Criss Angel
Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos (born December 19, 1967 in Hempstead, New York ), better known by his stage name Criss Angel , is an American magician , musician , illusionist , hypnotist , escape artist , stunt performer and actor . He is best known for his television show Criss Angel Mindfreak .
youth
Criss Angel grew up in East Meadow , Long Island and is of Greek descent. His parents are John and Dimitra Sarantakos. His mother is from Mystra , Greece . His father, who died of stomach cancer, influenced him greatly. He has two brothers, Costa and JD. In his youth he was an altar boy for the Greek Orthodox Church and played drums .
Angel became interested in magic at the age of six after his aunt Stella showed him a card trick. Two of his greatest role models are Harry Houdini and Aldo Richiardi . As a teenager, he performed at birthday parties, in nightclubs , at private events, and at home in front of his family. His first trick teacher was Ian Wagner .
Career as a magician
Criss Angel performed World of Illusion at Madison Square Garden in 1998 . He funded a 2001 Broadway show called " Criss Angel Mindfreak, " which was performed 600 times on The World at The World Underground Theater in Times Square by January 2003 . He has also appeared on a number of television shows. In 2005 he won the “Magician of the Year” award from the Academy of Magical Arts . In 2007 he published his autobiography Mindfreak: Secret Revelations . His illusion- based Cirque du Soleil production has been running at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas since autumn 2008 . From October to November 2007, NBC aired Phenomenon , a show in which Angel and Uri Geller cast a mentalist .
Criss Angel Mindfreak
other projects
Angel played in the 18th episode of the third season of CSI: NY "Sleight out of hand" the magician "Luke Blade", whose assistants die in unusual ways that, strangely enough, have similarities to his illusions he shows in the episode. In the episode, he showed three illusions (being sawed up, being set on fire, and a version of his “submerged” illusion). He also appeared as himself in the 2011 sitcom Rules of Engagement . Russell, one of the main characters, attends a Criss Angel show with his date in the 14th episode of the fifth season ("Lazy Magic").
Music career
Angel played in the 1990s with his friend Scott "Klayton" Albert ( Celldweller ), who co-produced the album for the Mindfreak show and helped plan the music selection for the show, in the electronic / crossover band Angeldust , which in 1998 released the album Musical Conjurings from the World of Illusion . As a solo artist he brought out other CDs as “Criss Angel”.
Discography
- Fishing fever
- 1998: Musical Conjurings from the World of Illusion
- Criss Angel
- 2000: System 1 In The Trilogy
- 2000: System 2 In The Trilogy
- 2000: System 3 In The Trilogy
- 2002: Mindfreak
- 2006: Criss Angel Mindfreak OST
- 2008: Criss Angel Believe OST
Web links
- official homepage
- Criss Angel at the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Official homepage of Mindfreak
- Criss Angel on MySpace
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Angel, Criss |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Sarantakos, Christopher Nicholas (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American musician and magician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 19, 1967 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Town of Hempstead |