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Line 1: {{Short description\|American comedian and magician (1958–2022)}} {{Infobox Celebrity▼ {{Use mdy dates\|date=February 2022}} \| name = John Edward Szeles \|▼ {{more citations needed\|biography\|date=February 2022}} ~~\| image = \|~~ ▲{{Infobox ~~Celebrity~~person \| caption = The Amazing Johnathan \|▼ \| image = The Amazing Johnathan, 2008.jpg ~~\| birth_date = [[September 9]], [[1958]]~~ ▲\| caption = ~~The~~ ~~Amazing~~ = Johnathan \|in 2008 ~~\| birth_place = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], [[United States of America\|USA]] \|~~ ▲\| ~~name~~birth_name = John Edward Szeles \| ~~\| death_date = \|~~ \| birth_date = {{birth date\|1958\|9\|9}} ~~\| death_place = \|~~ \| ~~occupation~~birth_place = [[~~Comedian]]~~Detroit, ~~[[Magician~~Michigan]], ~~[[Actor]] \|~~U.S. \| death_date = {{death date and age\|2022\|2\|22\|1958\|9\|9}} ~~\| salary = \|~~ \| death_place = [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], U.S. ~~\| networth = \|~~ \| ~~spouse~~occupation = ~~Sandra~~ ~~Szeles~~ ~~(? -~~= ?)Magician, ~~[divorced]~~comedian, \|actor \| years_active = 1983–2014; 2017–2022 ~~\| website = [http://www.amazingj.com/ www.amazingj.com] \|~~ \| ~~footnotes~~spouse = {{Plainlist\| * {{marriage\|Sandra Bowing\|1995\|2000\|end=div}} }} * {{marriage\|[[Anastasia Synn]]\|2014}}<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2014/jun/10/amazing-johnathan-weds-anastasia-synn-geisha-house/ \|title=The Amazing Johnathan weds Anastasia Synn at A Special Memory Chapel in Las Vegas \|last=Leach \|first=Robin \|work=LasVegasSun.com \|access-date=February 12, 2015 \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714215057/https://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2014/jun/10/amazing-johnathan-weds-anastasia-synn-geisha-house/ \|archivedate=July 14, 2014}}</ref>}} \| website = {{URL\|theamazingjohnathan.com}} <!-- Infobox comedian does not support the following parameter: \| awards = Three time winner of The World Magic Award<br/>Best comedy magic -->}} '''John Edward Szeles''' (~~born [[~~September 9]], [[1958]] in– February ~~[[Detroit]]~~22, ~~[[Michigan]]~~2022), better known by the [[stage name]] '''The Amazing Johnathan''', iswas an ~~[[United States\|~~American]] ~~[[stand-up~~comedian ~~comedy\|stand-up~~and ~~comedian]]/~~[[Magician (illusion)\|magician]]. His act, was mostly composed of hijinks, isinteraction ~~usually~~with ~~followed~~one byspecific ~~one~~audience ormember, ~~more~~and a few legitimate magic tricks. ~~which~~From ~~then~~2001 ~~ends~~to ~~his~~2014, ~~performance~~he was a year-round headliner in Las Vegas. ~~Nicknamed~~Self-described ~~"The~~as the "[[Freddy Krueger]] of Comedy",<ref>{{cite ~~Johnathan~~news ~~often~~\|last=Blowen ~~depicts~~\|first=Michael ~~himself~~\|title=Pauly asShore, Part 2: The grown-up years? \|work=The Boston Globe \|date=April 17, 1998 \|access-date=November 9, 2008 \|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BG&p_theme=bg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADDD15441FBFD9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM \|quote=The Amazing Jonathan, the self-proclaimed Freddie Krueger of Comedy, is at the Comedy Palace at Grill 93 off Route 93 in Andover tonight and tomorrow night.}}</ref> Szeles performed wearing ahis ~~omnipresent~~ever-present headband, and his shows frequently ~~use~~used gore; for ~~comedic~~example, ~~effect~~pretending to suck on his own hanging eyeball, cutting his wrists, and skewering his own tongue. He iswas also good friends with fellow performer [[Criss Angel]], and ~~has~~ helped ~~Criss~~him perform a variety of illusions, most notably during three guest appearances on Angel's ''[[Mindfreak]]''. ==Career== Johnathan first appeared in ''The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show'' in [[1983]] and later went on to become the host of the short-lived [[1991]] syndicated variety/[[game show]] ''Ruckus''. He appeared on various