David Copperfield Biography (1956-)

Original name, David Seth Kotkin; born September 16, 1956, in Metuchen, NJ; son of Hyman (a men's clothing store owner) and Rebecca (an insurance adjuster) Kotkin. Addresses: Contact: c/o Albert A. Rettig & Associates, 11777 San Vincente Blvd., #601, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Magician, producer, director
Birth Details
September 16, 1956
Metuchen, New Jersey, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Television Appearances
  • Specials
  • Host, The Magic of ABC, ABC, 1977
  • Host, The Magic of David Copperfield, CBS, 1978
  • Himself, The Magic of David Copperfield II, 1979
  • Himself, The Magic of David Copperfield III: Levitating Ferrari, 1980
  • Himself, The Magic of David Copperfield IV: The Vanishing Airplane, 1981
  • The All-Star Salute to Mother's Day, NBC, 1981
  • Magician, Magic with the Stars, NBC, 1982
  • Host, The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears, CBS, 1983
  • Dave, Mr. T and Emmanuel Lewis in a Christmas Dream, NBC, 1984
  • Host, The Magic of David Copperfield VI: Floating over the Grand Canyon, CBS, 1984
  • Host, The Magic of David Copperfield VII: Familiares, CBS, 1985
  • Kraft Salutes The Magic of David Copperfield ... in China, CBS, 1986
  • Himself, The Magic of David Copperfield VIII: Walking through the Great Wall of China, 1986
  • All-Star Gala at Ford's Theatre, ABC, 1987
  • Kraft Salutes the Magic of David Copperfield IX: Escape from Alcatraz (also known as The Magic of David Copperfield IX: Escape from Alcatraz), CBS, 1987
  • Host, The Magic of David Copperfield X: The Bermuda Triangle, CBS,1988
  • Judge, Super Model Search: Look of the Year, ABC, 1988
  • Host, The Magic of David Copperfield XI: The Explosive Encounter,CBS, 1989
  • The Magic of David Copperfield XII: The Niagara Falls Challenge, CBS, 1990
  • The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express, CBS, 1991
  • The Magic of David Copperfield XIV: Flying ... Live the Dream, CBS, 1992
  • All-Star Gala at Ford's Theatre (also known as All-Star Fiestaat Ford's Theatre), ABC, 1992
  • Host, The Magic of David Copperfield XV: The Fires of Passion, CBS, 1993
  • David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic, CBS, 1994
  • Presenter, The 1994 World Music Awards, ABC, 1994
  • A Phyllis George Special, syndicated, 1995
  • The Magic of David Copperfield XVI: Unexplained Forces, CBS, 1995
  • Himself, Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life, 1997
  • A Gala for the President at Ford's Theatre, ABC, 1998
  • AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies, CBS, 1998
  • Guest host, CBS: The First 50 Years, CBS, 1998
  • Himself, The Magic of David Copperfield: Great Escapes, CBS, 2000
  • Himself, The Magic of David Copperfield: The Tornado of Fire (alsoknown as Copperfield! Tornado of Fire), CBS, 2001
  • InStyle Celebrities at Home, NBC, 2001
  • An American Celebration at Ford's Theatre, ABC, 2002
  • Episodic
  • The Big Show, 1980
  • Guest, Late Show with David Letterman, 1994, 1995
  • The Panel, Ten Network, 1999
  • HermanSIC, 2000
  • Himself, "Wetten, dass ... ? au Goettingen," Wetten, dass ... ?, 2001
  • Himself, Saturday Night Live, NBC, 2001
  • Guest, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 2001, 2002
  • Himself, The View, ABC, 2002
  • Himself, "My Lucky Day," Scrubs, NBC, 2002
  • Television Work
  • Specials
  • Producer, The Magic of David Copperfield, CBS, 1981
  • Coproducer, Magic with the Stars, NBC, 1982
  • Director, The Magic of David Copperfield, CBS, 1983
  • (With Jeff Margolis) Director, The Magic of David Copperfield, CBS, 1984
  • Director, The Magic of David Copperfield, CBS, 1985
  • Director, Kraft Salutes the Magic of David Copperfield ... in China, CBS, 1986
  • Executive producer, coproducer, and codirector, Kraft Salutes the Magic of David Copperfield IX: Escape from Alcatraz (also known as The Magic of David Copperfield IX: Escape from Alcatraz), CBS, 1987
  • Executive producer and director, The Magic of David Copperfield X: TheBermuda Triangle, CBS, 1988
  • Executive producer and (as David Kotkin) director, The Magic of DavidCopperfield XI: The Explosive Encounter, CBS, 1989
  • Illusion performer, "Interlude," All-Star Fiesta at Ford's, ABC, 1992
  • Executive producer, The Magic of David Copperfield XV: Fires of Passion, CBS, 1993
  • Executive producer and director, David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic, CBS, 1994
  • Executive producer and stage director, The Magic of David CopperfieldXVI: Unexplained Forces, CBS, 1995
  • Executive producer and segment director, David Copperfield: The GreatEscapes, CBS, 2000
  • Executive producer and director, The Magic of David Copperfield: The Tornado of Fire (also known as Copperfield! Tornado of Fire), CBS,2001
  • Film Appearances
  • Ken the magician, Terror Train (also known as Train of Terror and Le monstre du train), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980
  • Himself, Pret-a-Porter (also known as Ready to Wear), 1994
  • Himself, Belly Talkers (documentary), Miramax, 1995
  • Himself, Get Bruce, 1999
  • Film Work
  • Illusion creator, Terror Train (also known as Train of Terror and Le monstre du train), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980
  • Stage Appearances
  • Illusionist, The Magic Man, First Chicago Center, Chicago, IL, 1974
  • All-Star Gala at Ford's Theatre, Ford's Theatre, Washington, DC, 1987
  • All-Star Gala at Ford's Theatre, Ford's Theatre, 1992
  • (Broadway debut) Dreams and Nightmares, Martin Beck Theatre, 1996
  • Major Tours
  • South of the Border, Dreams and Nightmares, Latin American cities,1997
  • You! (magic show), 1999
  • WRITINGS
  • Books
  • (Co-editor and contributor) David Copperfield's Tales of the Impossible (stories), HarperPrism, 1995
  • (Editor with Janet Berliner, and contributor) David Copperfield's Beyond Imagination (stories), HarperPrism, 1996
  • Other Writings
  • Contributor to periodicals, including Omni.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Contemporary Newsmakers 1986, Issue Cumulation, Gale Research, 1987
    Periodicals
    • Amusement Business, May 12, 1997, p. 31; July 14, 1997, p. 7
    • Back Stage, December 20, 1996, p. 56
    • Good Housekeeping, October, 1996, p. 100
    • Interview, January, 1996, p. 94
    • Nation's Restaurant News, June 17, 1996, p. 4
    • People Weekly, April 1, 1996, p. 114; October 26, 1998, p. 10; April 9, 2001, p. 183
    Electronic
    • David Copperfield Web Site, http://www.dcopperfield.com, February17, 2003

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