Criss Angel Biography

Beginning when he was six years old, Criss Angel immersed himself in a multitude of art forms, from performance artist and musician to mystifier and provocateur. Since then, a relentless work ethic combined with enormous talent, skill and vision has perpetuated Criss as one of the most provocative artists of our day. From creator, producer and performer in his television series and specials, live shows, soundtracks and other music, Criss has redefined the term "artist" for the 21st Century.After studying the art of mysticism, music, martial arts and dance as an adolescent, the native New Yorker acquired state and federal pyrotechnic licenses at 18 and 21, the youngest ages allowed to carry such permits. In 1994, Criss made his prime-time television debut in a featured appearance that captivated audiences in the ABC one-hour special titled "Secrets." In 1998, "Criss Angel: World of Illusion" headlined Madison Square Garden's annual Halloween spectacle. The sold-out 12-day run received an overwhelming response from an audience of over 80,000. Countless additional live performances on a variety of stages led Criss to his critically acclaimed Broadway production CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK at The World Underground Theater in Times Square. The groundbreaking production brought a mind-blowing, new breed of entertainment to Broadway. The show opened to rave reviews, and continued night after night bringing the seemingly impossible up close and in-your-face. Criss performed nearly 600 shows before completing his extended engagement on January 6, 2003. As part of the marketing campaign for the show, in February 2002, Criss astounded more than 75,000 people in Times Square when he set a world record for body suspension as he hung for five hours and 40 minutes from eight fishhooks while passers-by stared in wonder and amazement.

While in the middle of CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK’s Times Square run, Criss' television career began to really take off. In October 2002, Criss debuted his first-ever hour-long television special, "Criss Angel Mindfreak," on ABC Family, which led the network’s "13 Nights of Halloween" as the highest-rated original program. While filming that special, in August 2002, Criss captivated the country when he "submerged" himself, chained and shackled, in a 220-gallon water torture cell for 24 hours and escaped. The stunt garnered international coverage in newspapers across the country including the cover of the New York Daily News and the New York Sun. It was also documented live for two days on Good Morning America, and was covered on countless local news stations across the country. A subsequent two-hour television special aired on TBS in Japan on October 4, 2003 and received a 10.4 share (equivalent to almost 16 million households). The special resulted in Criss being awarded the "Silver Telly" - the Telly Awards' highest honor - at the 25th Annual Telly Awards for the "Criss Angel Made in Japan" DVD.

Criss Angel's third one-hour television special, "SUPERNATURAL,” aired on the Sci Fi Channel on Halloween night, October 31, 2003 and received rave reviews and was selected as the Pick Of The Week in countless newspapers and magazines throughout the country including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, TV Guide, Star magazine and the New York Post. Throughout the years, Criss Angel has also been featured on CNN, FOX News Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, E!, MTV, MSG, The Howard Stern Show, Metro TV, WB Channel 11, NY1, TLC, UPN, TNN and The Discovery Channel and has garnered international coverage on the largest rated television networks in the world.Criss has also been in high demand as a spokesperson by corporations and brands. On January 13, 2003, Criss was summoned to Wisconsin, the heart of Miller Brewing Company, to celebrate the launch of Miller Lite's new look and attitude. Criss completed the second half of a two-part tribute to Harry Houdini when he successfully escaped from a straitjacket while suspended upside down by a crane, more than 10 stories in the air, shattering Houdini’s near century old record.

Criss also has received numerous awards throughout his career. Criss was named both 2001 and most recently 2004 Magician of the Year, making him the first two-time recipient ever to receive this most coveted award. He is the only magician ever to appear on both covers of Magic Magazine (October 2003) and Genii Magazine (December 2003) almost simultaneously. Both Magic and Genii hold reputations as the most popular and most respected magic magazines worldwide. Criss was also unanimously selected as the recipient of the 22nd Louie Award for outstanding achievement in the art of magic. Criss' television success did not impede upon his music or live performances. Criss wrote, produced and performed the music currently available on four CDs from APITRAG Records entitled “Criss Angel: System 1, 2, 3 In The Trilogy” and the “MINDFREAK” soundtrack. And in 2004 and 2005, Criss created and designed much of the visual effects for the $105 million production of Le Reve, the show created and directed by Franco Dragone for Steve Wynn's new $2.6 billion casino resort named "Wynn," which opened in Las Vegas in April of 2005.

July 20, 2005 opens a new chapter for Criss Angel as A&E Network premieres CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK, the first weekly magic series in 40 years. The 16 initial unprecedented episodes will captivate audiences with several extraordinary elements - reality, focusing on Angel's street demonstrations and the way people are mentally affected; surreality, a look into Angel's mind's eye as he contemplates his upcoming feats; and behind-the-scene glimpses – a candid and captivating look into Criss' secret world and the trials and tribulations Criss and his team face from the moment he conceives of impossible, death-defying stunts to the actual performances of those stunts. The mind-blowing demonstrations include "Burned Alive," "Bullet Catch" (which will have Angel catching a bullet in a cup held by his mouth), and "Body Suspension" (featuring Angel suspended from a helicopter by four fish hooks through his skin while being flown over the Nevada desert). Special celebrity guests, such as Korn's Jonathan Davis (who also co-produced the show's theme music), Rob Zombie, Amazing Jonathan, Mandy Moore, Penn & Teller and Lance Burton take part in the series.