shows from the mid-90s to early 2000s, where he eventually released a [[2001]] "Comedy Central Presents" special. His only credited performance as an actor was The Obligatory Holiday Episode of ''[[The Weird Al Show]]'' (playing the part of Uncle Johnathan). The [[2005]] [[documentary film\|documentary]] ''[[The Aristocrats (film)\|The Aristocrats]]'' was his last major performance until [[November 18]], [[2006]] where he had a one-hour special on [[Comedy Central]]. ===Early career=== As of [[April 2005]], he is currently performing at the [[Las Vegas]] [[Sahara (hotel and casino)\|Sahara hotel and casino]] in the Congo Room. Johnathan has also authored a how-to book on practical jokes titled ''Every Trick in the Book'', a compilation of both classic practical jokes and plain magic tricks, along with several of his own original material in both categories. Szeles was born in [[Detroit]], Michigan, the son of Doreen and Edward Szeles.<ref>{{cite magazine \|last1=Blistein \|first1=Jon \|last2=Hudak \|first2=Joseph \|date=February 23, 2022 \|title=The Amazing Johnathan, Celebrated Comic-Magician and Las Vegas Stalwart, Dead at 63 \|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-amazing-johnathan-dead-obituary-1311643/ \|access-date=June 12, 2024 \|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/arts/the-amazing-johnathan-szeles-dead.html\|title=John Szeles, Comic Magician as the Amazing Johnathan, Dies at 63\|newspaper=The New York Times\|date=February 23, 2022\|last=Cramer\|first=Maria}}</ref> In the 1970s, he relocated to [[California]], where he began his career performing on the streets of [[San Francisco]].<ref name=LAT>{{cite news \|title=Best bets 1/18 \|work= [[Los Angeles Times]] \|___location=Orange County edition \|date=January 18, 2001 \|access-date=November 9, 2008 \|page=F.2 \|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66927908.html?dids=66927908:66927908&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+18%2C+2001&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=BEST+BETS+1%2F18&pqatl=google \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525093243/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66927908.html?dids=66927908:66927908&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+18,+2001&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=BEST+BETS+1%2F18&pqatl=google \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=May 25, 2011 \|quote=A San Francisco street performer in the '70s, the Amazing Jonathan...}}</ref> He first appeared on television in ''The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show'' in 1983 and later went on to become the host of the short-lived 1991 syndicated variety/game show ''[[Ruckus (game show)\|Ruckus]]''. He appeared on various talk and variety shows from the mid-1980s to mid-2000s. His only credited performance as an actor was "The Obligatory Holiday Episode" of ''[[The Weird Al Show]]'' (playing the part of Uncle Johnathan). He made several appearances on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'', a record 24 appearances on Fox's [[Comic Strip Live (TV series)\|''Comic Strip Live'']], and had several specials on [[Comedy Central]] including ''[[Comedy Central Presents]]'', ''Lounge Lizards'', and more recently his own one-hour special entitled ''Wrong on Every Level''. He dedicated the special to his Uncle Eugene, who showed him his first card trick which "started this whole mess". He appeared in the 2005 documentary ''[[The Aristocrats (film)\|The Aristocrats]]''. Johnathan had success in Australia following appearances on [[Channel 9 Australia\|Channel 9]]'s ''[[Hey Hey It's Saturday]]''.