Mac King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mac King
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King performs at TAM7 – 2009
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| Born | December 2, 1959 Hopkinsville, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Magician, Illusionist, writer, actor |
| Employer | Excalibur Hotel and Casino |
| Known for | Magic in a Minute videos, magic kits, and syndicated comic strip |
| Spouse(s) | Jennifer Sils |
Mac King (born December 2, 1959) is a famous American magician. He has appeared on many TV shows and specials. Mac King is known for his funny and family-friendly magic act. His show, "The Mac King Comedy Magic Show," is at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the longest-running one-man show in Las Vegas history.
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Mac King's Magic Career
After finishing college, Mac King started performing his comedy magic act. He toured many comedy clubs across the country. For many years, he did over 200 shows each year!
In the 1990s, he began to appear on television specials. He also started performing at big casinos in Las Vegas. In January 2000, King became a regular performer at Harrah's casino. He did 10 shows every week.
Besides his TV and casino shows, King performs at over 60 private events each year. Some of his most famous tricks involve goldfish, Fig Newtons, and a yellow raincoat. He jokes that his raincoat is a magic cloak of invisibility. In 2021, Mac King moved his show to the Excalibur Hotel after 20 years at Harrah's.
A Surprising Moment On Stage
One time, something unexpected happened during Mac King's show. He was doing a trick where he cuts and restores a rope. King always makes sure his scissors are super sharp. While performing, he accidentally cut the tip of his thumb!
He quickly tried to stop the bleeding with tape. But the cut was too deep. He asked if there was a nurse in the audience, and one came forward to help. The nurse managed to stop the bleeding. Mac King was a true professional. He continued with his show and even performed his second show that evening. After his shows, he went to the hospital to get his thumb treated.
Mac King on Television
Mac King has been on many TV shows and specials. On the NBC The World's Greatest Magic specials, he taught viewers simple magic tricks. These short lessons were called the "Mac King School of Magic." He is the only magician who appeared in all five of these popular specials.
Here are some of the TV shows and specials he has been on:
- An Evening at the Improv
- Comic Strip Live
- The World's Greatest Magic
- The World's Greatest Magic II
- The World's Greatest Magic III
- The World's Greatest Magic IV
- The World's Greatest Magic V
- Houdini: Unlocking His Secrets
- The World's Wildest Magic
- Penn and Teller's Sin City Spectacular
- Donny and Marie
- The Other Half
- Penn & Teller: Fool Us
His home was also shown on HGTV.
Mac King's Personal Life
Mac King was born on December 2, 1959, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He became interested in magic when he was a kid. Both of his grandfathers, Elwood Huffman and Pax King, were amateur magicians. They loved doing magic tricks!
King graduated from the J. Graham Brown School in Kentucky in 1977. He then went to Macalester College in Minnesota on a special scholarship. He graduated in 1981 with high honors. He even had a double major in Anthropology and Magic!
During his college summers, King performed magic with another famous Kentuckian magician, Lance Burton. They did three shows every day at a western-themed park in Cumberland Falls, Kentucky.
Mac King married Jennifer Sils in 1985. They met when she was chosen from the audience to help him with a trick! They have one child named Eli King, who was born in Nevada. King is also good friends with the famous magic duo Penn & Teller. They even wrote the introduction to his book, Tricks With Your Head.
Books by Mac King
Mac King has helped write three books about magic and humor:
- Tricks With Your Head: This funny book teaches tricks that often don't need many props. He wrote it with Mark Levy.
- Campfire Magic: This book is subtitled "Over 50 Amazing and Easy-to-Learn Tricks and Mind-Blowing Stunts." He wrote it with Bill King.
- Great Big Ol' Book-o-Magic.
King also worked with cartoonist Jeff Knurek. Together, they created "Magic in a Minute." This line includes children's toys, magic tricks, videos, and books.
