WENN
Hollywood magician and actor John Calvert has died, aged 102.
Bing: Watch videos of John Calvert at work
The star passed away on Friday in Lancaster, Calif. A statement posted on the website of The International Brotherhood of Magicians reads, “John Calvert, 102, the venerable magician, author, and movie star, died Friday morning, September 27, 2013, in Lancaster, California… Mr. Calvert’s long-time wife, Tammy, was at his side.”
Calvert, assisted by his wife of more than 50 years, Tammy, enjoyed a career spanning more than eight decades, performing both on Broadway and in Las Vegas, and he was famous for his ground-breaking tricks, which included firing a woman from a cannon into a box suspended overhead on the stage.
He was also known for creating the illusion of sawing off the head of a spectator using a giant buzz saw.
His fans included movie stars Gary Cooper and Cary Grant, who often joined him on stage when he was performing in Los Angeles.
Calvert was also an actor, playing the detective nicknamed The Falcon in three movies, “Devil’s Cargo” (1948), “Appointment With Murder” (1948) and “Search for Danger” (1949), while his credits also include “Are These Our Parents?” (1944), “The Return of the Durango Kid” (1945) and 1956’s “Dark Venture,” which he directed and starred in.
He continued performing his magic show right up until weeks before his death, and two years ago he fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing at the London Palladium.
