RIP The Amazing Jonathan

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

R.I.P. The Amazing Johnathan, unpredictable and inventive magician and stand-up comedian


John Edward Szeles, the magician and stand up comedian better known by his stage name, The Amazing Johnathan, has died. His death, confirmed by his wife, fellow performer Anastasia Synn, was the result of a critical heart condition, a diagnosis he struggled with since 2007. He was 63.

www.avclub.com/rip-amazing-johnathan-magician-standup-comedian-1848583983

[Mozenrath]

It's unfortunate. I was a big fan when I was young, but I've also known that he's had serious health issues for years now. It was unfortunately a matter of "when?". I do hope it gave him plenty of time to focus on the time he did have left and have his affairs in order.

[G✇JI☈A]

Almost missed it with all the other news.. just made aware after seeing Marc Maron reposted the podcast he interviewed him recently, which he only does when the person he interviews passes away.

The Amaazing Jonathan was a regular on the Australian variety show “Hey, Hey it’s Saturday” back in the 90s.. and he was always a highlight..

Amazing Jonathan: (to someone in the audience) Hey, do you have a handkerchief!?
Audience member: Yeah!
AJ: Good, blow your nose, you have a huge booger hanging!

[James Fabiano]

I know him best from Ruckus, the game show from 1991 that aired only in the New York market.

It got a bad rep because GSN reran the whole series to death, starting with the brief time in 1997 when they couldn't use the Goodson-Todman shows. But I have a soft spot for it because it was local and came out of Atlantic City, where we spent many a day trip.

I also associate it with the time of the end of my grandmother's life, so watching it got me through that.

And that's someone else I could have seen when I went to Vegas, but never got to (Louie Anderson was the other).

[El Pollo Guerrera]

I remember seeing him on TV with a skewer through his arm, sliding it back and forth like he was playing a violin... while telling jokes...

Rest in peace, sir.

[Milkman Norm]

I just watched the Hulu doc too. He was all over Comedy Central in the early pre- South Park days. I always found him entertaining. RIP

[Dr. T is an alien]

Would his wife be the assistant he always had with him that "accidentally" kept exposing how he did his tricks? That was a funny bit and she played the pretty ditz quite well.

[Paul]

He was unbelivably talented, and very, very funny. Rest In Peace.

[Cyno]

I wasn't a big fan of his, but I respected what he brought to comedy. RIP.

[y4j1981]

Feb 24, 2022 11:46:51 GMT -5 Dr. T is an alien said:

Would his wife be the assistant he always had with him that "accidentally" kept exposing how he did his tricks? That was a funny bit and she played the pretty ditz quite well.

No. Jonathan's was married twice. Once to a Sandra Bowing and then to a Anastasia Synn.

The "ditz" last was named Penny Wiggins aka Psychic Tanya. So a Google search tells me.

But reading bout his widow:

"Anastasia Synn is a Canadian sideshow stunt performer and magician, as well as a transhumanist and biohacker. She is known for her cyborg rights activism. She was married to magician and comedian The Amazing Johnathan, whom she also managed, until his death on February 22, 2022.

A frequent speaker at magic, transhumanist, and biohacking conferences, Synn currently has 26 implants, including the largest magnet ever implanted into a person, as well as a sound-transmitting magnet implanted into the tragus of her ear. All of her modifications were surgically performed by a nurse and an underground DIY surgeon."

[Vampiro138]

I used to enjoy Ruckus which is where I first found out about him thanks to GSN. He is somebody who took the very worst parts of magic and made them super entertaining. I always loved him drinking the window cleaner and going "I have bad habit of wanting to rip off all my clothes, this prevents me from streaking"