The Amazing Kreskin, famous mentalist and Johnny Carson favorite, dies at 89

The Amazing Kreskin, the famed mentalist who appeared on The Tonight Show numerous times, has died at age 89.

Kreskin's manager Ryan Galway confirmed the news to Entertainment Weekly. "I know you know what I'm still thinking. lol... I will miss your stories and seeing you perform on stage," he wrote on social media Tuesday. "His legacy as a master showman, innovator, and predictor will be remembered fondly by fans worldwide."

Kreskin rose to fame as one of the 20th century's preeminent celebrity mentalists, using what he called "suggestion" and "extremely sensitive perception" to consistently make eerily accurate predictions and locate hidden objects during live performances — most notably his paychecks for his shows, which the audience hid around his venues while he remained off-stage. He also famously predicted the results of elections and sporting events like the Super Bowl.

Kreskin maintained that he was a mentalist, not a magician or a psychic, and repeatedly stated that his act used science rather than anything supernatural. "I think this silent communication is within the capability of many people, once they're properly trained and self-sensitized," he said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune in 1991. "I'm not a mind reader, because that implies I could totally penetrate the process of the human brain, but I am able, on many occasions, to perceive a single thought or a series of simple thoughts, if the subject is tuned to me and willing to open up their imagination. I am helpless if they refuse. Basically, I apply the power of positive thinking."

Related: Celebrity deaths 2024: Remembering the stars we've lost this year

Born George Kresge Jr. in Montclair, N.J., in 1935, Kreskin practiced his mentalism skills from a young age, developing his mentalist techniques from childhood games of "Hot and Cold" and attempting to find pennies that his family hid around the house. After attending Seton Hall University, he made his television debut on The Steve Allen Show in 1964.

Related: Sundance Q&A: A chat with Colin Hanks

Kreskin became a fixture on talk shows and late night television, most notably The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where he guested 88 times. He also made dozens of appearances on The Merv Griffin Show, Live With Regis and Kathie Lee, and The Mike Douglas Show. Kreskin had his own show, The Amazing World of Kreskin, from 1972 to 1975, and it rebranded on a new network as The New Kreskin Show from 1975 to 1977.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

The mentalist's late night dominance extended to the next generation of talk shows, guesting on several episodes of shows hosted by David Letterman, Howard Stern, and Jimmy Fallon.

Related: The Great Buck Howard

Kreskin's career also inspired Sean McGinley, who worked for the mentalist as his road manager for a few months, to write and direct The Great Buck Howard. The film starred John Malkovich as a Kreskin-esque entertainer and Colin Hanks as his young manager.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly