David Blaine
David Blaine (born April 4, 1973) is an American magician, mentalist, and endurance performer. Born in New York City, Blaine became interested in magic at a very young age. He gained prominence in 1997, when his first television special, David Blaine: Street Magic, aired on ABC. That year, he also appeared in Magic Man. He later starred in the television specials David Blaine: Real or Magic (2013), Beyond Magic (2016), and The Magic Way (2020).
Known for his dangerous stunts, in 2008 he attempted to break the Guinness World Record for breath holding. He succeeded in holding his breath for 17 minutes 4 seconds, setting a new world record for oxygen assisted static apnea. He is the author of Mysterious Stranger: A Book of Magic (2002), an autobiography and armchair treasure hunt with instructions on performing magic tricks.
Notable Performances
- “Frozen in Time” (2000): Encased in a large block of ice in Times Square for nearly three days before being removed with chainsaws and hospitalized due to shock concerns.
- “Above the Below” (2003): Fasting for 44 days while suspended in a transparent box 30 feet above the River Thames in London.
- “Guinness World Records” (2008): Holding his breath for 17 minutes and 4 seconds on the Oprah Winfrey Show, setting a new world record for oxygen-assisted static apnea at the time.
- “Ascension” (2020): Floating to an altitude of 24,900 feet (over 4.5 miles) in Arizona while holding onto a cluster of large helium-filled balloons, a feat streamed live on YouTube.
