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Ricky Jay

Ricky Jay was born Richard Potash in Brooklyn, New York, 1948 to a middle class Jewish family.

Ricky Jay

Ricky Jay

Ricky Jay was born Richard Potash in Brooklyn, New York, 1948 to a middle class Jewish family.

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Faith & Religion, Jewish Speakers
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Ricky Jay Biography

Ricky Jay was born Richard Potash in Brooklyn, New York, 1948 to a middle class Jewish family.

His grandfather, Max Katz, a certified public accountant and one of the great amateur magicians of the day, introduced Jay to the world of magic at the age of four.

Young Jay's remarkable display of conjuring skills grabbed his families attention; they felt that Jay might have a marketable talent in the magic industry.

In his early adulthood, Jay continued to hone his skills in manipulation, working as a bartender who did magic at resorts in the upstate New York community of Lake George.

After graduating from Cornell University, he worked as a barker and sideshow performer with a traveling circus.

In the 1970s, Jay brought his sideshow act to night spots and theaters, where he performed tricks and stunts, and was in opening shows for such performers as Tina Turner, Emmylou Harris, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

His career path took a decisive turn in 1982 when he was asked to design the magic effects for the New York Shakespeare Public Theatre's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," starring William Hurt.

In 1989, Jay conjured up a TV special entitled "Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women" which was based on his 1986 book of the same title.

He then acted in the pilot episode of the ABC legal drama series "Civil Wars" and worked with Mamet again for the thriller "Homicide" (1991).

At least two of his shows, "Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants," and "On the Stem," were directed by David Mamet, who has cast Jay in a number of his films.

He has also appeared in a stream of films by other directors, notably "Boogie Nights" and "The Prestige."

In 2004, Jay joined the cast and crew of the HBO western drama "Deadwood" as a guest star and writer for the first season.

The series was created by David Milch and focused on a flourishing town in the American West.

Jay played card sharp "Eddie Sawyer," a dealer in the casino of ambitious newcomer Cy Tolliver.

Jay wrote the episode "Jewel's Boot Is Made for Walking". He left the series at the end of the first season.

Jay created a consulting firm called "Deceptive Practices," which provides "Arcane Knowledge on a Need-To-Know Basis."

Among his firm's clients are the stage, television and film industries.

He has worked with libraries and museums on their collections, including the "Mulholland Library of Conjuring," the "Museum of Jurassic Technology," and the "Allied Arts" in Los Angeles.

When not performing, Ricky Jay collects rare books and magic memorabilia. He is the author of several books including, "Jay's Journal of Anomalies," "Cards As Weapons;" "Dice: Deception, Fate, and Rotten Luck," and "Ricky Jay Plays Poker."

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FAQs on booking Ricky Jay

  • How do I book Ricky Jay to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ricky Jay for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Ricky Jay, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Ricky Jay or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Ricky Jay

    Speaking fees for Ricky Jay, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ricky Jay are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ricky Jay, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Ricky Jay speak about?

    Ricky Jay is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Faith & Religion, Jewish Speakers.

  • Where does Ricky Jay travel from?

    Ricky Jay generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Ricky Jay’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Ricky Jay for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ricky Jay for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Ricky Jay or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Ricky Jay is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Ricky Jay for your event is available upon request. Ricky Jay generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Rick Rubin, Danny Elfman, Lyor Cohen, David Broza and Charlie Kaufman. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ricky Jay for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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