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United States Apollo Robbins is a sleight-of-hand artist, security consultant, and deception specialist, respected for his unique understanding of human attention and misdirection.
Apollo Robbins delivered a TEDGlobal talk in June 2013, titled "The art of misdirection." The YouTube video of his talk, posted in September 2013, went viral, accumulating over 20 million views, showcasing his expertise in human attention and deception to a global audience.
Robbins served as a technical advisor for the 2015 Warner Bros. film 'Focus,' starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie. He also appeared in the film as 'man wearing a blue jacket' in a street pickpocketing scene, and was featured extensively in the Blu-ray and DVD bonus materials, sharing insights into the art of grifting.
Robbins was actively involved with National Geographic Channel's documentary show 'Brain Games' in 2013, appearing on multiple episodes such as 'Illusion Confusion,' 'Power of Persuasion,' and 'Focus Pocus.' He was also credited as a consulting producer for two of these episodes, contributing his expertise on human perception and misdirection to the series.
Robbins hosted an episode (Season 1, Episode 1, "The Distract and Conquer Con") of TruTV's reality show 'Real Hustle,' demonstrating his skills in deception and pickpocketing within a televised format.
Robbins served as a technical advisor for TNT's series 'Leverage,' a heist film TV show. He also made an appearance in the second season's seventh episode, "The Two Live Crew Job" (2009), contributing his practical knowledge of cons and misdirection to the production.
Robbins guest-starred in the 'Halloween II' episode of the FOX show 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' bringing his unique performance skills to the popular television series.
Born on May 23, 1974, in Plainview, Texas, Apollo Robbins developed his unique skills from a young age. He learned from his two brothers, and his experiences growing up with a blind father and wearing leg braces as a child contributed to his distinct perspective on human perception and vulnerability. Robbins’ early life experiences provided the foundation for his later career, allowing him to understand and manipulate human attention with precision. Over time, he honed his abilities, moving from personal interest to a professional calling.
Robbins gained significant public attention when he successfully pickpocketed Secret Service agents assigned to former President Jimmy Carter. During this incident, he managed to take items such as President Carter’s itinerary and the keys to his motorcade without being detected. This event not only highlighted his exceptional skills but also led to opportunities to collaborate with law enforcement agencies. Robbins has since shared his insights into the methods and psychology of real thieves, consulting with police departments and security professionals. His expertise lies in demonstrating how attention can be diverted and exploited, making him a valuable asset in understanding crime prevention and human behavior.
His career has evolved beyond performance, with Robbins applying his knowledge to various fields. In 2006, he founded Whizmob Inc., a brain trust that brings together law enforcement officials and former convicts to advise on current fraud, theft, and scam trends. Robbins is also married to magician and mentalist Ava Do, and together they co-founded Ludus Development in 2012. This venture focuses on creating immersive training methodologies, emphasizing experiential learning to enhance understanding of human behavior and security. Robbins’ work continues to influence both the entertainment industry and practical security applications, demonstrating a unique bridging of these two domains.
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