# Ricky Jay has died \[not the Doper\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ricky-jay-has-died-not-the-doper/825052>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 25, 2018, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ricky-jay-has-died-not-the-doper/825052 "2018-11-25T12:41:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ricky-jay-has-died-not-the-doper/825052/1 "2018-11-25T12:41:08Z")

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Magician and actor Ricky Jay has died at the age of 72. No details are available at this time.

[link](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ricky-jay-dead-magician-boogie-nights-actor-dies-at-72-1163708)

This saddens me. I know him from several movies, but also from his sleight-of-hand specials and talk show appearances.

From Steve Martin:

> [@](#):
>
> “I sort of think of Ricky as the intellectual élite of magicians. I’ve had experience with magicians my whole life. He’s expertly able to perform and yet he knows the theory, history, literature of the field. Ricky’s a master of his craft. You know how there are those teachers of creative writing who can’t necessarily write but can teach? Well, Ricky can actually do everything.”

If you have not seen “ **House of Games** ” or “ **The Spanish Prisoner** ”, you are missing out on something special.

mmm

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ricky-jay-has-died-not-the-doper/825052/2 "2018-11-25T12:42:43Z")

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[Current thread.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=866095)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ricky-jay-has-died-not-the-doper/825052/3 "2018-11-25T12:48:13Z")

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> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> [Current thread.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=866095)

Dang, sorry. I did a cursory search before posting.

Reported.  
mmm