By Jacob MatiyevskyBy Jacob Matiyevsky

DAVID DAVID COPPERFIELDCOPPERFIELD

David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield

THE THE EXPLORER:EXPLORER:

ORIGINORIGIN

• Born David Seth Kotkin – Sept. 16, 1956 in Metuchen, Born David Seth Kotkin – Sept. 16, 1956 in Metuchen, New Jersey, USANew Jersey, USA• Parents are Jewish immigrants from Russia – named Parents are Jewish immigrants from Russia – named

Rebecca and Hyman KotkinRebecca and Hyman Kotkin• Rebecca – Insurance adjuster – Born in Jerusalem, Rebecca – Insurance adjuster – Born in Jerusalem,

Israel Israel • Hyman – Owned men’s clothing store called Korby’s – Hyman – Owned men’s clothing store called Korby’s –

Born in Metuchen, New JerseyBorn in Metuchen, New Jersey

CHILDHOODCHILDHOOD

• As a child – Wanted to be a ventriloquist As a child – Wanted to be a ventriloquist • At seven – Learned first trickAt seven – Learned first trick• At ten – Started magic as “Davino the Boy Magician”At ten – Started magic as “Davino the Boy Magician”• At twelve – Admitted to The Society of American At twelve – Admitted to The Society of American

MagiciansMagicians• At twelve – Became a professional magicianAt twelve – Became a professional magician• David Copperfield was very shy – Magic helpedDavid Copperfield was very shy – Magic helped

TEENAGE TEENAGE YEARSYEARS

• As a teenager – David Copperfield sneaked into As a teenager – David Copperfield sneaked into Broadway shows – liked to watch Stephen Broadway shows – liked to watch Stephen Sondheim and Bob FosseSondheim and Bob Fosse• At sixteen – Became a professor at the New York At sixteen – Became a professor at the New York

University – Taught a course called “The Art of University – Taught a course called “The Art of Magic”Magic”• At eighteen – Graduated from the Metuchen High At eighteen – Graduated from the Metuchen High

SchoolSchool

• At eighteen – Went to Fordham UniversityAt eighteen – Went to Fordham University• At eighteen – Got the lead role in “The Magic Man” At eighteen – Got the lead role in “The Magic Man”

– Longest running musical– Longest running musical• At eighteen – Adopted the name David CopperfieldAt eighteen – Adopted the name David Copperfield• At nineteen – David Copperfield was the main At nineteen – David Copperfield was the main

performer in the “Pagoda Hotel” in Honolulu, Hawaiiperformer in the “Pagoda Hotel” in Honolulu, Hawaii

ADULTHOOADULTHOODD

• At twenty two – David Copperfield became the host At twenty two – David Copperfield became the host of the ABC special “The Magic of David Copperfield”of the ABC special “The Magic of David Copperfield”• At twenty two-present day – He got Emmy awards At twenty two-present day – He got Emmy awards

or was nominatedor was nominated• At twenty four – Played the role of “Ken the At twenty four – Played the role of “Ken the

Magician” in a film called “Terror Train” Magician” in a film called “Terror Train” • At twenty four and thirty one – Named Magician of At twenty four and thirty one – Named Magician of

Year – By the Academy of Magical ArtsYear – By the Academy of Magical Arts

• At twenty five – David Copperfield vanished a jet At twenty five – David Copperfield vanished a jet airplaneairplane• At twenty five – Named Entertainer of the Year – At twenty five – Named Entertainer of the Year –

By American Guild Variety ArtistsBy American Guild Variety Artists• At twenty six – David Copperfield At twenty six – David Copperfield

founded/created Project Magicfounded/created Project Magic• At twenty seven – He vanished the Statue of At twenty seven – He vanished the Statue of

LibertyLiberty

• At twenty eight – David Copperfield levitated across At twenty eight – David Copperfield levitated across the Grand Canyonthe Grand Canyon• At twenty nine – He was named one of the Ten At twenty nine – He was named one of the Ten

Outstanding Young Men in American U.S.Outstanding Young Men in American U.S.• At thirty – Walked through Great Wall of ChinaAt thirty – Walked through Great Wall of China• At thirty – Became the first American to produce the At thirty – Became the first American to produce the

American TV special in The People's Republic of American TV special in The People's Republic of ChinaChina• At thirty one – Escaped from the Alcatraz prisonAt thirty one – Escaped from the Alcatraz prison

