Founder of Hollywood's Magic Castle private club for magicians dies aged 92

29 May 2023 , 20:47

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It is reported that Milt died of natural causes

The founder of the iconic Magic Castle in Hollywood has died in his sleep, aged 92, according to reports.

Milt Larsen was the co-founder of the Magic Castle, a private club for magicians situated in Hollywood, where only members and their guests are allowed to enter.

Family sources have told TMZ that Milt died in his sleep on Sunday night (May 28), with ABC7 reporting that he died from natural causes.

The chair of the board of directors for the Castle's Academy of Magical Arts has released a statement which reads: "It is with heavy hearts that the Academy of Magical Arts shares the sad news that Magic Castle founder Milt Larsen has passed away."

Magic Castle creator Milt Larsen has died, according to reports

Reports state that Milt died in his sleep

He continued his statement provided to City News Service: "For decades, he brought magic to so many lives and his legacy will continue to do so. We will miss him tremendously."

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Milt was an actor and entrepreneur, with him bringing his late father's dream of the Magic Castle to life.

The California-born performer's father died in 1953, with him having a dream of a place for magicians to gather and swap trade secrets firmly planted in Milt's mind.

In 2018 the mayor of Los Angeles celebrated 55 years of the Magic Castle with Milt

Meeting Tom Glover more than a decade down the line, he told the owner of the hillside property about his father's idea of a clubhouse for magicians and the rest was history.

Opening the private club below The Yamashiro restaurant owned by Tom, The Magic Castle was a nightclub for magicians and home of the Academy of Magical Arts.

But in 1963 Milt and his late brother, Bill, moved the club to the restored 1909 French Chateau mansion on Franklin Avenue.

Not only this, but the entrepreneur was the creator and consultant for the $50 million Caesars Magic Empire at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

And as well as the above, Milt was a star in his own right, with him producing TV programmes for big broadcasting networks like ABC and CBS.

He is also famed for writing songs with Richard Sherman who is known for creating songs for Disney classics like Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book.

Mollie Quirk