Mat Franco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mat Franco
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Franco in 2015
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| Born | May 10, 1988 Johnston, Rhode Island, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Rhode Island |
| Occupation | Magician |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | America's Got Talent season 9 winner
Mat Franco’s Got Magic NBC TV Specials Las Vegas Headliner at The LINQ |
Mat Franco (born May 10, 1988) is an American magician. He is famous for his amazing sleight of hand tricks and his fun personality. Mat was the first magician ever to win America's Got Talent. This happened during the show's ninth season.
After winning, Franco starred in his own TV specials on NBC called Mat Franco’s Got Magic. In 2015, he started his live show in Las Vegas, called Mat Franco - Magic Reinvented Nightly. Today, he performs at The LINQ Hotel + Experience in the Mat Franco Theater. His show has won "Best Magic Show" at the Best of Vegas Awards many times. It was also named the top-rated magic show in Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022.
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Mat Franco's Early Life
Mat Franco was born in Johnston, Rhode Island. When he was four years old, he saw magic on TV. He immediately wanted a magic set. He started doing tricks for his kindergarten class. His grandmother was a big help. She would read magic instructions to him because he was too young to read them himself.
Mat kept learning magic as he grew up. He performed whenever he could. By the time he was 12, he had saved enough money from his local shows. He used it to fly to Las Vegas. There, he studied with famous magicians like Jeff McBride.
Franco finished Johnston High School in 2006. He then went to the University of Rhode Island. He earned a degree in Business Administration. He also studied Communication.
Starting His Magic Career
In 2003, when Mat was 15, he got a special invitation. He was asked to perform on stage in Las Vegas. This was at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. The show was called "Stars of Tomorrow" and was put on by the Society of American Magicians.
After college in 2010, Franco began touring. He performed his one-man show at colleges across the U.S. He toured for six months each year, for four years. In 2012, he was nominated for "Fastest Rising Star." The next year, he won "Best College Performer" from Campus Activities Magazine. He often returned to his old university to perform for new students.
His grandmother, Eleanor Campellone, always encouraged him. She once said that she had "all the time in the world" to watch his tricks.
Winning America's Got Talent
In 2014, Mat Franco became very famous. He won America's Got Talent. He was the first magician to ever win the show.
Mat's Journey on AGT
Mat impressed the judges from his very first audition. He used amazing card manipulation to tell a story. He earned a standing ovation. Later, he performed a visual card trick where he "painted" a picture of judge Howie Mandel.
In the Quarterfinals, he used Heidi Klum as his assistant. He performed tricks with fire and made cards disappear and reappear. These acts also earned him standing ovations.
During the Semifinals, Mat performed a very memorable trick. He borrowed Mel B's phone and made it vanish. Then, he went into the audience at Radio City Music Hall. He cut open a seat cushion and found Mel B's phone inside!
In the Top 12, Mat did an interactive trick. He had everyone in the audience, including the judges and people watching at home, pick a card. He then used a cannon to make the chosen card stick to the ceiling of Radio City Music Hall.
Mat made it to the Finals. He was the last magician left in the competition. For the finale, he did a new version of his first audition. He also performed a large trick with 52 audience members. They acted as a "human deck" of cards on stage.
On September 17, 2014, Mat Franco was announced as the winner of America's Got Talent.
After his big win, Mat returned to America's Got Talent many times as a guest performer. He appeared on seasons 10, 15, and 16. He even taught host Terry Crews some magic tricks. In 2023, he was a special guest on America's Got Talent: All-Stars.
What People Think of Mat
Since his Las Vegas show opened in 2015, Mat Franco has received many awards. These include "Best Magic Show" and "Best Production Show."
His live show is highly rated by people who see it. Websites like Vegas.com, Yelp, and Trip Advisor show that his show has an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper praised Mat's performances on America's Got Talent. They said he was good at making his tricks special for the judges. They also noted his great personality and sense of humor.
People say that Mat Franco is special because he connects with his audience. He makes his shows interactive and spontaneous. For Mat, magic is not just about tricking people. It's about making them smile and feel connected.
Mat Franco's Career Today
Mat Franco started headlining his show, "Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented Nightly," in Las Vegas on August 5, 2015. The show quickly became known as the "Best Magic Show in Las Vegas."
Mat has also appeared on many popular TV talk shows. These include The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Access Hollywood, and The Today Show.
In 2015, Mat starred in his own two-hour TV magic special. It was called Mat Franco's Got Magic and aired on NBC. He also started posting his tricks on his YouTube channel in April 2015. He now has over 200,000 subscribers.
In 2016, his Las Vegas show won "Best Show" on the Las Vegas Strip. This was from the "Las Vegas Weekly Readers' Choice Awards."
On July 10, 2017, the LINQ hotel officially renamed its theater the "Mat Franco Theater." The city of Las Vegas also gave Mat Franco a key to the Las Vegas Strip. They even declared July 10 "Mat Franco Day."
In 2020, Caesars Entertainment signed a new deal with Mat Franco. This means his show, "Mat Franco - Magic Reinvented Nightly," will continue at the LINQ Hotel + Experience for five more years.
