The Amazing Kreskin Dies: Famed Mentalist And ’70s Talk Show Staple Was 89

Greg Evans
·2-min read
The Amazing Kreskin Dies: Famed Mentalist And ’70s Talk Show Staple Was 89

The Amazing Kreskin, whose clever, occasionally self-deprecating and always good-humored mentalist routines made him a talk show favorite of such hosts as Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, David Letterman and Howard Stern, died Tuesday, December 10, in New Jersey. He was 89.

His death was announced by family on his official X page. “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.”

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Though he eschewed the terms and concepts “psychic,” “medium” and the occult, putting him closer in style to the skeptical illusionists like James Randi and Penn and Teller than spoon-bender Uri Geller, Kreskin nonetheless dazzled audiences with an uncanny ability to locate objects – including his paycheck – hidden by audience members. Kreskin explained his ability to perform such feats, as well as card tricks and apparent mind-reading, was due not to supernatural abilities but rather well-honed sensitivity to body language and other subtle cues.

“Basically,” he explained on occasion, “I apply the power of positive thinking which may be mankind’s ultimate tool.”

Born George Joseph Kresge Jr. on January 12, 1935, in Montclair, N.J., Kreskin had barely entered his teens when he began entertaining audiences with his seemingly magic routines. In the decades that followed, Kreskin performed his act for presidents, royalty and on hundreds and hundreds of television appearances.

According to an official bio, he appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson dozens of times, as he did on two of the period’s other popular talk programs The Mike Douglas Show and The Merv Griffin Show. He conducted a seance in 1997 on The Howard Stern Show that last over two hours. His popularity continued well into the late night era of David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon.

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From 1972-75, he hosted his own TV series The Amazing World of Kreskin, and appeared in numerous syndicated specials over the years.

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Like skeptic James Randi, who offered rewards to anyone who could prove psychic ability, Kreskin often offered money to any hypnotist who could prove the existence of a “hypnotic trance” under scientific conditions. No one ever collected on this challenge.

Information on survivors was not immediately available.

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