The magician and stand up comedian better known as The Amazing Johnathan has died. His death was confirmed by his wife, who said that he had a critical heart condition. He was 63 years old.
The last thing Synn said to him was "I love you, honey, I'll be with you when you get up from your nap." He was very peaceful. He had the sweetest look on his face.
It wasn't magic for the faint of heart. The bag of tricks by The Amazing Johnathan appealed to Vegas tourists and magicians alike. His work was frenetic and violent. He rattled off bits, tricks, and jokes that left stages covered in fake body parts and audiences in stitches.
He was the youngest of three children and was born in Detroit, Michigan. His family moved to Fraser, MI, where he attended a Christian private school, where he was a below average student, according to his website.
He walked into a magic shop in 1973. The owner trained the teenager before his big break. The set ended with young Szeles locked in the trunk of a car and a chorus of boos. He made $4.
He befriended fellow amateur magician and future Night Court star Harry Anderson after three years of performing on the streets of San Francisco. The pair were both on the cutting edge of comedy and magic.
He toured colleges and comedy clubs in the 1980s, establishing himself as one of the most original magic acts. He made his television debut on The Weird Al Show, where he received his only acting credit as Uncle Jonathan.
In the next 20 years, Szeles was a host and featured attraction on television. He led Merv Griffin's syndicated variety gameshow, but left due to a contract dispute. It was a 1996 appearance on Comedy Central's Lounge Lizards that made him a household name.
For two years, The Amazing Johnathan did 500 seats a night in Las Vegas, selling out rooms up and down the strip. He said during a Las Vegas talk that the greatest time of his life was here. When I was told I had a year to live, my houses crashed down.
cardiomyopathy is a heart condition that affects the tissue surrounding the heart. The magician stopped performing for five years because of this news.
In the 2010s, The Amazing Johnathan tried to restart his career. He did a residency in Las Vegas before going on tour. His condition got worse.
Many question his diagnosis because of his unpredictable stage show and penchant for on and off stage illusions. Some wondered if his illness was an elaborate ruse that would lead to a final reveal.
Ben Berman tried to get to the truth of the condition in The Amazing Johnathan Documentary. In the film, Szeles is upfront with Berman about his struggles with drugs and his heart condition.
The big reveal was that Johnathan was telling the truth. He died in his Las Vegas home with his wife by his side.
He told audiences that he had the best life he could have. I got everything I wanted. There is a lot to be said for Devil worship.
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