Billy McComb

British magician

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Billy McComb

Born| April 12, 1922

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Died| April 30, 2006(2006-04-30) (aged 84)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Billy McComb (April 12, 1922 – April 30, 2006) was a British-born American magician and comedian. He was one of the United Kingdom's leading magicians in the 1950s and 1960s. He moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1970s. He joined The Magic Castle in Hollywood, his number being 3323.

## Early life

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McComb was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the son of a physician who was knighted for his contribution to X-ray research. He was educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. He then trained for a career in medicine at Queen's University, Belfast. He graduated as a doctor in 1949.[citation needed]

## Entertainer

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McComb decided to develop a talent he discovered at school as a magician and comedian. He made a name for himself in Ireland, then started working in London in the West End cabaret scene. He married June Cochrane, a former Miss Ireland, and they became a performing duo. He performed before Queen Elizabeth II at a Royal Variety Performance in the early years of his career. He then began working as a magician and comedian performer aboard cruise ships internationally, with his magician's assistant, Mindy Masters. It was during this era of his career that his travels brought him to the United States. After he went to Hollywood, he made over three hundred appearances on television and in movies. He appeared in a number of television series and also opened for such stars as Bob Hope. [citation needed] One role was Walter Wilder in the 1995 film Lord of Illusions, directed by Clive Barker. He also appeared in the 1987 TV film Young Harry Houdini. He became a prominent figure at The Magic Castle and was billed as "The Worlds Largest Leprechaun." In 1964 he was invited to join the Entertainment charitable fraternity, the Grand Order of Water Rats.[1]

In his 80s he continued to perform regularly in Las Vegas and as an opening act for The Amazing Johnathan. In his later years his act was noted for his self-deprecating jokes. In his opening he would look at his watch and say, "It's either this or rice pudding night at the home."

Books he wrote include The Professional Touch and Mc Comb's Magic: 25 Years Wiser. He was a prolific inventor of magic and illusions, known for creating such items as the "Mc Combical Deck" and the "Double Thin Model Sawing" routine, in which two assistants are sawed in half, and the halves of the two assistants are switched. He was sought after by many as the answer man in magic when a magician was having difficulty locating or developing a particular routine.

Billy McComb died on April 12, 2006, aged 84, in Los Angeles, predeceased by his son, Sean McComb, who died in 2002. His widow, June McComb, died in 2007.

## References

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1. ^ "Biography of a Water Rat".

## External links

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* Billy McComb at IMDb
* McComb on magic.about.com

* v
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Academy of Magical Arts Masters Fellowship

* 1968: Dai Vernon
* 1969: Richard Cardini
* 1970: Virgil & Julie
* 1971: Jose Frakson
* 1972: Charlie Miller
* 1973: Slydini
* 1974: Joseph Dunninger
* 1975: Robert Harbin
* 1976: Les Levante
* 1977: Werner "Dorny" Dornfield
* 1978: Walter R. Gibson
* 1979: MacDonald & Mabel Birch, Fred Kaps
* 1980: Gene Gordon
* 1981: Jay Marshall
* 1982: Joe Berg
* 1983: Maurice Rooklyn
* 1984: Eric Lewis
* 1985: Murray
* 1986: Tihany
* 1987: Mark Wilson
* 1988: John Calvert
* 1989: Peter Warlock
* 1990: Channing Pollock
* 1991: Siegfried & Roy
* 1992: Ali Bongo
* 1993: Harry Blackstone Jr.
* 1994: Lee Grabel
* 1995: Borra
* 1996: Karrell Fox
* 1997: The Morettis
* 1998: Marvyn Roy
* 1999: Johnny Thompson
* 2000: John Booth
* 2001: Billy McComb
* 2002: Cesareo Pelaez (Marco the Magi)
* 2003: Terry Seabrooke
* 2004: David Berglas
* 2005: Paul Daniels
* 2006: Paul Potassy
* 2007: Patrick Page
* 2008: Dominique
* 2009: Norm Nielsen
* 2010: Lance Burton
* 2011: René Lavand
* 2012: Juan Tamariz
* 2013: Fantasio
* 2014: Silvan
* 2015: John Gaughan
* 2016: Ger Copper
* 2017: David Copperfield

* v
* t
* e

Academy of Magical Arts Visiting Magician of the Year

* 1969: The Niberco Brothers
* 1970: Geoffrey Buckingham
* 1971: Shimada & Deanna
* 1972: Topper Martyn
* 1973: Francis Carlyle
* 1974: David Roth
* 1975: Martin Lewis
* 1976: Billy McComb
* 1977: Ger Copper
* 1978: Frances Willard
* 1979: Petrick & Mia
* 1980: Terry Seabrooke
* 1981: Lance Burton
* 1982: Ger Copper

