George Kresge Jr., famously known as The Amazing Kreskin, has passed away at the age of 89. His former representative, Augustine Covert, confirmed his death in an email on Wednesday. According to reports, Kreskin died at his home in New Jersey on Tuesday. He was set to turn 90 next month.
Kreskin gained widespread recognition in the 1970s for showcasing his remarkable mental abilities, frequently appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and performing live shows.
“What Kreskin would say at the end of every show was, ‘Let’s not say goodbye, let’s just say to be continued,'” his former road manager, Ryan Galway, shared.
Kreskin’s television show, The Amazing World of Kreskin, aired from 1972 to 1975 in Canada and was also syndicated in the United States. Over the years, he made appearances on shows like Late Night with David Letterman, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and The Howard Stern Show. Additionally, Kreskin was known for his annual appearances on CNN, where he would make his predictions for the upcoming year.
Kreskin was adamant that his abilities were not due to psychic powers, but rather to suggestion and “extrasensory perceptions,” as he explained in his 1991 book Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin. One of his signature acts involved locating the check for his live performances, which he would hide in the venue before the show. If he failed to find it, he would forfeit his payment for the night. Kreskin claimed that he lost this challenge fewer than a dozen times.
At the height of his career, Kreskin performed over 300 times annually, according to Galway.
Galway described Kreskin as “one of the sweetest guys on the planet,” noting that there were two distinct sides to him. “One was the Amazing Kreskin, focused on business, and the other was a truly kind person,” Galway shared. “I cherished my time with him, listening to his stories. He lived an incredible life.”
