Carl Ballantine (September 27, 1917 – November 3, 2009), born Meyer Kessler, was an American magician, comedian and actor. Billing himself as "The Great Ballantine", "The Amazing Ballantine" or "Ballantine: The World's Greatest Magician", his vaudeville-style comedy routine involved transparent or incompetent stage magic tricks, which tended to flop and go "hilariously awry" to the wisecracking Ballantine's mock chagrin. He has been credited with creating comedy magic and has influenced both comics and magicians.
His last feature film was directed by his friend Richard Rossi, entitled Aimee Semple McPherson (2006). Rossi said, "Our friendship was the source of great times together at the Magic Castle and Hollywood jazz clubs and smoking Cuban cigars".
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Exempt from military service during World War II because of back trouble, he entertained troops in England.
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Performed his magic act for the last time at the "It's Magic" show at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood during the fall of 2008, broaching age 91.
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Loved to play the horses at Santa Anita racetrack.
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Once worked as a printer.
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Received a Lifetime Achievement Fellowship, from the Magic Castle in Hollywood in 2007. The honor was presented by Steve Martin.
One-of-a-kind, he was billed as the incomparable Carl "The Amazing" Ballantine, the only magician who NEVER did a trick. Actually, in his early career, he did a manipulation act, but gave up real magic when he realized he could not be as good as some of his peers. However, he did become the first magician to headline in Las Vegas.
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Changed his name to Ballantine early in his career after he happened to spot a bottle of Ballantine whiskey in an advertisement and decided that the name of his magic act would be "Ballantine, the World's Greatest Magician".
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Inveterate smoker of Cuban stogies.
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Acting-wise, he is still best remembered for his co-starring role as sailor Lester Gruber of the PT 73 on the hit sitcom McHale's Navy (1962) starring Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway.
$18 Million
