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watch chris angel mindfreak:
wednesdays from 9:00 pm till 11:30 pm
Name: Criss Angel
Real Name: Christopher
Birthday: Dec 19
Age: Undisclosed
Birthplace: New York
Current Residence: New York
Marital Status: Undisclosed
Hair Color: Brown/Black
Eye Color: Brown
Height: 6ft
Favorite Movie: "The Wizard of Oz is one of them."
Favorite Tv show: "Taxi is one of them."
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite color: Black
World Records: Longest time submerged underwater (24 hours), Longest body supension time (5hr 42ims), Fastest to prefrom the "Metamorphosis" illusion (under a second), First and only 2 time winner of the "Magician of the Year award (2001, 2004), Fastest straight jacket escape (2mins 30sec)
Tv Specials: Mindfreak (2002), Supernatural (2003), Made in Japan (2003) Mindfreak the series first season (2005)
Cds: "Musical Conjurings from World of Illusion"- Angeldust, "System 1 in the Trilogy", "System 2 in the Trilogy", "System 3 in the Trilogy", "Mindfreak Soundtrack"
Awards: 2 time winner of the "Merlin Magician of the year" (2001, 2004) and Winner of the 2004 "Louie" presented at the 42nd Annual Tannens Magic Jubilee. "Sliver Telly" for Made in Japan
watch this whole thing its creepy!
Random Facts
- Criss is the youngest of 3 boys (J.D. Costa, Criss).
- His father died of cancer, but not before founding API
- Criss's cat's name is Minx, it is a boy and he picked it up as a stray.
- He has been playing drums since he was a small boy.
- He has had is pyrotechnics license since he was 18.
- Criss train extensivly for all his stunts, he never walks in blind to what he is about to do.
- He is a World Champion and 7th degree blackbelt.
- His childhood toy was a stuffed monkey he still has.
FAQ
Q: Does Criss ever read his email?
A:He tries to, but he is very busy. And sometimes he doesn't answer all of it, but reads it.
Q: Does Criss ever stay after shows to meet his fans?
A: He took the time after each Mindfreak show to wait and personally thank everyone for coming. He even signed autographs and posed for pictures. He said he would love to try and do that again with his next show.
Q: What's all this talk about a tour? When will it be? Will he play my city?
A: He to put together a world tour. There are no set tour dates yet, all news and info will be on crissangel.com
Q: How come and I can't find any personal info on Criss like his age or if he is dating?
A: Criss is a very private person, and like to keep his private life private. As much as everyone is curious to know these things, they shouldn't make a difference about how you feel about him and his art. Criss even said the reason he doesn't share his personal info cause he wants his art to be experienced the purist form.
Q: Does Criss have any scars from his demonstrations?
A: (Taken from the forum on CrissAngel.com) "Today, not that I'm proud of it, I bare the scars of many of my demonstrations - The Body Suspension, Submerged, Spontaneous Combustion, Razor Blades and a major pyro accident that happened years ago. NOT TO PREACH - BUT THAT?S WHY I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO TRY THESE THINGS ? YOU CAN KILL YOURSELF!!!!"
Q: How can he do all those crazy things?
A:(Taken from the forum on CrissAngel.com) "In all of my demonstrations, I try to minimize my risk by doing my due diligence and surrounding myself with experts in that field. I spend as much time as a I can to physically and mentally prepare and then rehearse. Sometimes, I'm unable to rehearse, this makes my job much more difficult and dangerous. I must rehearse in my mind and mime through it over and over again. It's kind of amusing to watch, I've been told. The one underlining theme in all that I do is NEVER to lose my focus or my cool. This can?t be any truer when things go wrong, those are the moments that can be devastating."
Q: I've never seen any of Criss's illusions, where can I go to see them?
A: There are video clips on his official site
Q: Can I just got to the mall and pick up one of his cds or dvds?
A: No, you can only get his merchandise on his website Criss Angel or at a live show. You can find, shirts, hats, posters, cds, and dvds and more all on his site.
Q: Does Criss use black magic? Is he for real?
