Age, Biography and Wiki
Banachek (Steven Shaw) was born on 30 November, 1960 in Middlesex, England, is an English mentalist, magician, and thought reader (born 1960). Discover Banachek's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 63 years old?
Popular As |
Steven Shaw |
Occupation |
Mentalist, magician, writer, skeptic |
Age |
63 years old |
Zodiac Sign |
Sagittarius |
Born |
30 November, 1960 |
Birthday |
30 November |
Birthplace |
Middlesex, England |
Nationality |
United States
|
We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 30 November.
He is a member of famous magician with the age 63 years old group.
Banachek Height, Weight & Measurements
At 63 years old, Banachek height not available right now. We will update Banachek's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.
Physical Status |
Height |
Not Available |
Weight |
Not Available |
Body Measurements |
Not Available |
Eye Color |
Not Available |
Hair Color |
Not Available |
Dating & Relationship status
He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.
Family |
Parents |
Not Available |
Wife |
Not Available |
Sibling |
Not Available |
Children |
Not Available |
Banachek Net Worth
His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Banachek worth at the age of 63 years old? Banachek’s income source is mostly from being a successful magician. He is from United States. We have estimated Banachek's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.
Net Worth in 2024 |
$1 Million - $5 Million |
Salary in 2024 |
Under Review |
Net Worth in 2023 |
Pending |
Salary in 2023 |
Under Review |
House |
Not Available |
Cars |
Not Available |
Source of Income |
magician |
Banachek Social Network
Timeline
Banachek (born Steven Shaw; 30 November 1960) is an English mentalist, magician, and "thought reader".
He first came to public attention as a teenager for his role in James Randi's Project Alpha experiment, which exposed the lack of objectivity in parapsychology research.
As director of the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge conducted by the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), he has since tested the authenticity of many self-described psychics, none of whom has managed to pass scientifically controlled tests of their claimed paranormal abilities.
Banachek is currently a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, a program of the Center for Inquiry, and the President of the James Randi Educational Foundation.
Banachek was born in England and raised in South Africa and Australia.
He was abandoned at the age of nine in South Africa with his two brothers, aged one and three, and raised them by himself until he was 16.
Deciding that his given name did not sound memorable enough for a stage performer, Shaw adopted the stage name Banachek from the American detective television series Banacek. He was inspired to take up magic after reading The Truth About Uri Geller, a book by magician James Randi that debunked the paranormal claims of Uri Geller, famous for his feats of mentalism, particularly spoon bending.
Having developed multiple methods for replicating Geller's tricks, Banachek wrote a letter to Randi in which he volunteered to demonstrate the gullibility of scientists studying parapsychology by deceiving them into believing that his mentalist tricks were genuine displays of psychic power.
Banachek collaborated with fellow teenager Michael Edwards on James Randi's Project Alpha experiment at the newly founded McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research of Washington University in St. Louis.
From 1979 to 1982, Banachek and Edwards replicated numerous mentalist effects, so thoroughly convincing researchers of the authenticity of their alleged paranormal abilities that some could not later be persuaded that they had in fact been deceived.
The revelation that a pair of untrained teenagers had succeeded in hoodwinking a well-funded team of scientists exposed the lax methodology and lack of scientific control rife in the field of parapsychological research and led to permanent closure of the laboratory.
Banachek later assisted with Randi's investigation into the deceptive practices and false claims of self-proclaimed faith healer Peter Popoff.
On the television special The Search for Houdini (1987), hosted by William Shatner, Banachek performed an escape stunt in which he successfully dug his way out after being chained, handcuffed, locked in a coffin, and buried six feet underground.
In addition to touring internationally, Banachek serves as a consultant for numerous other entertainers and shows.
Among the many tricks he has developed is a version of the bullet catch, a stage magic illusion in which a magician appears to catch a bullet fired directly at him.
Although the bullet catch has earned a reputation for being the most dangerous magic trick, Banachek claims that his version is completely safe.
Since purchasing the trick from him in 1995, Penn & Teller have developed several variations they use in their show at times.
Since 2021, he has presented mentalism and magic in his show Mind Games, a multi-sensory, interactive experience at The Strat in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Banachek has appeared as himself and produced several television programs and shows, including An Honest Liar, Criss Angel BeLIEve, and Criss Angel Mindfreak. He demonstrated his ability to bend forks on Unscrewed with Martin Sargent. He toured with the stage show Hoodwinked in 2008.
During his appearance on The Alpha Project show (2012), he successfully predicted newspaper headlines ten days in advance of publication.
Banachek served as director of the JREF Million Dollar Challenge, overseeing numerous tests of supposed psychics, until it was suspended in 2015.
When engaging in mentalism, Banachek provides the disclaimer that his show is "simply entertainment" and that he is not in fact a psychic, a practice that has aroused the ire of other mentalists.
He reserves special disdain for mediums and faith healers who profit off of people suffering from physical disability, disease, or the loss of loved ones.
However, he urges caution when debunking psychics, encouraging skeptics not to "belittle the very people they are trying to convince" and to remain cognizant of the limitations of their own knowledge and expertise.
He launched the Banachek: Telepathy tour in 2017.