NEW YORK – George Joseph Kresge Jr., widely recognized as the captivating performer and mentalist known as The Amazing Kreskin, has passed away at the age of 89.
Kreskin died on Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey, where he had spent a significant portion of his life. Ryan Galway, his friend and former road manager, shared that Kreskin had been under the weather in recent weeks, although no specific cause of death was disclosed.
Kreskin drew inspiration from the comic book hero Mandrake the Magician and embarked on his television journey during the 1960s, ultimately achieving widespread popularity. He made notable guest appearances on numerous talk shows throughout his career, including those hosted by Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson, and Jimmy Fallon.
Audiences admired his signature mentalism tricks, which included accurately identifying a randomly selected playing card, and more famously, determining the location of his paycheck hidden among audience members. In addition to his television appearances, Kreskin hosted his own show in the 1970s, performed live, and authored several books, such as “Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin” and “Mental Power Is Real.”
Despite his frequent television presence, not all hosts appreciated his antics. In 2002, Kreskin notoriously claimed that a UFO would soar above Las Vegas on June 2, offering to donate $50,000 to charity should he be proven wrong. This bold assertion drew hundreds to the desert to witness the event, which ultimately failed to materialize. Kreskin later admitted to radio host Art Bell that the prediction had been a hoax, intended to illustrate how the events of September 11 had made people more susceptible to manipulation. In response, Bell criticized the act as “lame” and barred Kreskin from returning to his show.
Galway noted that Kreskin remained active in live performances well into his 80s. His appearances ceased only earlier this year after he sustained injuries from a fall. Kreskin, who never entered into marriage, leaves behind no immediate relatives.
“His career was his life. That was his marriage,” stated Galway. “He was dedicated to his craft.”
