Name:
Lance Burton
Lifetime:
1960 - present

Born in 1960, Lance Burton was introduced early in his life to the world of illusion.

Burton first discovered magic at a Christmas party where the guest performer was magician Harry Collins who, noticing the enthusiasm in one of his volunteers, invited Burton up to help perform "The Miser's Dream" in which a coin appears to be pulled from the ear of the assistant. Burton was hooked on the idea of performing magic and eagerly pursued new tricks, performing them for the neighborhood children for the bargain price of five cents a head.

Harry Collins took note of the young performer's enthusiasm and took him under his wing. After learning the basics from his teacher, Burton entered his first competition in 1977, walking away with first place. He would win many other competitions before he was "discovered" on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, which would lead to an eight-week trial deal with the "Folies Bergere" in Las Vegas, Nevada. Burton would go on to gain many other accolades, including the "World Champion of Magic", "Magician of the Year" twice, 15 appearances on "The Tonight Show", and performances for both the Queen of England and President Reagan and his wife.

On May 12, 1994, Lance Burton was honored for his achievements and was passed the "Mantle of Magic" by Lee Grabel, becoming the fifth magician in a little over a century to hold the title of "America's Greatest Magician." In 1996, Burton opened a show, which he also produced and directed, at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in his own, specially built $27 million theatre, called The Lance Burton Theatre. Lance Burton is currently in the later half of his thirteen-year contract with the casino and is widely known for his generosity and willingness to help those less fortunate than he.