A: (Taken from an interview) "I've been a huge proponent of the mind, body and spirit connection and that anything is possible when they work symbiotically. I've also stated that a lot of what I do is real and some is an illusion and it is up to the public to determine what is real and what isn't. Well, because of these statements and approach, many people believe that everything I do is real. I can assure you it's not black magic, white magic or purple - it's the MIND, BODY and SPIRIT!"
Q: Does Criss post on the message boards or come to chats?
A: Currently no, I'm sure he would love to but just doesn't have the time right now.
Q: Does that mean he doesn't like his fans?
A: He LOVES his fans, he is just a very very busy man, he trys but there is only so many hours in a day, and 20 of them he is working
Stunts (READ THESE THERE COOL)
Criss is not only known for his astonishing magic and good looks. He is also accomplished at the feat of escaping death! Some say he's crazy, some say he has a death wish. That's not the case. Criss tries to push his own limits not only for the sake of art and entertainment, and not only for his personal record. But to help so that anything is possible with a little hard work and the right mindset. Criss and his master team of professional creates death defying escapes and demostrations that are a true representation that when the Mind, Body and Spirit work together anything is possible!!
Body Suspension (Times Square)
Year- 2002
Criss was suspended for 5 hours and 42 minutes. He hung from 8 eight-gage fish hooks: six in his back and two in his legs. Criss holds the world record for longest body suspension of that kind. This stunt can be see in Mindfreak the one hour special and Supernatural.
This posistion is called "Superman".
Criss holds a world record for this.
This was his first public stunt.
Submerged
Year- 2002
Aug. 26 2002 Criss Angel was submerged for 24 hours in a phone booth size water tank, weighing over a ton, chained and handcuffed with real NYPD restraints. No food, sleep or bathroom, his only air was through a small breathing tube. All as a tribute to his idol Houdini, after the 24 hours Criss made the attempt to escape as Houdini did some 86 years ago. Needless to say the stunt was a sucess. This stunt can be see in Mindfreak the one hour special and Supernatural.
Blind Walk
Year- 2002
For his 2002 tv speical "Mindfreak" Criss walked a 200ft tower blind folded. Beams were 2ins wide, no net. This stunt can be seen on Mindfreak the one hour speical and Supernatural.
More photos
*Trivia Facts*
There was 2 spotter sitting on the tower.
If Criss fell, there would have been no saving him.
Due to the summer heat this was shot well before the point in the day it was supposed to be filmed.
Magic in Milwaukee/Straight Jacket Escape
Year- 2003
Jan. 15 2003, Criss Angel was suspended upside down 10 stories, 100 ft, in air in a straight jacket in Milwaukee, WI as promotional stunt for Miller Lite. Announcing his new spokesmanship for Miller Lite. The straight jacket escape has not been done since Houdini did it in his last trip to WI. Criss was able to combat the frigid weather and escape in under 2 and half minutes, half of Houdini's record. This stunt can be seen on Supernatural.
It was the coldest day of the year.
This was Criss' first stunt to promote a product.
Fire Walk/Burned Alive
Year- 2003 & 2005
For his 2003 tv speical "Supernatural" Criss walked in burning clothes A typical Hollywood stunt except for the fact that Angel didn't wear anything to protect his face and hands. Also, he did it for 45 seconds. In the special, stuntman Mark Chadwick said stunt performers normally do that only for a few seconds. The first body burn (2003) can be seen on Supernatural. The second body burn (2005) Can be seen on the first episode of the Mindfreak series.
Criss has a small scar on his arm from a burn he suffered during a test run.
The 2003 burn was filmed in universal studios in FL.
The 2005 was a "gift" for his mother's 70th birthday.
Wine Barrel Escape
Year- 2005
Holding true to his hero, Criss designed an escape modeled after Harry Houdini's 1908 milk can escape but adding radical new pieces. He would be locked inside a wine barrel filld with water and his hand handcuffed on the outside. Then the barrel was raised over 8 stories. Criss had to escape in under 2 minutes or the barrel would come crashing to the ground. He was of course successful but not without the complication of the water being too cold and the concern for Criss being able to hold his breath long enough to preform the escape. This stunt can be seen on episode 3 of the Mindfreak series.
