Mac King is an American magician who has performed on television specials, often as a co-host. He has his own family-friendly show, "The Mac King Comedy Magic Show", at the Harrah's Las Vegas in the Clint Holmes Theater. After performances, King greets show attendees as they exit, signing autographs on pictures or books. His typical autograph reads: "I'm Mac King."
Career
After college graduation King began touring the comedy clubs with his one-man comedy magic act. Over the next nineteen years his career took off, to such an extent that for years he did over 200 shows a year. In the nineties he began to do television specials, and to appear at Las Vegas casinos. In January 2000, King became a permanent act at Harrah's, performing 10 shows a week. His act has been so well received that he is still performing at Harrah's 20 years later. In addition to the TV specials and Harrah's performances, King performs at more than 60 private corporate events each year. Some of his better-known effects involve goldfish, Fig Newtons, and a yellow raincoat he claims is a magic cloak of invisibility.
On-stage accident
One of King's most memorable moments occurred while performing his cut-and-restored rope routine. King has said that one of his biggest pet peeves is that some magicians use dull scissors, and he makes it a point to keep his scissors razor sharp. While performing the routine, he accidentally severed the tip of his thumb. He quickly tried to stop the bleeding by wrapping his thumb in tape, but the injury was too severe. He asked the audience if there was a nurse present, and a nurse stepped forward. She managed to stop the bleeding. King continued with his show and finished his second show later that evening before going to the hospital to have his injury treated.
Television shows and specials
On the NBCThe World's Greatest Magic specials, King taught the audience a minor effect before and after each commercial in segments referred to as the Mac King School of Magic. He is the only magician to be in all five of the network's specials.
King was born December 2, 1959 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He became interested in magic as a kid because both of his grandfathers were keen amateur magicians. King was a graduate from the J. Graham Brown School in Louisville, Kentucky in 1977. King then attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on a National Merit Scholarship. He graduated with Highest Honors in 1981 with a double major. King performed, with fellow KentuckianLance Burton, over the summers he had off during college. They did three shows a day, every day, at a western-themed park in Cumberland Falls, Kentucky. King married Jennifer Sils in 1985, having met her when she was chosen from the audience by King to help with a trick. They have one child named Eli King who was born in Nevada. He is also friends with Penn & Teller, who wrote the preface to King's book Tricks With Your Head.
Books
King has co-authored 3 books.
Tricks With Your Head, a humorously-written series of tricks mostly requiring few, if any props, co-authored with Mark Levy.
Campfire Magic subtitled "Over 50 Amazing and Easy-to-Learn Tricks and Mind-Blowing Stunts" co-authored with Bill King.
Great Big Ol' Book-o-Magic.
King also collaborated with cartoonist Jeff Knurek to create and market the "Magic in a Minute" line of children's promotions, toys, magic tricks, videos, books, and events.
