The Amazing Kreskin Bio
With a showman’s flair, a comedian’s wit, and the capacities of a bona fide Mentalist or thought reader, The Amazing Kreskin has, for some six decades, dramatized the unique facets of the human mind…his own. His very name has become an integral part of pop culture throughout the world, invoked in comedy clubs, comic strips, print stories, and TV shows from sitcoms on through the national media.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, it was during the childhood game “hot and cold” that Kreskin’s remarkable ability to find hidden objects emerged. His ability to read thoughts expanded, and by his teens he became nationally recognized in the United States as “The World’s Youngest Hypnotist”, resulting in his collaborating in psychological clinical studies extending into the realm of Parapsychology and the Power of Suggestion.
By the early 1980’s Kreskin came to a realization that was to turn the field of hypnotism off its rocker. His conclusion was that the hypnotic state does not exist…there is no such thing as hypnosis and that it is nothing more than the Power of Suggestion. His position reverberated and was covered in courtrooms, psychological and medical journals, and seriously examined by state legislators. It was highly publicized in 1986 when Kreskin was taken to trial in a NJ court by a hypnotist who sought to prove the hypnotic trance. The hypnotist failed in the Kreskin Challenge. Kreskin has made a mockery of public performances of hypnotism and seriously confronted and questioned the claims of medical hypnotists. From universities to concert and lecture halls, he has demonstrated his position with performances that are hilarious and dramatic in their scope.
In his late teens, this icon of thought transference developed a mental test that has become the highlight of his performances all over the world. This signature piece has Kreskin requesting that his check be hidden somewhere within the venue he is appearing. If he fails to find it, he will forfeit his fee.
Through the decades, audiences of all ages have been drawn to this legendary figure. How many other celebrities can boast their own television series, their own board game, at this present time some nineteen books, their own theme song – in this case arranged by the renowned musician Skitch Henderson at Carnegie Hall – and hundreds of appearances on almost every talk/variety show to be had. His performances have been seen all over the world, having flown over 3 million miles in doing so.
Kreskin has received international recognition for extraordinary predictions often dealing with world affairs. Regarding the U.S. Presidential Election of 2012, Kreskin logged the results in a written statement almost a year and a half earlier secured at NBC at The Jimmy Fallon Show with anther copy locked on display at the legendary Patsy’s Restaurant in NYC as well as placed in the hands of two other sources. The copy of the prediction was opened the day after the election and proved to be accurate.
In 2009, Bravo initiated a new television series called Star Portraits, in which the entire program was devoted to a high profile celebrity who has agreed to allow a trio of outstanding Canadian artists to each do a portrait of a celebrity which, when the celebrity is brought back weeks later, will climax the show. The decision was made that to launch the series would be The Amazing Kreskin.
Actor/Producer Tom Hanks released in 2009 the feature film, The Great Buck Howard, starring Tom Hanks and John Malkovich. It is announced at the end of the movie that the inspiration for the key character of the screenplay is The Amazing Kreskin, the character played by John Malkovich.
Since the release of The Great Buck Howard, and the increased attention given Kreskin’s world-famous “check-test”, Kreskin now offers the sum of ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00) to anyone who can prove that he employs paid secret assistants or use secret hidden electronic devices to aid in the accomplishment of his mental abilities. This challenge and assurance of integrity will be valid throughout the continuance of his professional career.
In the 2010 movie, Dinner for Schmucks, the character played by Zach Galifianakis has as his hero and influence The Amazing Kreskin, which further exemplifies the wide scope of exposure and attention which Kreskin has had.
In 2013, three days before the Super Bowl, Kreskin predicted on FOX television the results naming the winning team The Baltimore Ravens as well as the winning score… 34
In the same year, Kreskin’s new book arrived Conversations with Kreskin. One of the unique highlights is the color center section done by the highly gifted Joe St Pierre the young cartoonist who has graphically drawn many of the comic books read today. The first key incident in his life captured in the cartoon pages that will surely become a collector’s item.