Biography
Jeff McBride (born September 11, 1959), also known by the stage name "Magnus," is an American magician and magic educator renowned for his expertise in sleight of hand. He specializes in manipulating playing cards, coins, and other small objects. His performances uniquely combine elements of kabuki, a traditional Japanese theater style, with classic magic. McBride has earned accolades from the Academy of Magical Arts, the Society of American Magicians, and the International Federation of Magic Societies, and he holds several Guinness World Records.
In 1991, he founded the McBride Magic & Mystery School to teach stage magic.
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, McBride's Magic & Mystery School is internationally acclaimed as a premier institution for magical education. The late Eugene Burger served as the school's Dean until 2017. Notable guest faculty have included magicians such as Teller, Lance Burton, and Johnny Thompson. McBride was a headline performer at Caesars Palace's Magical Empire for many years. In 1993 and 1994, he created and performed at the World Magic Festival held at the Brushwood Folklore Center in Sherman, New York. He performs globally and has authored several instructional books and videos on coin and card manipulation. Additionally, he has delivered lectures on magic and theater to organizations including the Smithsonian Institution, the Society of American Magicians, and the International Brotherhood of Magicians. In 1994, he appeared on the cover of The Linking Ring magazine.
That same year, McBride guest-starred as Joran Belar in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Equilibrium."
In 1995, he was a featured performer on NBC's "World's Greatest Magic II," hosted by Alan Thicke. In January 2006, Canada's VisionTV aired a one-hour documentary titled A Magickal Life: Jeff McBride as part of their series Enigma True-Life Stories. The documentary’s soundtrack featured music by Zingaia and Gary Stadler, collaborators from Vegas Vortex event productions, as well as contributions from McBride's wife and partner, Abbi Spinner, whom he married in 2001.
McBride has appeared twice on Criss Angel's MindFreak and served as a celebrity judge on VH-1’s 2008 celebrity magic competition Celebracadabra.
In September 2017, he appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, successfully baffling the hosts with an original water bowls routine.
Active in the American Neopagan community, McBride has organized events inspired by his study of "Alchemical Fire Rituals," including Mysterium and Fires Rising. He has played a key role in developing the eclectic Neopagan group Vegas Vortex in Las Vegas, described as a vibrant magical community dedicated to events celebrating and educating in the sacred arts of magic, theater, music, and dance. McBride has participated as a speaker, performer, and ritual leader at numerous Neopagan festivals and gatherings.
