Magician and Actor Ricky Jay Dead at Age 72
Ricky Jay, the celebrated magician and also actor in "Boogie Nights" and "Deadwood," died Saturday in Los Angeles at the age of 72, reportedly of natural causes.
"He was one of a kind. We will never see the likes of him again," said his manager, Winston Simone.
As a magician, Jay was known for his card tricks, card throwing, and feats of memory. He was called "perhaps the most gifted sleight of hand artist alive" by The New Yorker. Jay also wrote extensively on magic and was a longtime member of the Academy of Magical Arts. He performed many times at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
As an actor, Jay appeared in movies including "Boogie Nights,""Magnolia,""Tomorrow Never Dies," and "The Brothers Bloom," as well as television series like HBO's "Deadwood." He served as a consultant, too, for movies and most recently consulted on "Mission: Impossible - Fallout." Director Christopher McQuarrie hailed his work on Twitter:
Fellow actor and magician Neil Patrick Harris also tweeted a tribute to Jay:
Jay is survived by his wife, Chrisann Verges.