Criss Angel is an award-wining American magician and illusionist best known for his live performance illusion show ‘Criss Angel Believe’ in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil at the Luxor casino in Las Vegas. He also hosts some very popular stage and television shows, and has been on primetime television for more hours than any other magician in history. One of the most successful magicians in the world in the contemporary era, he is also a singer who once served as the frontman for the heavy metal band Angel and collaborated with industrial rock musician Klay Scott for Angeldust. Growing up in New York, he developed an early interest in magic and performed his first show when he was 12. He continued performing throughout high school and became quite popular within the local community. As a teenager, he was greatly inspired by the legendary magician Harry Houdini. He decided to pursue a career as a magician straight out of high school instead of going to college as his parents wished. He began performing at restaurants and took to touring with other magicians. Destiny led him to Las Vegas where he found resounding success. He soon started appearing on television which further increased his popularity. One of the best known magicians today, he also holds multiple world-records made during his magic performances.