Co-Writer, Illusions Creator and Designer, Original Concept Creator

“I always felt that magic was a beautiful art form, but magicians killed it because of their hokey presentations. But I believed that if you presented the art of magic outside the box it would be limitless and finally garner the respect that it deserves.”
—Criss Angel

Criss Angel has single-handedly brought about a major resurgence of magic in popular culture. Today, Criss is recognized as one of the most provocative artists in the world. He first became interested in the art at the age of seven. As an adolescent he studied mysticism, music, martial arts and dance and two of his biggest influences were Aldo Richiardi and especially Harry Houdini.

Criss emphasizes the importance of establishing an intimate relationship with the audience. “Houdini was a pioneer in a lot of ways,” he says. “When he performed his straitjacket escape in front of enormous crowds, people identified with him. They felt that if he could escape from a straitjacket maybe they too could escape from their constraints and achieve their dreams. Like Houdini, I like to create moments of wonder. Magic is an art that should provoke and touch people.”

In 1994 Criss made his prime-time television debut in the ABC special Secrets. In 1998 Criss Angel: World of Illusion headlined Madison Square Garden's annual Halloween spectacle. The sold-out 12-day run attracted an audience of over 80,000. His next major project, 600 performances of his critically acclaimed Criss Angel Mindfreak brought a new kind of entertainment to Broadway.

In October 2002 the television special Criss Angel Mindfreak debuted on ABC Family channel, in which Criss submerged himself – chained and shackled – in a 220-gallon water torture cell. His third one-hour television special, Supernatural, aired on the Sci Fi Channel.

The undisputed master of street magic, Criss Angel is currently the star and creator of the A&E Network series Criss Angel Mindfreak which premiered in 2005. The illusions have included walking on water, levitating above the Luxor Hotel, floating between two buildings, making a Lamborghini vanish and cutting himself in half in full view of an audience. Mindfreak is the most successful magic show in television history. With it Criss has performed more hours of primetime magic than anyone in history. Criss has received numerous awards and is the first five-time recipient of the coveted Magician of the Year Award (2001, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008). Criss has also recently been named “Magician of The Decade” by the International Magicians Society.

Criss Angel was born in Long Island, New York.

Filmography

"Criss Angel Mindfreak" (27 episodes, 2005-2007)

- Naked Jail Escape (2007) TV episode

- Drowned (2007) TV episode

- Sucker 2 (2007) TV episode

- Car Crash Escape (2007) TV episode

- Raging Bull (2007) TV episode

(22 more)

Producer:

"Criss Angel Mindfreak" (executive producer) (16 episodes, 2005-2007)

- Cement Block (2007) TV episode (executive producer)

- Chicken (2005) TV episode (executive producer)

- Prediction (2005) TV episode (executive producer)

- C4 Crate (2005) TV episode (executive producer)

- Building Walk (2005) TV episode (executive producer)

(11 more)

Writer:

"Criss Angel Mindfreak" (15 episodes, 2005)

- Chicken (2005) TV episode (creator)

- Prediction (2005) TV episode (creator)

- C4 Crate (2005) TV episode (creator)

- Building Walk (2005) TV episode (creator)

- Oasis (2005) TV episode (creator)

(10 more)

Composer:

"Criss Angel Mindfreak" (15 episodes, 2005)

- Chicken (2005) TV episode

- Prediction (2005) TV episode

- C4 Crate (2005) TV episode

- Building Walk (2005) TV episode

- Oasis (2005) TV episode

(10 more)

Actor:

In Production

2000s

Mandrake (2009) (in production) .... Theron

"Criss Angel Mindfreak" (1 episode, 2007)

- Cement Block (2007) TV episode

"CSI: NY" .... Luke Blade (1 episode, 2007)

- Sleight Out of Hand (2007) TV episode .... Luke Blade

Self:

2000s

1990s

"Larry King Live" .... Himself (2 episodes, 2007)

- Criss Angel, David Copperfield, Britney Spears (2007) TV episode .... Himself

- Criss Angel (2007) TV episode .... Himself

"Phenomenon" .... Himself / ... (5 episodes, 2007)

- Episode #1.5 (2007) TV episode .... Himself/ Juror

- Episode #1.4 (2007) TV episode .... Himself/ Juror

- Episode #1.3 (2007) TV episode .... Himself/ Juror

- Episode #1.2 (2007) TV episode .... Himself/ Juror

- Premiere (2007) TV episode .... Himself/ Juror

"Last Call with Carson Daly" .... Himself (1 episode, 2007)

- Episode dated 30 October 2007 (2007) TV episode .... Himself

"Entertainment Tonight" .... Himself (1 episode, 2007)

... aka E.T. (USA: informal title)

... aka ET Weekend (Australia: weekend title)

... aka Entertainment This Week (weekend title)

... aka This Week in Entertainment (USA: weekend title)

- Episode dated 24 August 2007 (2007) TV episode .... Himself

"The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" .... Himself (1 episode, 2007)

- Episode dated 8 June 2007 (2007) TV episode .... Himself

"Criss Angel Mindfreak" .... Himself (17 episodes, 2005-2007)

- The Luxor Light (2007) TV episode .... Himself

- Building Float (2006) TV episode .... Himself

- Chicken (2005) TV episode .... Himself

- Prediction (2005) TV episode .... Himself

- C4 Crate (2005) TV episode .... Himself

(12 more)

"Late Night with Conan O'Brien" .... Himself (1 episode, 2007)

... aka Late Night with Conan O'Brien (Australia)

- Episode dated 9 May 2007 (2007) TV episode .... Himself

"Howard Stern on Demand" .... Himself (1 episode, 2007)

... aka Howard TV on Demand (USA)

- Weekend with JD at the 2007 AVN Awards (2007) TV episode .... Himself

"The Megan Mullally Show" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)

- Episode #1.6 (2006) TV episode .... Himself

"The Early Show" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)

- Episode dated 15 September 2006 (2006) TV episode .... Himself

"Late Show with David Letterman" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)

... aka Late Show Backstage (USA: title for episodes with guest hosts)

... aka Letterman (Australia)

... aka The Late Show (USA: informal short title)

- Episode dated 22 May 2006 (2006) TV episode .... Himself

"Las Vegas" .... Himself (1 episode, 2005)

- Bold, Beautiful & Blue (2005) TV episode .... Himself

"The Tyra Banks Show" .... Himself (1 episode, 2005)

- Tyra's Halloween Spook-tacular! (2005) TV episode .... Himself

101 Craziest TV Moments (2005) (TV) .... Himself

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" .... Himself (1 episode, 2005)

- Episode dated 15 July 2005 (2005) TV episode .... Himself

"Party @ the Palms" .... Himself (1 episode, 2005)

- Episode #1.3 (2005) TV episode .... Himself

Criss Angel Supernatural (2003) (TV) .... Himself

Criss Angel Mindfreak (2002) (TV) .... Himself

"Howard Stern" .... Himself (1 episode, 2002)

- Episode dated 14 January 2002 (2002) TV episode .... Himself

The Science of Magic (1997) (TV) .... Himself - Illusionist

Learn more about Criss Angel HERE