• At thirty one – David Copperfield got the Golden At thirty one – David Copperfield got the Golden Rose award – By Monteux Film FestivalRose award – By Monteux Film Festival• At thirty one – Top Ten Entrepreneurs (age 30 or At thirty one – Top Ten Entrepreneurs (age 30 or

under) Young Entrepreneur Organizationunder) Young Entrepreneur Organization• At thirty two – National Spokesperson for disabled At thirty two – National Spokesperson for disabled

athletes at the 1988 Olympicsathletes at the 1988 Olympics

• At thirty three – Escaped from an imploding buildingAt thirty three – Escaped from an imploding building• At thirty four – Survived Niagara FallsAt thirty four – Survived Niagara Falls• At thirty five – Vanished Orient Express CarAt thirty five – Vanished Orient Express Car• At thirty six – Founded the International Museum and At thirty six – Founded the International Museum and

Library for the Conjuring ArtsLibrary for the Conjuring Arts• At thirty six – First illusionist to fly without the aid of At thirty six – First illusionist to fly without the aid of

strings or camera tricksstrings or camera tricks

• At thirty seven – Bambi Award (European equivalent At thirty seven – Bambi Award (European equivalent to Oscar)to Oscar)• At thirty seven – Fastest Rising Star by Forbes At thirty seven – Fastest Rising Star by Forbes

MagazineMagazine• At thirty seven – Escaped from burning ropes 13 At thirty seven – Escaped from burning ropes 13

stories above the groundstories above the ground• At thirty eight – Knighted by the French government, At thirty eight – Knighted by the French government,

receiving the Chevalier of Arts and lettersreceiving the Chevalier of Arts and letters

• At thirty eight – Esquire Magazine CoverAt thirty eight – Esquire Magazine Cover• At thirty nine – Inducted into the Hollywood Walk of At thirty nine – Inducted into the Hollywood Walk of

FameFame• At forty – Cover of Vanity FairAt forty – Cover of Vanity Fair• At forty one – Record breaking Broadway Show At forty one – Record breaking Broadway Show

Dreams and NightmaresDreams and Nightmares

• At forty three – Awarded Honorary Doctorate of At forty three – Awarded Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Fordham UniversityHumane Letters from Fordham University• At forty four – FISM Magician of the MillenniumAt forty four – FISM Magician of the Millennium• At forty four – Named Living Legend by Library of At forty four – Named Living Legend by Library of

CongressCongress

THE THE EXPLORING:EXPLORING:

MAGICMAGIC

Average Magician MethodDavid Copperfield Method

• David Copperfield – Explores magic and illusionDavid Copperfield – Explores magic and illusion• Makes all tricks uniqueMakes all tricks unique• Finds a way to make any trick goodFinds a way to make any trick good• He takes magic to it’s limitsHe takes magic to it’s limits• Each trick tells a story Each trick tells a story

AWARDS AND AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTSACHIEVEMENTS

• First living illusionist – honored with a star on the First living illusionist – honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of FameHollywood Walk of Fame• Knighted by the French governmentKnighted by the French government• Received the Living Legend award from the United Received the Living Legend award from the United

States Library of CongressStates Library of Congress• Has been named Magician of the Year, Century Has been named Magician of the Year, Century

and Magician of the Millenniumand Magician of the Millennium

• He is on the postage stamps of six different He is on the postage stamps of six different countries – only living magician to receive this countries – only living magician to receive this honorhonor• He’s won over 21 Emmy awards for his television He’s won over 21 Emmy awards for his television

specialsspecials• Holds 11 Guinness World Records and has sold Holds 11 Guinness World Records and has sold

more tickets than any other solo entertainer in more tickets than any other solo entertainer in history – with ticket sales in the billionshistory – with ticket sales in the billions

How Did David How Did David Copperfield Copperfield Change The Change The

World?World?

• He changed people’s view of magicHe changed people’s view of magic• He can do what only he can doHe can do what only he can do• Created big illusionsCreated big illusions• Made people enjoy magic more – (In my opinion)Made people enjoy magic more – (In my opinion)• Made magic more funMade magic more fun

VIDEO TIME!VIDEO TIME!David Copperfield’s Awards and Achievements

Thank You for Thank You for Listening to my Listening to my PresentationPresentation

Any Questions ?Any Questions ?