James Randi
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James Randi was a Canadian-American stage magician who became known for his work in the skeptical movement, investigating claims of the paranormal and pseudoscience. His background in magic gave him expertise in detecting deception, which he used to challenge and debunk fraudulent paranormal claims that many people believed were genuine.
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James Randi (born August 7, 1928) (stage name The Amazing Randi) is a Canadian American stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Randi began his career as a magician, but when he retired at age 60, he switched to investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims, which he collectively calls "woo-woo." <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/James+Randi">Read
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James Randi (born Randall James Hamilton Zwinge; August 7, 1928 – October 20, 2020) was a Canadian-American stage magician, author, and scientific skeptic who extensively challenged paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. He was the co-founder of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), and founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Randi began his career as a magician under the stage name The Amazing Randi and later chose to devote most of his time to investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims. Randi retired from practicing magic at age 60, and from his foundation at 87.
Although often referred to as a "debunker", Randi said he disliked the term's connotations and preferred to describe himself as an "investigator". He wrote about paranormal phenomena, skepticism, and the history of magic. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, famously exposing fraudulent faith healer Peter Popoff, and was occasionally featured on the television program Penn & Teller: Bullshit!.
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1928 births2020 deaths20th-century American LGBTQ people20th-century American writers20th-century atheists20th-century Canadian LGBTQ people20th-century Canadian male writers20th-century Canadian writers21st-century atheistsAcademy of Magical Arts Special Fellowship winnersAmerican atheism activistsAmerican founders