Nani Darnell
Encyclopedia
Nani Darnell is the wife and assistant of American magician
Mark Wilson
. As Wilson's co-star throughout his television magic career, Darnell heavily influenced public perceptions of magicians' assistants
.
The role which really defined Darnell's public image was in Wilson's series The Magic Land of Allakazam
, which premiered in October 1960 and ran for four years on national television in the United States. That series has been widely credited with establishing the credibility of magic as a form of television entertainment. In doing so it also established Darnell as a nationally known figure. She subsequently appeared with Wilson in a host of other television shows, including the Magic Circus specials and the fictional mystery series The Magician.
Nani and Mark's son Greg Wilson has followed in their footsteps by becoming a professional illusionist.
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...
Mark Wilson
Mark Wilson (magician)
James "Mark" Wilson is an American magician and author. He is widely credited as becoming the first major "television magician" and in the process establishing the viability of illusion shows as a television format.-Early years:...
. As Wilson's co-star throughout his television magic career, Darnell heavily influenced public perceptions of magicians' assistants
Magician's assistant
A magician's assistant is a performer in a magic act who is not billed as the magician or principal name in the act. The role of an assistant can include holding the props that are used by a magician, shifting props onto and off the stage, and serving as a living prop in illusions that involve...
.
The role which really defined Darnell's public image was in Wilson's series The Magic Land of Allakazam
The Magic Land of Allakazam
The Magic Land of Alakazam was the name of a ground-breaking series of network television shows featuring American magician Mark Wilson. It ran from 1960 to 1964 and is credited with establishing the credibility of magic as a television entertainment....
, which premiered in October 1960 and ran for four years on national television in the United States. That series has been widely credited with establishing the credibility of magic as a form of television entertainment. In doing so it also established Darnell as a nationally known figure. She subsequently appeared with Wilson in a host of other television shows, including the Magic Circus specials and the fictional mystery series The Magician.
Nani and Mark's son Greg Wilson has followed in their footsteps by becoming a professional illusionist.