William Lance Burton (born March 10, 1960) is an American stage magician who performed over 15,000 shows in Las Vegas for over 5 million people during his 30-year career. He is widely considered by his peers to be one of the greatest stage magicians of the past century.
Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Burton became interested in magic at age 5 when he was a volunteer at a magic show performed by magician Harry Collins. The trick was "The Miser's Dream," where Collins "pulled silver dollars out of the sky" from the young Burton's ears. Fascinated by the performance, a neighbor gave him a book called "Magic Made Easy," which contained ten tricks that he quickly learned.
Collins, a full-time magician, noticed Burton's interest and became his mentor during his teenage years, teaching him the fundamentals of the trade. Another influential mentor was Channing Pollock, who influenced Burton's card manipulation and use of doves.
In 1977, as a teenager, Burton entered his first magic competition and won first prize. In 1980, shortly after his 20th birthday, he was awarded a "Gold Medal of Excellence" from the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Shortly after, Burton moved to Southern California, where within a week he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on October 28, 1981. Carson was so impressed during the rehearsal that he allowed Burton to perform an unprecedented 12-minute routine. Through the course of his career, Burton was invited back for a total of ten performances while Johnny Carson was host, and another ten performances during Jay Leno's tenure.
Burton first job in Las Vegas was as a featured act in "The Folies Bergere" at The Tropicana Hotel, a job he held for nine years.
In 1991, Burton opened his own show, "Lance Burton World Champion Magician," at the Hacienda Hotel, which ran for five years.
In 1996, "Lance Burton Master Magician" opened at the brand-new Monte Carlo Hotel in the Lance Burton Theatre. This was the first time any entertainer in the history of Las Vegas had a theater built and named for him. The contract at the Monte Carlo was for an unprecedented 13 years, the longest contract ever given to a live performer. Burton stayed at the Monte Carlo for a total of 14 years, performing over 5,000 shows for over 5 million fans, grossing over $200 million. His last performance was September 4, 2010.
Burton was known as the "gentleman magician" of Las Vegas, maintaining a classic, elegant style that set him apart from more contemporary magicians. He always performed in a tuxedo with tails, projecting sophistication and old-school charm. His show was family-friendly and traditional, featuring the classic "ta-da" after tricks and a traditional assistant—contrasting sharply with the irreverent style of acts like Penn & Teller.
His signature act was an elegant dove manipulation routine, performing graceful card manipulations, candle productions, and dove productions while wearing his formal tailcoat. The act won him the Grand Prix at FISM (Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques) in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1982, making him the first American and youngest contestant to win that prestigious award.
Burton's soft-spoken, charming Kentucky demeanor came through in his performances. He incorporated his Southern roots into his act, once joking: "I'm actually very well known in Kentucky. I'm the only person... with... a... tuxedo!" His humor was dry and understated, matching his refined presentation.
Over the years, Burton has appeared on a wide range of TV shows:
In 1996, Burton's first TV special, "Lance Burton Master Magician: The Legend Begins," aired on NBC. This was followed by a series of annual TV specials. He also hosted specials for The History Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet, The Family Channel, and many more.
For his Top Secret special that first aired on February 24, 1999, at Buffalo Bill's Hotel & Casino in Primm, Nevada, Burton staged an illusion in which he appeared to escape the path of a speeding roller coaster while on the tracks of "The Desperado." The Desperado is one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the United States. After the "narrow escape," he looked at the camera and said, "That was stupid... That was really stupid."
Johnny Carson said of him: "A beautiful, classy act, the best I ever seen!"
The readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal named him "Best Magician" 18 years in a row.
In 1994, Burton received the "Mantle of Magic" from master magician Lee Grabel. This honor, which can be neither bought nor sold, has been passed in an unbroken line that began with magician Harry Keller in the late 19th century.
Today, Burton lives quietly in Kentucky on his grandparents' farm where he was raised. He spends his time supporting several charities including: The Kentucky Humane Society, Nevada SPCA, Heaven Can Wait Animal Society, Variety Children's Charity, and the Shriner's Children's Hospitals. He mentors young magicians and has taken up a hobby, filmmaking.
In 2022, Burton was a guest judge on "Criss Angel's Magic with the Stars" on The CW.
He now tours with his show "Lance Burton & Friends," a mix of illusions, sleight of hand, audience participation, and amazing guest stars.
[1] Lance Burton Official Website
[4] Knight Rider "Deadly Knightshade" (1986)
[5] Knight Rider Episode "Deadly Knightshade" - IMDb
[6] Las Vegas Sun - Burton's magic takes many forms at Monte Carlo