Amazing Toronto magician James Randi was one of a kind
James Randi, the amazing Toronto-born magician, escape artist, and skeptic of all things paranormal, has died at the age of 92.
His foundation, the James Randi Educational Foundation, confirmed the death on Tuesday, stating simply that Randi passed away "due to age-related causes."
We are very sad to say that James Randi passed away yesterday, due to age-related causes.
— Randi Foundation (@jref) October 21, 2020
He had an amazing life. We will miss him.
Please respect Deyvi Peña’s privacy during this difficult time.
Known as The Amazing Randi, he took on many roles, including entertainer, but also spent his career insisting that magic was based on sleight of hand or visual trickery as opposed to paranormal powers, which he constantly debunked.
In fact, he often described himself as a liar or a cheat in mock recognition of his so-called magical powers. He even concluded his shows by saying, "Everything you have seen here is tricks. There is nothing supernatural involved."
The last picture of me and Randi. I can’t type through the tears. This will be a hard day of making tv. I love you Randi. You invented us. pic.twitter.com/z2SKY59Jtb
— Penn Jillette (@pennjillette) October 21, 2020
One of his greatest exploits was on The Tonight Show in 1972 when he helped host Johnny Carson set up Uri Geller who claimed he could bend spoons with his mind.
Randi made sure the spoons and other props were out of Geller's reach until showtime which resulted in an 22-minute segment in which Geller was not able to perform his act.
If you want to watch some of The Amazing Randi’s finest work, he he is absolutely humiliating Uri Geller on The Tonight Show. #JamesRandi https://t.co/BsMHHE5ITF
— John DeSio (@johndesio) October 21, 2020
"I see people being swindled every day by medical quackery, frauds of every sort, psychics and their hot lines, people who claim to be able to find lost children or to help them invest their money," Randi said to The Associated Press in 1998.
"I know they are being swindled because I know the methods being used."
Rest in peace, James Randi. You were, and are, "Amazing ".
— Eric Ashworth (@htrowhsacire) October 22, 2020
Through his organization, Randi promised to give anyone $1 million if they could prove their own supernatural powers or the presence of a supernatural being. Although some did not believe he had the money at all, Randi had the bank documentation to prove it.
No one collected the prize money.
I've told this story before, but if it's your 1st time, it's not a rerun.
— Headly Westerfield (@Aunty__Em) October 22, 2020
A few years back Pops was hospitalized after a choking issue. James Randi was his roommate.
The Amazing Randi was more thrilled I was from Toronto & knew of his skeptics work, than of his magic.
Still...
Randi was born in Toronto on Aug.7, 1928. While he never earned a high school diploma or went to college, he received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1986.
In 2015, Randi was the subject of the documentary An Honest Liar which screened at Hot Docs among many other film festivals.
Since the announcement of his death, obituaries have poured in from the likes of The New York Times, Washington Post and Hollywood Reporter.
Honest Liar
