Doug Henning
Doug Henning (1947 - February 7, 2000) was a Canadian illusionist and escape artist. He is credited with reviving the magic show as a form of mass entertainment in North America, beginning in the 1970s.
Furthermore, he changed the image of the stage magician when he rejected such stereotypical costume accessories as the tuxedo, top hat, thin moustache, goatee and short hair. He opted instead for long hair, a bushy moustache, and bright multicoloured casual clothes, which gave him a distinctively flamboyant image.
He performed his act in numerous TV specials as well as stage productions such as The Magic Show and Merlin.
Later, he abandoned his performance art in favour of studying transcendental meditation which, he claimed, enabled him to levitate. He also ran in several Canadian federal elections as leader of the Natural Law Party of Canada, which proposed supernatural solutions to the problems of the nation.
Henning died of liver cancer at the age of 52.
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2000 | 2000 AD | 2000 Census | 2000 in Canada | 20 00 | 7 February | 7th February | As of 2000 | Close-up magic | February 7 | February 7th | Illusionism | Magic (illusion) | Magic trick | Magician (illusionist) | Natural Law Party of Canada | Prestidigitation | Stage magician
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