Banachek

Steven Shaw (born 30 November, 1960), known professionally as Banachek, is a mentalist. He has written books on mentalism and has invented various magic and mentalism effects, including the Penn & Teller bullet catch and the original "buried alive" stunt. He is the Director of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge.

Biography

Born in England and raised in South Africa and Australia, Banachek has been performing since his arrival in the United States in 1976.

Banachek is often sought out by top entertainers and magic TV shows around the world as a consultant. His clients include Penn & Teller, David Blaine, Lance Burton, James Randi and Criss Angel.

During the early-1980s Project Alpha hoax, Banachek fooled scientists at Washington University into believing that his supposed psychic abilities were genuine. Even though "they had agreed should they ever be asked: Are you faking it?... that they would immediately admit the truth... They were never once asked.", as D. J. Grothe explains. With James Randi, he took part in an investigation of alleged faith healer Peter Popoff's activities, which ultimately exposed Popoff's false claims.