Lance Burton was there to host the stunt.
The water had to be changed because it was too cold Criss' muscles would lock up and he wouldn't be able to escape.
Criss had to learn to hold his breath for 2 minutes to be able to do this stunt.
SUV Nail Bed
Year- 2005
The bed of nails... a long-lived standard in the world of magic. Normally performed on eight inch long roofing nails spaced a maximum of one and a half inches apart, this classic favorite gets an extreme update when Criss Angel takes on the stunt. The space between the nails was doubled to three inches. As if that weren't enough, the Criss version incorporated a 4.5 ton Hummer, which drove on top of his body as he lay on top of what might be his death bed.
Master freak show artist Todd Robbins helped Criss train for this stunt.
During training Criss also learned how to walk on broken glass.
Body Supension (Valley of Fire)
Year- 2005
In his second body suspension Criss ups the stakes by adding a helicopter! Suspened hundreds of feet off the ground he flys over the Valley of Fire by litterly the skin on his back. With Alan Falkner, master piercer, Criss makes his dream a reality, but not without combatting the physical pain of the suspension. But with his strong mind he is able to over come the odds and fly free! This stunt can be seen in episode 5 of the Mindfreak series.
This posistion is called "suicide". It is also said to be hard to handle and more painful then the "superman".
Criss had originally wanted to fly over the Las Vegas strip.
They had trouble finding a location that would allow them to preform this stunt.
Criss never took any pain killers for any of his body supensions.
Buried Alive
Year- 2005
Taphephobia; The fear of being buried alive. This is an extremely common fear among many men and women, and it's no great shock that Criss Angel is a man that would tempt fate by bringing this fear to life... willingly. After putting on his own funeral, Criss was sealed in a glass-top coffin with a live feed camera and buried the traditional 6' underground. Escaping without suffocating or being crushed is a feat in itself, but an unforseen rainstorm added significant difficulty, saturating the dirt and making it more dense. This stunt can be seen on episode 6 of the Mindfreak series.
This stunt was filmed on the set of Devil's Rejects.
Rob Zombie was present for this demo.
Oher magicians have died trying to preform this stunt.
Even Houdini backed out of being buried alive for fear of not being able to complete it.
Hellstromism
Year- 2005
Based on hellstromism, an art that uses the mind to trigger a spectator's physical reaction, Criss is challenged by Las Vegas' Desert Dodge dealership to find a hidden key belonging to a Dodge Viper using hellstromism. If unable to find the key Criss will have to give the dealership $100,000 for the car, otherwise he will take the car home for free. This stunt can be seen in episode 7 of the Mindfreak series.
Criss did get to take the car home, a 2005 Dodge Viper.
Criss found the keys within the last few seconds.
He did guess wrong in a earlier demo with items on a table.
The Viper was from Desert Dodge in Vegas.
Criss was pulled over by the police in a road test with the Viper.
Taxi Lift/Tree push aka Superhuman
Year- 2005
In the ultimate test of strength Criss put his body to the test. But not before extensive training of his mind and body. He was able to rip a phone book in half, push over a palm tree and lift a one ton taxi off the ground showing that it is possible to accomplish these things without being a professional body builder. This stunt can be seen in episode 8 of the Mindfreak series.
The first time he ripped a phone book in half it was in his hotel room.
He was unsure if he would actually be able to lift the car, and on his first attempt he failed.
Criss did extensive training, including working out at Master Toddy's gym, to be able to preform these things.
Blind Drive
Year- 2005
Image trying to get dressed in the dark, or eating with your eyes closed. Being blind is a chalenging thing. Criss does the extreme and attempts to drive singer Mandy Moore's car while blindfolded. He not only is able to weave in out of traffic, but is able to guess (and take her to) her favorite place to eat and order her food for her. This stunt can be seen in episode 9 of the Mindfreak series.
Mandy Moore picked a sushi place to eat.
Criss was able to guess the details of a pictures Mandy drew.
This was not Criss' first blind drive.
