Nationality American Years active 36 | Occupation Escape Artist Magician Home town Lake Arrowhead, CA | |
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Born April 10, 1961 (age 55) ( 1961-04-10 ) Lexington, KY Known for $100,000.00 Challenge to anyone who can prevent his escape Notable credit(s) Winner of World Magic Awards, International Magic Awards, Ultimate Escape Artist Residence Columbus, Ohio, United States | ||
Michael Griffin (born April 10, 1961) is an American escape artist, magician and illusionist. He is best known for his $100,000 worldwide challenge to anyone who can keep him prisoner, as well as being the only person to have survived a public hanging.
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Early life
Griffin was born in Lexington, Kentucky. He was born with a back problem and spent the first six months strapped to a board to alleviate the condition. He was adopted and at the age of nine traveled with his father to California due to his parents divorce. He spent his formative years growing up in southern California where with a couple of friends in the 7th grade discovered the book The amateur magician's handbook and spent almost all his free time learning sleight of hand.
Notable appearances
Because of the nature of the escapes the Associated Television International started using him and he became the only 2 time winner for Best Escape Artist in the World Magic Awards and went on to make numerous appearances in the series Masters of Illusion (TV series) and also multiple appearances featuring newly invented escapes on the Reelz series Extreme Escapes.
In 2012, Griffin was selected to appear on America's Got Talent (season 7). Originally scheduled to perform his Navy Sea Bag escape producers at last minute suggested Griffin have Howard Stern who was in his first year judging come on stage and tie Michael up with rope. Griffin made his escape, however was not selected to go any further.
Stunts
Griffin's first "stunt" to bring the escape artist attention occurred in Newport Beach, CA. In front of assembled media and onlookers, he was chained up with 15 feet of iron chain secured with four padlocks. He jumped from the bow of one of two yachts used and was able to escape within 30 seconds.
During a concert appearance in Cincinnati, Ohio, Griffin sought to disprove the myth that Houdini escaped from under the ice in the Detroit River. A hole was cut into the ice off the dock of the Mike Fink restaurant on the Covington, KY side of the Ohio river. Griffin was locked up with three pairs of police handcuffs and 1 set of leg irons before disappearing beneath the ice, appearing free approx 30 seconds later.
During a show for the prisoners at the Sedgwick County Jail in Wichita, Kansas, Griffin was restrained in 14 pairs of handcuffs and 6 leg irons then secured into an isolation cell. The escape was accomplished in 8 minutes and a sworn certificate signed by the Sheriff attesting to the facts of the escape was given to Griffin. During a three-day appearance at the Sandusky County Fair Griffin in Fremont, Ohio, Griffin was challenged by the Nopper-Veh Funeral Home to escape from a metal coffin designed with an airtight seal. Griffin succeeded in escaping in under 11 minutes. Griffin became the first magician to be granted the use of Houdini's underwater packing box which had been in dry storage for approximately 90 years. Griffin was allowed to examine it and decide to accept or decline the challenge. The escape was successful, but almost cost the Escape Artist his life.
Public Hanging
In January 1984, Griffin attempted to recreate a stunt he had originally performed in Houston, TX September 29, 1983. During this attempt a regulation 13 knot noose was used and applied by the Sheriff of Sedgwick County Kansas, Johnny Darr as well as tying Griffin's hands behind his back. Escape was made in approx 37 seconds. According to Griffin "The pain was unbearable, I thought I was dying".
$10,000.00 Challenge Escape
Before raising the Worldwide challenge amount to $100,000.00 Griffin had issued the challenge for $10,000.00 to anyone who could keep him prisoner.