Biography
David Copperfield — illusionist with roots in the USSR
David Copperfield is an American illusionist, described as the most commercially successful magician in history. He holds the Guinness World Record for most tickets sold worldwide by a solo entertainer, made the Statue of Liberty disappear on television in 1983 and walked through the Great Wall of China in 1986.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Ukrainian SSR (town not documented)
Born in Metuchen, New Jersey, to Hyman Kotkin (1922–2006), whose parents were Jewish emigrants from the Ukrainian SSR, and Rebecca (née Gispan), who was born in Jerusalem in Mandatory Palestine.
Family Tree
Subject
David Copperfield🇺🇸 USA
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Grandparents
Hyman Kotkin
Rebecca Kotkin (née Gispan)
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Origin
Ukrainian SSR (town not documented)🇷🇺 USSR
Historical context
Soviet Union (USSR) · 1922–1991
Ukrainian SSR (town not documented). At the time, this region was one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union.
Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
21 Emmy Awards
02
A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
03
Guinness World Record: most tickets sold for a solo entertainer in history
04
Made the Statue of Liberty disappear on live television (1983)
05
Walking through the Great Wall of China (1986)
"Magic is the only honest profession. A magician promises to deceive you — and he does."
David Copperfield
Sources