<ref>{{cite web \|date=September 25, 2014 \|title='The Amazing Johnathan' reveals he is dying \|url=https://www.9news.com.au/9stories/the-amazing-johnathan-reveals-he-is-dying/029c0398-be7b-4eea-8dac-c7d82dae0914 \|access-date=April 1, 2021 \|work=9news.com.au}}</ref> ~~==Trivia==~~ Szeles' 2006 Comedy Central Special "The Amazing Jonathan: Wrong on Every Level" was dedicated to his uncle Eugene Szeles "who showed me [John Szeles] my first card trick which started this whole mess." Szeles also authored a how-to book on [[practical jokes]] titled ''Every Trick in the Book'', a compilation of both classic practical jokes and plain magic tricks, along with his own original material in both categories. From 2014 onwards, he was working on his memoirs with the working title of ''Drive It Like You Stole It'', although his declining health prevented him from finishing it.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|first=Rob \|last=Bailey-Millado\|date=2022-02-23\|title=The Amazing Johnathan, the 'Freddy Krueger of comedy,' dead at 63\|url=https://nypost.com/2022/02/23/the-amazing-johnathan-standup-comic-and-magician-dead-at-63/\|access-date=2022-02-25\|website=New York Post\|language=en-US}}</ref> == External links ==▼ [http://www.amazingj.com/ Official site] * {{imdb name\|id=0857247\|name=The Amazing Johnathan}}▼ * [http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/interviews/amazing_jonathan.html Interview at celebritycafe] * [http://www.stressfactory.com/comics/johnathan.html Bio at StressFactory.com] * [http://badpsychics.com/thefraudfiles/modules/news/article.php?storyid=162/ Video Of The Amazing Jonathan] - Exposes how Uri Geller "bends" spoons ===Later years=== ~~{{US-comedian-stub}}~~ In 2008, Szeles combined two of his passions, classic-car collecting and [[drive-in movie theaters]], to open the "Amazing Underground", a members-only indoor drive-in located within his warehouse facilities in Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Fink, Jerry\|date=March 19, 2009\|title=Amazing Johnathan: Presto change-o, it's a drive-in replica\|url=https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar/19/presto-change-o-its-drive-/\|work=Las Vegas Sun}}</ref> [[Category:1958 births\|Amazing Johnathan, The]]▼ [[Category:American comedians\|Amazing Johnathan, The]]▼ [[Category:American magicians\|Amazing Johnathan, The]]▼ [[Category:Living people]]▼ In 2011, Szeles was performing regular shows in [[Las Vegas Strip\|Las Vegas]] at the Harmon Theater while also taking select dates at venues across the United States and in Australia. 2011 marked Szeles' third year of performing at the Harmon Theatre and Szeles' 11th consecutive year as a full-time Las Vegas headliner. He won the "Best Comedian" award from the ''[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]'' (''LVRJ''), Comedian of the Year from ''Nevada Magazine'', Top Ten Acts in Vegas (''LVRJ''), and was the longest-running, most successful solo comic magician in U.S. history.{{citation needed\|date=February 2022}} In 2013, Szeles hosted an online talk show called ''Burn Unit''.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.burnunit.tv/ \|title=Amazing Johnathan's Burn Unit \|work=burnunit.tv \|access-date=February 12, 2015}}</ref> ==Personal life== In March 2007, it was reported that Szeles was diagnosed with "a serious heart condition".<ref>{{cite news \|last=Weatherford \|first=Mike \|title=Amazing Johnathan to bid farewell \|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal \|date=March 8, 2007 \|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Mar-08-Thu-2007/living/12836045.html \|access-date=June 7, 2007 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218072325/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Mar-08-Thu-2007/living/12836045.html \|archive-date=December 18, 2007}}</ref> The performer's website identified the condition as [[cardiomyopathy]] and went on to assert that, due to a combination of weight loss and [[blood thinners]], he was doing well. In December 2012, Szeles ended his one-year contract with [[Bally's Las Vegas\|Bally's]] and ceased performing in Las Vegas. He had been performing in the city for 13 years. Szeles toured throughout 2013, playing [[The Improv]] comedy clubs. On June 7, 2014, he married his partner and manager [[Anastasia Synn]].