Origins & Early Life

David Seth Kotkin (born September 16, 1956), known professionally as David Copperfield, is an American stage magician and illusionist described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's television specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards, winning 21. Known for his combination of storytelling and illusion, his performance, in a career spanning more than 40 years, has earned 11 Guinness World Records, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a knighthood by the French government. He has been named a Living Legend by the US Library of Congress.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His illusions have included the disappearance of a Learjet aircraft (1981), the vanishing and reappearance of the Statue of Liberty (1983), levitating over the Grand Canyon (1984), walking through the Great Wall of China (1986), escaping from Alcatraz prison (1987), being locked in a safe and attempting to escape from Hotel Charlotte before it imploded (1989), the disappearance of an Orient Express train dining car (1991) and flying on stage for several minutes (1992). As of 2006, he had sold 33 million tickets and grossed over US$4 billion, more than any other solo entertainer in history by a large...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. A. Milne — Contemporary (Died in 1956) (1956): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Aileen Wuornos — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): American serial killer known for murdering seven male clients in Florida.
• Alain Ducasse — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): Renowned French-born Monégasque chef, celebrated for Michelin-starred cuisine.
• Albert Szent-Györgyi — Shared historical date (09-16 · Born) (1893): Pioneering Hungarian biochemist, Nobel laureate for Vitamin C and muscle research.
• Aleksandr Medved — Shared historical date (09-16 · Born) (1937): Legendary Soviet/Belarussian freestyle wrestler, celebrated for Olympic dominance.
• Alan Davis — Historical peer (Born in 1956) (1956): English comic book writer and artist known for Captain Britain and X-Men work.
• Alan Eustace — Historical peer (Born in 1956) (1956): Pioneering computer scientist known for his work at Google and record-breaking space dive.
• Abigail Spencer — Historical peer (Born in 1981) (1981): American actress, producer, and writer known for roles in soap operas and dramas.
• Albert Cohen (novelist) — Historical peer (Died in 1981) (1981): Greek-born Swiss novelist who wrote in French, known for his memoirs and international work.
• Alfred Tarski — Historical peer (Died in 1983) (1983): Pioneering logician known for model theory and the formal concept of truth.
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