Kreskin, also known as The Amazing Kreskin, the famed mentalist who captivated audiences with his TV programs in the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 89.
His family shared the news on social media on Tuesday, expressing their sorrow: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of The Amazing Kreskin, born George Kresge, at the age of 89. Performing for all of you brought immense joy to his life, and it was something he deeply cherished. The family kindly asks for privacy during this difficult time.”
From 1972 to 1975, Kreskin hosted “The Amazing World of Kreskin,” which aired in Canada on CTV and was syndicated across the U.S. He later entertained audiences with “The New Kreskin Show” from 1975 to 1977. In his 1991 book Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin, he clarified that he was not a psychic, mind reader, or medium, but rather a researcher in suggestion and extrasensory perception. He explained, “There is nothing supernatural about anything that I do. I am a scientist.”
Born George Joseph Kresge on January 12, 1935, in Montclair, New Jersey, Kreskin’s interest in mentalism was sparked by the comic strip Mandrake the Magician.
Beyond his own shows, Kreskin was a regular guest on popular talk shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffin Show, Late Night With David Letterman, The Mike Douglas Show, Live With Regis and Kathie Lee, and The Howard Stern Show.
An accomplished author, Kreskin wrote several books including Kreskin’s Fun Way to Mind Expansion (1984), Kreskin’s Super Secrets (1993), How to Be a Fake Kreskin (1996), Conversations With Kreskin (2012), and In Real Time (2015), among others.
