Ricky Jay, master wizard and actor in "Deadwood", "Boogie Nights", dies at 72

Nov 25, 2018 / 05h37 GMT

By Variety

LOS ANGELES – Ricky Jay, a magician wizard who has also starred in movies and TV shows such as "Boogie Nights," "House of Games" and "Deadwood," died Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 72 years old.

Jay's director, Winston Simone, said that he had died of natural causes, adding, "He was one of a kind, we will never see him again."

His lawyer, Stan Coleman, confirmed his death. His partner in the company Deceptive Practices, Michael Weber, tweeted: "I'm sorry to share the fact that my friend, teacher, collaborator and remarkable co-conspirator is gone."

A New Yorker profile nicknamed him "the most talented hand wizard in the world", and Jay was also known for his card tricks and memory exploits.

He has appeared in several films by David Mamet, including "House of Games", "The Spanish prisoner", "Things are changing", "Redbelt" and "State and Main".

Steve Martin, with whom he appeared in "The Spanish Prisoner," described Jay in the New Yorker's profile, "I kind of think of Ricky as the intellectual elite of the magicians." Domain Literature.

In "Deadwood", he played Dean of the cards Eddie Sawyer in the first season and also wrote for the show.

In 1997, in the James Bond film "Tomorrow Never Dies", Jay plays a cyber-terrorist for Pierce Brosnan Bond.

He has also provided narration for films such as "Magnolia" by Paul Thomas Anderson. His Mamet-directed Broadway solo show "Ricky Jay and his 52 Assistants" was recorded for a special HBO show in 1996.

With Weber, he founded Deceptive Practices, a company that provides solutions for film and television productions such as the wheelchair that hid Gary Sinise's legs in "Forrest Gump". They have also worked on such films as "The Prestige", "The Illusionist" and "Oceans Thirteen".

Jay, born Richard Brook Potash in Brooklyn, was introduced to magic by his grandfather. He started performing in New York, starting with rock bands. Jay first worked in the film with Caleb Deschanel's "The Escape Artist".

A documentary about his life, "Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay," was published in 2012.

A student of all facets of magic, conjuring and cunning, he has kept a large library of historical works and has written two books and numerous articles for the New Yorker; He has also lectured extensively in museums and universities.