<ref>{{cite web \|last=Lenker \|first=George \|title=Club Scout: Amazing Johnathan bringing farewell tour to Hu Ke Lau in Chicopee \|url=https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2014/03/club_scout_amazing_johnathan_b.html \|website=Mass Live \|access-date=1 December 2022 \|date=28 March 2014}}</ref> He had a stepdaughter, Haley Kenyon, from Synn's previous relationship.<ref>{{cite web \|date=7 March 2011 \|title=Johnathan Szeles Facebook Page \|url=https://www.facebook.com/johnathan.szeles/posts/pfbid0zuAGb1MSdEBQPwmAcvVvkYh3QjM1aAeYGmh8HxoEFwm746sUmKE6uoCRzFdsF5jal \|access-date=1 December 2022 \|website=Facebook}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|date=19 November 2018 \|title=Anastasia Synn Instagram Page \|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BqXzzCInEqZ/?igshid=p8lmnxlkbj1t \|url-access=limited \|access-date=1 December 2022 \|website=Instagram}}</ref> However, his heart condition worsened, and Szeles announced that he would effectively retire, performing a final show in [[Toledo, Ohio]], for the general public, and then for members of the [[Magic Castle]] on June 30 and July 1, 2014. On November 5, 2014, in front of a live audience on ''ENT Speaks'', he stated that he had a year to live.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW42har08D4 \|title=ENT Speaks Amazing Johnathan \|date=November 5, 2014 \|work=YouTube \|access-date=February 12, 2015}}</ref> However, Szeles defied his initial terminal prognosis. In 2017, he played several shows across the United States,<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.theamazingjohnathan.com/live-dates.htm \|title=Amazing Jonathan Live Dates}}</ref> with Synn assisting him and taking over when he became fatigued.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/os-et-amazing-johnathan-orlando-20170423-story.html\|title=Amazing Johnathan heads to Orlando despite 'waiting to die'\|last=Fraser\|first=Trevor\|date=April 27, 2017\|website=orlandosentinel.com\|access-date=2019-08-25}}</ref> ~~JONAH IS A JEWISH NAZI~~ A documentary titled ''[[The Amazing Johnathan Documentary]]'' about his illness and return to the stage was released on [[Hulu]] in 2019.<ref name="LVRJ"/> A second documentary, ''Always Amazing: The True Story of the Life, Death, and Return of Amazing Johnathan'', was also released in 2019, on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{Citation\|title=ALWAYS AMAZING: The True Story of the Life, Death, and Return of Amazing Johnathan {{!}} Movie\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6sxwjRGSWs\|language=en\|access-date=2022-02-25}}</ref> Szeles died in his sleep of [[heart failure]] at his home in Las Vegas on February 22, 2022, at the age of 63.<ref name=":0"/><ref name="LVRJ">{{Cite web \|last=Katsilometes \|first=John \|date=February 23, 2022 \|title=Groundbreaking Vegas magician The Amazing Johnathan dies at 63 \|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/groundbreaking-vegas-magician-the-amazing-johnathan-dies-at-63-2533797/ \|access-date=February 23, 2022 \|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal \|language=en-US}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ▲== External links == * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb name\|0857247}} ▲* {{~~imdb~~discogs ~~name~~artist\|~~id=0857247\|name=~~The Amazing Johnathan}} {{Academy of Magical Arts Special Fellowship}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Amazing Johnathan, The}} ▲[[Category:1958 births~~\|Amazing Johnathan, The~~]] ▲[[Category:~~Living~~2022 ~~people~~deaths]] [[Category:20th-century American comedians]] [[Category:21st-century American comedians]] ▲[[Category:American magicians~~\|Amazing Johnathan, The~~]] ▲[[Category:American male comedians~~\|Amazing Johnathan, The~~]] [[Category:Las Vegas shows]] [[Category:Male actors from Detroit]] [[Category:Prop comics]] [[Category:Academy of Magical Arts Special Fellowship winners]] [[Category:Comedians from Detroit]] [[Category:Pseudonymous comedians]] [[Category:Pseudonymous magicians]]