* v
* t
* e

Academy of Magical Arts Lifetime Achievement Fellowship

* 1985: William W. Larsen Jr.
* 1986: Don Lawton
* 1987: Milt Larsen
* 1988: Frances Ireland Marshall
* 1989: John Booth
* 1990: Jack McMillan
* 1991: Edwin Hooper
* 1992: Ron Wilson
* 1993: Charles Reynolds
* 1994: John Fisher
* 1995: Alan Wakeling
* 1996: Billy McComb
* 1997: Alex Elmsley
* 1998: Bev Bereron
* 1999: John Gaughan
* 2000: Stan Kramien
* 2001: Tihany
* 2002: Les Smith
* 2003: Al Cohen, Christian Fechner
* 2004: Irene Larsen
* 2005: Martin Gardner
* 2006: Carl Ballantine
* 2007: Al Cohen
* 2008: Bob Fitch
* 2009: Chuck Jones
* 2010: John Daniel
* 2011: James Randi
* 2012: Alan Shaxon
* 2013: Ray Goulet
* 2014: Walter "Zaney" Blaney
* 2015: Ton Onosaka
* 2016: George Schindler
* 2017: Shimada

* v
* t
* e

Academy of Magical Arts Performing Fellowship

* 1968: Richard Cardini, Harry Willard
* 1969: Jose Frakson, Slydini
* 1970: Kuda Bux
* 1971: Richiardi Jr
* 1972: Les Levante
* 1973: Maurice Rooklyn
* 1974: Marvyn & Carol Roy
* 1975: Channing Pollock
* 1976: Roy Benson, Neil Foster
* 1977: Leon Mandrake, Tihany
* 1978: Johnny Platt, Russell Swann
* 1979: Jimmy Grippo
* 1980: Suzy Wandas Bennett
* 1981: Andre Kole
* 1982: John Calvert
* 1983: Billy McComb, The Morettis
* 1984: Carl Ballantine, Bert Easley
* 1985: Mardoni & Louise, Johnny Thompson
* 1986: Will Rock, Tom & Liz Tucker, Eddie Tullock
* 1987: Milo & Roger
* 1988: Shimada
* 1989: Topper Martyn
* 1990: Del Ray
* 1991: Don Alan
* 1992: Harry Blackstone Jr., Terry Seabrooke
* 1993: Norm Neilson
* 1994: Chuck & Jan Jones
* 1995: Doug Henning, Jack Kodell
* 1996: Michael Skinner, Tommy Wonder
* 1997: René Lavand, Peter Reveen
* 1998: Goldfinger & Dove, Martin Nash
* 1999: Bruce Cervon, Ed & Nancy Keener
* 2000: Richard Ross, Juan Tamariz
* 2001: Earl Nelson, The Pendragons
* 2002: Harry Lorayne, Alan Shaxon
* 2003: Walter "Zaney" Blaney
* 2004: Magic Christian
* 2005: Bobby Baxter, Flip Hallema
* 2006: Eugene Burger, Chen Kai
* 2007: Penn & Teller, Dr. Sawa
* 2008: Celeste Evans, Howie Schwarzman
* 2009: Pat Thompson, J.C. Wagner
* 2010: Franz Harary, Bob White
* 2011: Finn Jon
* 2012: David Williamson
* 2013: David Kaye
* 2014: John Carney
* 2015: Greg Frewin
* 2016: Luis Piedrahita, Fielding West
* 2017: Ray Anderson, Eric Mead

* v
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The Magic Circle \- The Maskelyne Award

* 1970: Robert Harbin
* 1971: David Nixon
* 1972: Ali Bongo
* 1973: J. N. Maskelyne
* 1974: Peter Warlock
* 1978: C. Goodliffe Neale
* 1988: Paul Daniels
* 1989: John Fisher
* 1990: Gil Leaney
* 1991: Alan Shaxon
* 1992: Jeffery Atkins
* 1993: Harry Devano
* 1994: Ron MacMillan
* 1995: David Berglas
* 1996: Patrick Page
* 1997: Alex Elmsley
* 1998: Dr. Eddie Dawes
* 1999: The Davenport Family
* 2000: Billy McComb
* 2001: John Salisse CBE
* 2002: Geoffrey Durham
* 2003: Michael Bailey
* 2004: Wayne Dobson
* 2005: Brian Miller
* 2006: Alan Alan
* 2007: Mark Raffles
* 2008: Chris Pratt
* 2009: Terry Seabrooke
* 2010: Terry Herbert
* 2011: John Styles
* 2012: Derren Brown
* 2013: Paul Kieve
* 2014: George Kovari
* 2015: Marvin Berglas
* 2016: Dynamo
* 2017: Debbie McGee
* 2018: Andy Nyman
* 2019: Anthony Owen
* 2020: Simon Drake
* 2021: Russ Stevens
* 2022: Bob and Sue Hamilton
* 2023: Fay Presto
* 2024: Michael Vincent

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