needed gas-bags of acety lene. During that act, a gas-bag exploded and Balabrega and his assistant, Lew Bartlett died at the spot.

8. Madame DeLinksy

Gun trick is one of the best and most famous magical tricks in which the performers pretend to have killed with the shot of a gun. This is what actually happened with Madame DeLinksy in 1820. She was busy to perform a trick in Arnstadt Germany with a gun. How unlucky she was that the bullets were directed to her breast. She couldn’t even get the chance to pretend his death, because she actually lost his life instantly. This made the viewers feel fear, and Madame’s body was immediately buried out.

7. Chung Ling Soo

William Robinson was a famous magician of America who garnered international repute for his stage character, Chung Ling Soo. He used to play the role of a Chinese conjurer on and off the stage. Chung’s life came to an end during the performance of his aptly titled act, “Condemned to Death by the Boxers”. This was a bullet-catch trick. On March 23, 1918, Chung unluckily fired a real bullet which got lodged in his chest. He died at the spot.

6. Janaka Basnayake

Juanaka also died while performing a magic trick. He was the resident of Sri Lanka, but went to America during 2010 to become an expert magician. During 2013, he died in an accident while performing a magical trick. The trick was actually that he had to bury himself in soil and wood. Unfortunately, Janaka couldn’t manage to get out of the soil and wood timely and lost his breath.

5. Dr. Vivian Hensley

Dr. Vivian Hensley was one of the amateur magicians. He died while playing with dangerous blades. The use of sharp blades was a part of his trick. He belonged to Australia, and in a magical act he lost his life. The blade cut his tongue and throat and the blood started shedding out. He couldn’t be rescued timely so died at the spot.

4. James Keller 

Nine-year-old James Keller (1978-1987) idolized Houdini. He was given a pair of handcuffs at a garage sale by his parents while they lived in Kankakee, Illinois. His father was of fear that the little boy will suffer negatively so he (the father) had hid the restraints from James. In one of the tricks with his father, James locked himself in the handcuffs and climbed into the clothes dryer. He couldn’t get out of it timely so died at the spot because of asphyxiation.

3. Charles Rowen

Charles Rowen was a magician from South Africa. He was a magician and outstanding artist. He used to give awesome artistic touch to his magic tricks. In 1930, Charles died when he was trying to attempt a dangerous stunt. It involved diving from a fast running car (speed: 70km/hour). Charles couldn’t manage to dive in the few seconds so he fall down and the car crossed up his whole body before the audience.

2. Jeff Rayburn Hooper

In 1984, Jeff Rayburn, a 24 years old magician, lost his life. This happened when he was practicing a magic trick and tried to escape from his self-made shackles. While doing so, viewers thought that this was a part of his act, but he actually couldn’t save himself. He drowned in the deep lake and lost his life.

1. The Great Lafayette

The Great Lafayette (also known as Sigmund Neuberger) was a quick-change artist and magician. He was one of the greatest magicians of 20th century. Also he was the highest paid stage performer, who died during a stage fire at the Empire Theater in Edinburgh in 1911. His body could only be identified due to his ornamental sword.