The Amazing Kreskin, Renowned American Mentalist, Passes Away at 89

The Amazing Kreskin, born George Joseph Kresge, a celebrated American mentalist known for his captivating television performances in the 1970s, passed away on December 10, 2024, at the age of 89. Kreskin was inspired to become a mentalist by Lee Falk‘s comic strip *Mandrake the Magician*, which features a crime-fighting stage magician.

Kreskin was renowned for his unique performances, particularly his trick where he would find his own check hidden by the audience. This trick, which he rarely failed at, was a hallmark of his shows and demonstrated his mastery of suggestion and psychological techniques. He failed this trick only about a dozen times in his career, including a notable failure in 2018 at New York's Lion Theater.

Beyond his stage performances, Kreskin was also involved in teaching law enforcement groups about psychological methods such as jogging lost memories through relaxation techniques and detecting lies through body language and voice inflections. His influence extended into popular culture, with the 2008 movie *The Great Buck Howard* based on the experiences of a writer-director who worked briefly as Kreskin’s road manager.

In his later years, Kreskin remained active, appearing regularly on WPIX in New York City and annually on both the Fox News Channel and CNN to give his New Year’s Day predictions. He also expressed interest in being included in the video game *Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2*.

Kreskin’s career was marked by his ability to blend entertainment with psychological insight, often highlighting the power of suggestion and the dangers of mass hysteria. His legacy as a mentalist and entertainer continues to fascinate audiences to this day).