Tesla Strike
Year- 2005
Lighting, nature's fire works. Even when man made can be dangerous and unpredictiable. Criss decides to take on a Tesla Coil shooting up to 4,000,000 volts of electricity. After a mishap of the voltage being too high and hiting a seam in Criss' metal suit, he is rushed to the hospital. Dotor's feared he would suffer permanent nerve damage to his foot, but has since made a full recovery! This stunt can be seen in episode 10 of the Mindfreak series.
This was the only stunt he did for the season 1 that he had to go to the hospital for.
It was a small seam in the suit that was not protected that was hit by the lighting.
Criss was concerned about the room and padding in the crotch area of the suit.
The suit was made of chain mail and was actually a shark divers suit.
Oasis
Year- 2005
July 18-19 2005 in Bryant Park NYC Criss Angel was locked in an airtight chamber just tall enough to hold him. That chamber would be inside of a glass tank that held 2,000 gallons of water. After 24 - 33 hours, Criss would have to make his escape from the locked chambers, or the air supply would run out. Keep in mind, everything was locked, and Criss had to fast for 5 days prior to this stunt. No sleep. No food. Only Gatorade. Not to mention dealing with the extreme temperatures, water pressure, etc. He went into the tank about 8:43am the morning of the 18th and escaped about 9am the 19th, escaped in just alittle more then 24 hours! This stunt can be seen in episode 11 of the Mindfreak series.
Loyals including, Jess, Jen, Tragedy, Nancy, DD, Cat, Alex, Mel and other camped out for most of the night at the tank and can be seen throughout the show.
The imfamous Mooning Doll was made by Loyal Jess.
Criss had to make his escape earlier then planned because he was not feeling well.
The stunt was sponsered by Pontiac and Criss won a new Torrent for completing the stunt.
This was to be a public promo of the premire of Mindfreak the series.
Buliding Walk
Year- 2005
Criss didn't need a magic lamp when performing this stunt at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las vegas. Without the aid of safety nets, harnesses, or wires, he leaned over the the edge of the building at mind-boggling angles, and then descended down the side for his main event. This stunt can be seen in episode 12 of the Mindfreak series. More photos
Criss also did a buliding walk for his 2003 special.
The police were called because the people below thought Criss was going to jump.
C4 Explosion
Year- 2005
Criss, always being a pryo decided that he personally wanted to feel the blast of a C4 explosion. Pyro Pete helps him in his quest to "blow himself up". This stunt can be seen in episode 13 of the Mindfreak series. More photos
Penn and Teller appeared in this episode.
A cut scene was Teller detonating the explosion using a box that said "Remember to blow up Criss Angel."
They experimented with different kinds of blasts in order to find the right one to use.
Chicken (hit by a car)
Year- 2005
Always screwing around Criss and The Amazing Jonathan get into the ultimate game of chicken when Criss dares Jonathan to hit him with a car. Criss trains again with Mark Chadwick on how to take the impact on the car. With Criss standing against a brick wall Jonathan drives straight through him and the wall. And by the end it looks like the joke is on Amazing Jonathan! This stunt can be seen in episode 15 of the Mindfreak series.
Criss visited Jonathan's home and saw his car collection and thats what inspired this stunt.
Criss bought the car they used as a "beater" for $100.
They spray painted the word "killer" on the side of the car.
Woodchipper (Veggiemattic) Escape
Year- 2005
Criss suceeds in scaring the pants off his family and fans all in the spirit of Halloween. Criss is placed in a pine box with his hands cuffed on the outside. The box was then placed on a moving belt that lead to an industial wood chipper. Criss had to escape the cuffs and the locked box before he became toothpicks. Did you survive? (you tell me!) This stunt is part of the halloween speical
Blood and "chunks" actually flew out of wood chipper after the box went through.
The Great Johnny Thompson was the one that turned on and locked the wood chipper.
This stunt was filmed in NY.
Box Escape
Year- 2006
In production with HEINEKEN beer, Criss is placed in a wooden crate, hands cuffed on the outsite and the box sealed tight. The box is raised into the air and the count down begins. Criss has only little time till the box come crashing down. When the time is up and the empty box falls Criss is no where in site. After seconds he appears unharmed on top of a bus drinking a beer.
This stunt was open to the public.
