# James Randi died at 92 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [October 21, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539 "2020-10-21T22:15:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/21 "2020-10-22T02:36:31Z")
RIP Mr. Randi; you lived up to your nickname. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/22 "2020-10-22T03:17:11Z")
I once had an opportunity to hear him speak when I was in college, and regret not going. RIP, Mr. Randi. You had quite a life. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/23 "2020-10-22T03:50:06Z")
Aww bummer. I really liked him. A magician who exposed charlatans. What’s not to love? RIP ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/24 "2020-10-22T03:52:41Z")
I demand proof. I think it’s all a hoax. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/25 "2020-10-22T04:14:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Shortly afterwards I encountered him as a member of CSICOP, a contributor to Skeptical Inquirer, and author of _Film Flam!_ That book was one of the most influential for me. A great cleanser after I had believed in my youth the malarkey from UFOs, The Chariots of the Gods and Uri Geller. RIP 🧙🏽 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/c0Z7KeNCi7g/hqdefault.jpg "Homeopathy, quackery and fraud | James Randi | TED") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0Z7KeNCi7g) ---
**Author:** ![And\_his\_buzzer\_goes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/and_his_buzzer_goes/32/377_2.png) [@And\_his\_buzzer\_goes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/And_his_buzzer_goes)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/26 "2020-10-22T08:24:52Z")
As in GIGObuster’s case he drove me away from my X-files and other shadey meanderings around the then-young web and made me discover my sceptic side. (And with that the Dope!) I try to pass this sceptic mindset on to my friends and family, which was kind of his point, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/27 "2020-10-22T09:58:36Z")
While I only found out about him through the Dope, way late in my skeptic’s journey, he was definitely one of the greats and did a great service. He had a good innings at 92. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/28 "2020-10-22T11:29:48Z")
He was truly amazing. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/29 "2020-10-22T12:34:37Z")
I’m not positive I’m remembering correctly, I think I first encountered him in Dynamite (a magazine kids could get from one of the monthly book vendors). He had a column where he would explain a magic trick. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/30 "2020-10-22T12:46:40Z")
RIP. An amazing man who led a great life. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/31 "2020-10-22T13:05:38Z")
Have you ever felt uncomfortable when someone formally posts a death notice of someone who is supposed to be famous, but yet you have no idea who he is? Well … … … LOL ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/32 "2020-10-22T13:18:01Z")
Truly an impressive individual. One of the best lectures I’ve ever attended. Few share the ability to be both as informative AND entertaining at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/33 "2020-10-22T13:19:28Z")
A great man, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/34 "2020-10-22T13:26:47Z")
RIP. You made my life just a tab more interesting and I’m a tab smarter. Thanks for it all. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/35 "2020-10-22T18:33:11Z")
At age 12 I took out three books from our local library. “flim flam”, “the truth about Uri Geller” and “Chariots of the Gods”. I read them in reverse order, not knowing too much about any of them. Best choice I ever made. It set me on a path of critical and contrarian thinking that I continue pounding to this day. He was a great man and an inspiration to many, he’ll be sadly missed but what a hell of a legacy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/36 "2020-10-22T18:50:28Z")
I was a long-time member of the JREF Forums and attended many TAMs (The Amazing Meeting) in Las Vegas (and one in London). Also was along for some of the cruises organized with him ‘leading’ them, including two memorable trips to the Galapagos. For all that I cannot say I really knew the man, outside of a very few pleasantries, but his sharp wit, intelligence, and willingness to ask questions many would avoid but to do so in a dignified but barbed way (not easy). His exposes of fakes and frauds, his magic skills, his presence…yeah, he’ll be missed, especially in this day of fast/false facts. And he gave me a lot of my friends…all over the world. I do thank him for that. Remain skeptical, my friends… ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/37 "2020-10-22T19:44:17Z")
I recall seeing him interviewed and the episode of the Tonight Show where he exposed Peter Popoff as the fraud he is came up. It was many years later and Randi still got emotional talking about how after the program the TV stations got calls from people asking how to contact “that Godly man” and they weren’t talking about Randi or Carson. He did a lot of good work and sadly there is still much to do. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/38 "2020-10-22T20:38:20Z")
Another blow to the scientific world. This is hitting me hard. RIP, Mr. Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@oliversarmy1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy1)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/39 "2020-10-23T04:53:44Z")
James Randi is the whole point of Cecil Adams. In this world at this time, his loss is immeasurable. The skeptic keeps us true. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539/40 "2020-10-23T05:03:54Z")
Sad news. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-died-at-92/923539.md?page=3)