Ricky Jay

Richard Jay Potash (June 26, 1946^[1] – November 24, 2018), known professionally as Ricky Jay, was an American stage magician, actor, and writer.

Ricky Jay
Jay at the premiere of Redbelt in April 2008
Born	Richard Jay Potash (1946-06-26)June 26, 1946 Brooklyn, New York, New York, U.S.
Died	November 24, 2018(2018-11-24) (aged 72) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	Richard Jay Potash
Occupation(s)	Magician, actor, author
Years active	1969–2018
Known for	Sleight of hand, card tricks, history of magic
Spouse	Chrisann Verges

In a profile for the New Yorker, Mark Singer called Jay "perhaps the most gifted sleight of hand artist alive."^[2] In addition to sleight of hand, Jay was known for his card tricks, card throwing, memory feats, and stage patter. He had also written extensively on magic and its history. His acting credits included The Prestige, The Spanish Prisoner, Mystery Men, Heist, Boogie Nights, Tomorrow Never Dies, House of Games, Magnolia, and Deadwood. In 2015, Jay was the subject of an episode of PBS' American Masters, making him the first magician to have ever been profiled in that series.^[3]

Early life

Jay was born Richard Jay Potash in Brooklyn, New York on June 26, 1946 to a Jewish family.^[4]

Personal life

Jay was married to Chrisann Verges.

Death

On November 24, 2018, Jay died in Los Angeles, California of natural causes at the age of 72.^[5]