Born April 28, 1976, in Oakdale, New York, Michael Carbonaro is best known as the star of truTV's "The Carbonaro Effect" (premiered May 15, 2014), a hidden-camera magic show where he pranks unsuspecting strangers with mind-bending illusions.

Early Life & Education

Michael is the younger of two sons of an electrician father and nurse mother. He attended Connetquot High School in Bohemia, New York, and later earned a bachelor's degree in drama from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Before Magic Career

Originally, Michael wanted to be a special effects and makeup artist. He bought supplies at a magic shop, discovered magic there, and became hooked at age 8-9. His first professional show came at age 13, performing at birthday parties as a clown. He performed magic to pay for his college tuition at NYU.

Television Career

Before "The Carbonaro Effect," Michael appeared in numerous television shows and films, including "Chappelle's Show," "Another Gay Movie," "All My Children," "Guiding Light," "Law & Order: SVU," "30 Rock," "CSI: Miami," "Grey's Anatomy," and "The Newsroom."

From 2003 to 2014, he had a recurring segment called "Magic Clerk" on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," where he would perform magic for staff and crew members at the NBC studios.

Viral Tricks

"The Carbonaro Effect" features hidden-camera pranks where Michael performs baffling magic tricks on unsuspecting strangers. Some of his most viral moments include:

• "Milking Almonds" - Convincing a health food store employee that you can milk almonds (Season 1, Episode 18)
• "Crabby Transformation" - At a science museum, convinces a woman that space crabs from a meteor have morphed into kittens. Her reaction: "There were crabs, now they're cats!" Watch on YouTube
• "Shipping Store Bowling Ball" - At a shipping store, convinces customers that a new "reverse air" technology allows bowling balls to be shipped in flat boxes
• "Green Car" - Shrinks a customer's car down to the size of a pea, puts it in a slingshot, and shoots it across the parking lot - then reveals they're on "The Carbonaro Effect"
• "Drone Daycare" - Poses as a park employee showing customers the "drone daycare" where people's drones are left to "fly around and get exercise"
• "Wireless Water Hose" - Convinces a coworker that they've developed a hose that wirelessly transmits water (Season 1, Episode 25)
• "Wireless Soda" - Convinces a snack bar employee that soda machines now work like WiFi, streaming beverages through the air
• "Disposable Paper Phone" - Demonstrating a "new" prepaid phone made entirely from paper
• "Perforated Dollar" - Explaining a new "currency ordinance" that allows dollars to be torn for different values

Watch more viral clips on YouTube

References

[1] Wikipedia - Michael Carbonaro

[2] IMDb - Michael Carbonaro Biography

[3] St Pete Catalyst - The Catalyst interview: Magician Michael Carbonaro