Juan Tamariz, one of the greatest magicians of all time, has passed away
Juan Tamariz, who brought the art of magic into millions of homes in Spain and around the world, has passed away in Madrid. From his childhood to winning the world championship in Paris, Tamariz changed the face of classic magic, redefined the performance, and was known for his extraordinary generosity in sharing professional secrets.
The Spanish master of illusions and virtuoso magician Juan Tamariz passed away yesterday, Wednesday, at the Clinico San Carlos Hospital in Madrid at the age of 83, as confirmed by his daughter, Ana Tamariz. Tamariz, who brought the art of magic into millions of homes, is considered one of the pioneers of modern card magic.
"With immense sadness, today I say goodbye to my father Juan Tamariz, an amazing man, loved and respected by all," wrote his daughter, who inherited his passion and manages the magic school La Gran Escuela de Magia. She thanked him for "all the love for magic that he gave us," and addressed warm words to the family, friends, magicians, and the medical staff who were by his side until his last day.
Juan Manuel Tamariz-Martel Negron was born in Madrid in 1942 and discovered magic when he was only four years old. At the age of 18, he joined the Spanish Society of Illusionism after years of reading books and performing magic for his family members. He studied at the Faculty of Physics and at the official film school, but eventually, cards took center stage in his life.
International recognition came in 1973, when he won the first prize at the World Card Magic Championship held in Paris. This victory paved the way for a rich career in which Tamariz became one of the greatest theorists of contemporary magic. He wrote dozens of books, lectured around the world, and shared his knowledge with generations of magicians.
The general public was exposed to him through popular television programs such as 'Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez', where he appeared as Don Astracho, and over the decades he appeared in many programs and shows. The long hair, the bowler hat, the 'Chan-ta-chan' exclamation, and the imaginary violin that only he knew how to play, broke the classic seriousness of the traditional magician. Tamariz called his performances 'games' and managed to make the audience forget about technical curiosity and surrender to wonder.
"The most beautiful thing is to share," he said in the past when describing the relationship between magicians. Throughout his life, he shared secrets, smiles, books, and a unique way of looking at the world, and his legacy will continue to live in the hands of all those who learned to shuffle cards following his lead.
