Tommy Wonder
Encyclopedia
Tommy Wonder was the stage name of Jacobus Maria Bemelman, a Dutch magician
who performed both close-up and stage magic. Wonder performed in Las Vegas
, Monte Carlo
and on Fox
television.
Wonder developed an interest in conjuring at an early age. He studied acting, dancing and singing for three years at the Academie voor Podiumvorming (Performance Academy) in The Hague
and subsequently toured for two years with De Haagsche Comedie.
He took second prize at the World Championships of Magic in 1979 and again in 1988. In 1998 he also received the Performer Fellowship Award from the Academy of Magical Arts
in Hollywood. In 1999, he was awarded Best Sleight of Hand Performer from the World Magic Awards. Because Wonder designed and developed all of his own repertoire, he was held in high esteem amongst his colleagues in magic. Wonder's 1996 two-volume The Books of Wonder are highly acclaimed.
Tommy Wonder died after a brief battle with lung cancer.
On 5 August 2006 Tommy Wonder posthumously received the Theory & Philosophy Award at the FISM World Championships of Magic in Stockholm.
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...
who performed both close-up and stage magic. Wonder performed in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
, Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
and on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television.
Wonder developed an interest in conjuring at an early age. He studied acting, dancing and singing for three years at the Academie voor Podiumvorming (Performance Academy) in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
and subsequently toured for two years with De Haagsche Comedie.
He took second prize at the World Championships of Magic in 1979 and again in 1988. In 1998 he also received the Performer Fellowship Award from the Academy of Magical Arts
Academy of Magical Arts
The Academy of Magical Arts is a California non profit mutual benefit corporation organized and devoted to the promotion and development of the art of magic.Although begun in 1952 as a loose association of magicians by William Larsen, Sr...
in Hollywood. In 1999, he was awarded Best Sleight of Hand Performer from the World Magic Awards. Because Wonder designed and developed all of his own repertoire, he was held in high esteem amongst his colleagues in magic. Wonder's 1996 two-volume The Books of Wonder are highly acclaimed.
Tommy Wonder died after a brief battle with lung cancer.
On 5 August 2006 Tommy Wonder posthumously received the Theory & Philosophy Award at the FISM World Championships of Magic in Stockholm.