Billy McComb
Encyclopedia
Billy McComb was a magician
and comedian
. He was one of the United Kingdom
's leading magicians in the 1950s and 1960s, before taking up residence in Los Angeles, California
in the 1970s.
, Northern Ireland
, the son of a physician who was knight
ed for his extensive contribution to X-ray
research. He was educated at Portora Royal School
, Enniskillen
. He then trained for a career in medicine
at Queen's University, Belfast. He graduated as a doctor
in 1949.
. One role was Walter Wilder in the 1995 film Lord of Illusions, directed by Clive Barker
. He also appeared in the 1987 TV film Young Harry Houdini. He became a prominent figure at The Magic Castle
and was affectionately billed as "The Worlds Largest Leprechaun."
In his 80s he continued to perform regularly in Las Vegas and as an opening act for The Amazing Johnathan
. In his later years his act was noted by his self deprecating jokes. In his opening he would look at his watch and say, "It's either this or rice pudding night at the home."
Books he wrote include The Professional Touch and Mc Comb's Magic: 25 Years Wiser. He was a prolific inventor of magic and illusions, most famously known for creating such items as the "Mc Combical Deck" and the "Double Thin Model Sawing" routine in which two assistants are sawed in half, and the halves of the two assistants are switched. This world famous routine has been used by several other magicians and was even a Jeopardy!
question. He was sought after by many as the answer man in magic when a magician was having difficulty locating or developing a particular routine. Billy will be remembered as a gentle giant and a kindhearted individual. He was indeed a true friend to the end. One time an up and coming young magician telephoned Billy with a request to find a new rope routine. Billy traveled across Los Angeles with a box of magicians rope in hand. Billy taught the young magician the routine.
Billy McComb died on April 12, 2006, aged 84, in Los Angeles
, predeceased by his son, Sean McComb, who died in 2002. His widow, June McComb, died in 2007.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. He was one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's leading magicians in the 1950s and 1960s, before taking up residence in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in the 1970s.
Early life
He was born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, the son of a physician who was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed for his extensive contribution to X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
research. He was educated at Portora Royal School
Portora Royal School
Portora Royal School for boys, and some 6th form girls, located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, is one of a number of 'free schools' founded by Royal Charter in 1608, by James I...
, Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. He then trained for a career in medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at Queen's University, Belfast. He graduated as a doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
in 1949.
Entertainer
He decided to develop a talent he discovered at school as a magician and comedian. He made a name for himself in Ireland. He very quickly made his mark in London in the West End cabaret scene. He married June Cochrane, a former Miss Ireland. They became a performing duo. He performed before Queen Elizabeth II at a Royal Variety Performance in the early years of his career. He then began a very successful career as a magician and comedian performer aboard cruise ships internationally with his magician's assistant, Mindy Masters. It was during this era of his career that his travels brought him to the United States. After he landed in Hollywood, California he made over three hundred appearances on television and in movies. He appeared in a number of television series and also opened for such stars as Bob HopeBob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
. One role was Walter Wilder in the 1995 film Lord of Illusions, directed by Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
. He also appeared in the 1987 TV film Young Harry Houdini. He became a prominent figure at The Magic Castle
The Magic Castle
The Magic Castle, located at 7001 Franklin Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, is a nightclub for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It bills itself as "the most unusual private club in the world."-Nightclub:The Magic...
and was affectionately billed as "The Worlds Largest Leprechaun."
In his 80s he continued to perform regularly in Las Vegas and as an opening act for The Amazing Johnathan
The Amazing Johnathan
John Edward Szeles , better known by the stage name The Amazing Johnathan, is an American stand-up comedian/magician. His act is mostly composed of hijinks, interaction with one specific audience member and a few legitimate magic tricks. Since 2001, he has been a year-round headliner in Las Vegas...
. In his later years his act was noted by his self deprecating jokes. In his opening he would look at his watch and say, "It's either this or rice pudding night at the home."
Books he wrote include The Professional Touch and Mc Comb's Magic: 25 Years Wiser. He was a prolific inventor of magic and illusions, most famously known for creating such items as the "Mc Combical Deck" and the "Double Thin Model Sawing" routine in which two assistants are sawed in half, and the halves of the two assistants are switched. This world famous routine has been used by several other magicians and was even a Jeopardy!
Jeopardy!
Griffin's first conception of the game used a board comprising ten categories with ten clues each, but after finding that this board could not be shown on camera easily, he reduced it to two rounds of thirty clues each, with five clues in each of six categories...
question. He was sought after by many as the answer man in magic when a magician was having difficulty locating or developing a particular routine. Billy will be remembered as a gentle giant and a kindhearted individual. He was indeed a true friend to the end. One time an up and coming young magician telephoned Billy with a request to find a new rope routine. Billy traveled across Los Angeles with a box of magicians rope in hand. Billy taught the young magician the routine.
Billy McComb died on April 12, 2006, aged 84, in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, predeceased by his son, Sean McComb, who died in 2002. His widow, June McComb, died in 2007.