Ricky Jay
American magician and actor (1946-2018) · United States · On the map · Actors · Died at 72
Richard Jay Potash was an American stage magician, actor, and writer. In a 1993 profile for The New Yorker, Mark Singer called Jay "perhaps the most gifted sleight of hand artist alive". In addition to sleight of hand, he was known for his card tricks, card throwing, memory feats, and stage patter.
Ricky Jay is read about 505 times a day, in 20 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 8 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 110 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
Dai Vernon: The Spirit of MagicFilm2015
Sneaky PeteSeries, T.H. Vignetti2013
Getting OnSeries, Thoracic Surgeon2012
Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky JayFilm2010
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of HollywoodSeriesLost Masterpieces of PornographyFilm, 2010Narrator2008
RedbeltFilm, Marty Brown2007
David Mamet on House of GamesFilm, Himself2006
The UnitSeries, Agent Kern2005
Last DaysFilm, Detective2001
HeartbreakersFilm, Dawson's Auctioneer2000
State and MainFilm, Jack1997The Story of MagicSeries, Host
Boogie NightsFilm, 1997Kurt Longjohn1996
Muppets TonightSeries1995
The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the SkyFilm, Hawkes1992
Ring of the MusketeersSeries, Kerns
The Water EngineFilm, 1992Ratty Inventor1990
Learned Pigs and Fireproof WomenFilm, Writer1988
Things ChangeFilm, Mr. Silver1979
The Paul Daniels Magic ShowSeries1976Doug Henning's World of MagicFilm1975
Doug Henning's World of MagicSeries1961
The Mike Douglas ShowSeries1946Born26 June 1946People around Ricky
Close ties
David Mamet Directed Heist and House of Games
Jack Wallace Also in House of Games and Things Change
Rebecca Pidgeon Also in Heist, Homicide and The Water Engine
Felicity Huffman Also in The X-Files, Magnolia and Things Change
Jonathan Katz Also in Things Change and Homicide
Michael Hausman Produced House of Games and Homicide
Paul Thomas Anderson Directed Magnolia and Boogie Nights
Joe Mantegna Also in House of Games and Things Change- Lloyd Levin Produced Boogie Nights and Mystery Men
JoAnne Sellar Produced Magnolia and Boogie Nights
Philip Seymour Hoffman Also in Boogie Nights and Magnolia
William H. Macy Also in Magnolia, Boogie Nights and Mystery Men
Clark Gregg Also in The Spanish Prisoner and State and Main
Luis Gómez Also in Magnolia, Mystery Men and Boogie Nights
Jake Johnson Also in Lie to Me, FlashForward and Redbelt
Patti LuPone Also in The Water Engine and State and Main
Stacey Travis Also in Mystery Men and Heartbreakers
Matt Malloy Also in Lie to Me, State and Main and Redbelt
Mike Nussbaum Also in House of Games and Things Change
Ed O'Neill Also in The Spanish Prisoner (1997)
Lawrence Gordon Produced Mystery Men (1999)
Matt Salinger Produced Hacks (1997)
Natalia Nogulich Also in Things Change and Homicide
Christopher Nolan Produced The Prestige (2007)
Known for
View all 33 titles
The Prestige 2006
Magnolia 1999
Boogie Nights 1997
The Spanish Prisoner 1997
House of Games 1987
Filmography 33
57 credits on file
Television 19
Media & music
Photos 2
About this person
He also wrote extensively on magic and its history. His acting credits include The Prestige, The Spanish Prisoner, Mystery Men, Heist, Boogie Nights, Tomorrow Never Dies, Heartbreakers, State and Main, House of Games, Magnolia, Deadwood and Sneaky Pete. In 2015, he was the subject of an episode of PBS's American Masters, the only magician ever profiled in the series.
