Stevie Starr
Encyclopedia
Stevie Starr is a performance artist who refers to himself as a professional regurgitator
. His act consists of swallowing various items (coins, lightbulbs, balloons, nails, billiard balls, dry sugar, goldfish) and regurgitating
them. He has never described exactly how this is done, and the implausibility of some of his regurgitations have led some to believe that he is an illusionist. (Although, during an appearance on Howard Stern
's TV show in the 1990s, Starr was shown swallowing broken glass and other dangerous objects and carefully regurgitated most of it, then the camera followed him into a restroom where he stuck his finger down his throat and vomited up the last of it.) Starr has appeared on many television shows, with several appearances on each of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman
, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
. Starr has a busy international touring schedule for his longer solo act.
According to his live act and official biography, Starr grew up in Glasgow
, Scotland
in a children's home
. He claims to have developed his talent in order to hide money.
Starr claims to be the world's only "professional regurgitator", though similar acts do exist in modern and historical performance related to the geek show
tradition.
Stevie auditioned for the 2010 series
of Britain's Got Talent
. He appeared on the episode broadcast on 24 April 2010, swallowing numbered coins and a billiard ball and then regurgitating them on demand and in order. Having progressed to the semi-finals, Starr appeared on the first live semi-final show on Monday 31 May, though the show spelt his surname with only one 'r' (Star). The main part of his act involved swallowing Amanda Holden
's engagement ring, much to her horror, followed by a locked padlock and finally the key. He then regurgitated the padlock—now enclosing the engagement ring—followed by the key. Starr finished fourth in the public vote and so did not progress to the final. After being knocked out of the competition, he performed his talent in the German version of the show "Das Supertalent
". He placed 3rd in the semi-finals and managed to advance to the finals. In October 2011 he appeared on the Czech and Slovak version of the "got talent" show, and progressed to the final (28.11.2011 on TV Joj and TV Prima)
Professional regurgitator
A professional regurgitator is an entertainer whose act consists of swallowing and regurgitating various unusual objects. The objects may consist of anything from live animals , to light bulbs, billiard balls and kerosene .Some magicians perform regurgitation as part of their act , but professional...
. His act consists of swallowing various items (coins, lightbulbs, balloons, nails, billiard balls, dry sugar, goldfish) and regurgitating
Regurgitation (digestion)
Regurgitation is the expulsion of material from the mouth, pharynx, or esophagus, usually characterized by the presence of undigested food or blood.Regurgitation is used by a number of species to feed their young...
them. He has never described exactly how this is done, and the implausibility of some of his regurgitations have led some to believe that he is an illusionist. (Although, during an appearance on Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
's TV show in the 1990s, Starr was shown swallowing broken glass and other dangerous objects and carefully regurgitated most of it, then the camera followed him into a restroom where he stuck his finger down his throat and vomited up the last of it.) Starr has appeared on many television shows, with several appearances on each of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
. Starr has a busy international touring schedule for his longer solo act.
According to his live act and official biography, Starr grew up in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in a children's home
Children's Home
Children's Home is a historic building at 427 Robeson Street in Fall River, Massachusetts.The Home was built in 1894 and added to the National Historic Register in 1983....
. He claims to have developed his talent in order to hide money.
Starr claims to be the world's only "professional regurgitator", though similar acts do exist in modern and historical performance related to the geek show
Geek show
Geek Shows were an act in traveling circuses of early America and were often part of a larger sideshow. The billed performer's act consisted of a single geek, who stood in center ring to chase live chickens. It ended with the performer biting the chickens' heads off and swallowing them...
tradition.
Stevie auditioned for the 2010 series
Britain's Got Talent (series 4)
The fourth series of Britain's Got Talent was broadcast on ITV from 17 April 2010 to 5 June 2010. It was presented by Ant & Dec and won by gymnastic troupe Spelbound. Judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden returned for the televised auditions on 18 January at the Clyde Auditorium in...
of Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent is a British television talent show competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's TalkbackThames and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV in Britain and TV3 in Ireland...
. He appeared on the episode broadcast on 24 April 2010, swallowing numbered coins and a billiard ball and then regurgitating them on demand and in order. Having progressed to the semi-finals, Starr appeared on the first live semi-final show on Monday 31 May, though the show spelt his surname with only one 'r' (Star). The main part of his act involved swallowing Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award...
's engagement ring, much to her horror, followed by a locked padlock and finally the key. He then regurgitated the padlock—now enclosing the engagement ring—followed by the key. Starr finished fourth in the public vote and so did not progress to the final. After being knocked out of the competition, he performed his talent in the German version of the show "Das Supertalent
Das Supertalent
Das Supertalent is the German talent show and part of the internationally successful Got Talent franchise, presented by Marco Schreyl, who was joined by Daniel Hartwich from the second season onwards...
". He placed 3rd in the semi-finals and managed to advance to the finals. In October 2011 he appeared on the Czech and Slovak version of the "got talent" show, and progressed to the final (28.11.2011 on TV Joj and TV Prima)