Amazing Kreskin

George Joseph Kresge Jr., known professionally as The Amazing Kreskin, was born on January 12, 1935, in Montclair, New Jersey. He passed away on December 10, 2024, in Wayne, New Jersey, at the age of 89. Kreskin’s early life saw him develop an interest in mentalism, a path he embraced fully after being inspired by the comic strip “Mandrake the Magician.” He attended Seton Hall University, earning a degree in psychology, and initially worked as a clinical psychologist while refining his performance art. Kreskin always maintained that his abilities stemmed from suggestion and keen psychological insight, explicitly refuting claims of paranormal or supernatural powers. He became a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, establishing a long-standing career based on his mentalist performances.

Kreskin’s career took off significantly in the 1970s. From 1972 to 1975, his television series “The Amazing World of Kreskin” was widely broadcast across Canada on CTV and syndicated in the United States. A follow-up series, “The New Kreskin Show,” was produced from 1975 to 1978. He made numerous appearances on popular talk shows, including approximately 100 times each on “The Mike Douglas Show” and “The Merv Griffin Show,” and 88 times on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” where Carson bestowed upon him the moniker “The Amazing Kreskin.” Kreskin’s signature trick involved having audience members hide his paycheck; if he failed to locate it, he would not get paid for that performance, a challenge he rarely lost, reportedly failing only a dozen times in his career.

His influence extended beyond television performances. Kreskin authored over 20 books, including “Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin” (1991), where he detailed his methods. The 2008 film “The Great Buck Howard,” which starred John Malkovich, was based on the experiences of Sean McGinly, who briefly worked as Kreskin’s road manager, with Kreskin’s paycheck trick featuring prominently in the plot. Kreskin also developed a Milton Bradley board game, Kreskin’s ESP, in 1966. In his later years, Kreskin engaged with new media, uploading videos to YouTube where he shared personal reflections and movie reviews, and collaborated on an animated series called “The Adventures of Little Billy: In Search of the Magic Tree.” He continued to perform and engage with the public until early 2024, when health complications arising from a fall curtailed his activities.