My interest in magic was kindled by Steve Martin, the comedian I'd gone to high school with.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Growing up, I loved magic, I loved acting, I loved comedy. I really didn't know what direction I was going. I was trying a whole bunch of stuff.
My interest was magic, believe it or not. I became an amateur magician and did something like 400 magic shows through my teen years.
I loved theatre and did magic, too, but I was never the best at it - there was never a teacher saying, 'You're great, you have to make this your career!' I was good at science and math. I figured I'd go into science and become a dentist.
When I was in college, being a magician was not the classiest thing to be. It was like being a folk singer before Bob Dylan.
From the time I was 9 years old, I loved magic. I was an only child, and I think that had a big impact on me. I always had grown-up friends even though I was a little kid. I would take the train from Lido Beach into Manhattan, and I'd hang out in magic shops.
When I was a little kid - and even still - I loved magic tricks. When I saw how movies got made - at least had a glimpse when I went on the Universal Studios tour with my grandfather, I remember feeling like this was another means by which I could do magic.
I love the magic of movies and television, and I always have since I was kid.
I arrived at school pensive, introverted, and not very sporty, so magic became a place of mystery and intrigue, an escape for my boyish mind.
Working with Terry Gilliam was magic - I've been watching his films since I was little.
When I started out back in Louisville, there was Harry Collins. He was my first teacher. He saw that I was so obsessed with magic that he taught me the love of magic.