The use of magic to create illusions in people’s minds has been one of the most popular forms of entertainment throughout history. We have seen humans perform superhuman acts that almost had us believing that Harry Potter is real. Here are a few of them who dazzled the world with their incredible and sometimes life-threatening feats of magic:

Harry Houdini

The master of escape is arguably the most powerful magician history has ever seen. Starting his magical career as a conventional magician, Harry quickly discovered that he was only mediocre with cards. He then built his acts around impossible escapades. Harry often challenged the local police to lock him up or hung himself upside-down in a straitjacket. The mystery of how he always escaped left his crowds forever dumbfounded. Houdini later became the president of the Society of American Magicians.

David Copperfield

What do you call a magician that moved his audience to tears by showing them the possibility of human flight? None other than David Copperfield. Copperfield, the most commercially successful magician yet, is the only magician worthy of competing with Houdini as the most powerful magician. His greatest acts include making the Statue of Liberty disappear, walking through the Great Wall of China, and floating across the Grand Canyon.

Dynamo

Dynamo blew into worldwide popularity with his Magician Impossible exhibitions, and we dare say he is the Tom Cruise of magic. The global maestro started his career uploading his acts on YouTube and then hosting his TV show. Dynamo has walked down the side of a Los Angeles building, levitated in front of Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue, and became the first magician to sell out London’s O2 arena for three nights! This young man from Bradford also shares how to perform illusions in his book: The Book of Secrets.

David Blaine

Blaine is a world-record-setting magician and endurance performer. He has pulled off extreme survival tricks such as being buried alive in a full water tank for seven days, standing atop a thin, tall pillar for thirty-five hours and staying alive in an icy prison for three days. Blaine is your man if you want a magician that will have you gritting your teeth throughout his act.

Penn and Teller

Penn Jillette and Raymond Teller are popular faces on magic television. The two started as members of a trio named Asparagus Valley Cultural Society. After the third member broke away, Penn and Teller performed together on street shows and have since sold out theatres in Las Vegas and appeared on numerous TV shows. They have made their own television shows, including Penn and Teller: Fool Us and Penn and Teller Tell A Lie, where they combine magic and comedy as one.

These magicians have set and are still setting history in the performance magic world. Their stories inspire upcoming magicians and only give a glimpse of possible possibilities. You can watch their TV shows and YouTube videos to learn about how these magicians became powerful magicians we know them to be.