33 Facts About Mark Edward

Mark Edward wrote books on mentalism and seance theory and production, including Psychic Blues, where he discussed working for the Psychic Friends Network.

Mark Edward coined the term "grief vampire" as a description of alleged psychic mediums who prey on vulnerable people.

Mark Edward became interested in magic through his maternal grandfather George Schaeffer, who was a card player and amateur magician.

Mark Edward became his test subject for many close-up magic routines.

In 1975, when Edward became a performer at the Castle, famed magician of television's "Magic Land of Alakazam" Mark Wilson was on the Board of Directors.

The younger Mark Edward Wilson was advised if he wanted to perform he needed to change his name, which he did, deciding to use his middle name as his last name.

Bored with standard magic, Mark Edward decided to pursue his interest in psychic and educated animal acts, studying under Ralph Helfer and later Ray Berwick at Universal Studios's Animal Actors Stage.

In 1985 Mark Edward took the job of Associate Resident Medium at the Magic Castle in The Houdini Seance Room.

Mark Edward left the Magic Castle in 1999, after 25 years, 14 of which were spent in The Houdini Seance Room.

In 1990, Mark Edward began working for the Psychic Friends Network.

Years after working for the Psychic Friends Network, Mark Edward decided to blow the whistle on the $2 billion a year industry.

Mark Edward said the industry soars when the economy tanks.

Mark Edward has been very public about exposing celebrity psychics and the techniques they use to fool their audiences.

Mark Edward appeared in the Halloween 2017 episode of Adam Ruins Everything with Adam Conover, in which he explained cold reading.

Mark Edward pointed out that if communication with the dead was possible, psychic hotlines and celebrity psychics would be obsolete, and the scientific community would give this type of phenomena a great deal of attention; however, sufficient evidence is lacking.

Mark Edward was a member of the team for the network television pilot The Skeptologists, working with Yau-Man Chan, Steven Novella, Phil Plait, Kirsten Sanford, Michael Shermer and Brian Dunning.

Mark Edward was a steering member of IIG West, a group aimed at investigating paranormal claims.

Mark Edward has worked with Investigation Network, teaching workshops and exposing psychic frauds, like Sylvia Browne and John Edward.

Mark Edward has been a speaker at a number of skeptical conferences.

Mark Edward told the audience that he was sick and tired of psychic fraud and encouraged them to join his movement and help make a difference.

Mark Edward showed a video of how he and a group of skeptics demonstrated at a Sylvia Browne show, and then he outlined a plan describing how audience members could organize a similar local protest.

In March 2021, Mark Edward participated in episode 6 of season 1 of the ABC TV series The Con, "The Psychic Con", and was introduced as "The Expert" in matters of psychic deception.

Mark Edward knew that she and her brother grew up in Michigan and that his girlfriend was Maria.

Mark Edward knew about Susanna's father-in-law and how he died.

Mark Edward used his expertise as a mentalist to expose the charlatans as frauds, but prefers not to use disclaimers, defending his work as a psychic as pure entertainment.

Mark Edward said that what sets him apart from other skeptics, is that he likes to have a little mystery.

Mark Edward's work has been displayed at local art shows in the Los Angeles area.

Mark Edward's piece was displayed on February 15,2014 for the "I Art You" exhibit.

On May 18,2013 Mark Edward held a "Soothsayer" exhibition at the Fold Gallery where he displayed his art and performed illusions and psychic readings.

Mark Edward's creations involve science and mysticism, and consist of mysterious mechanical devices and imaginary alchemy laboratories.

Mark Edward's work was inspired by art movements such as Dada and surrealism, which were pioneered by artists like Max Ernst.

Mark Edward designed a set of tarot cards to accompany his book, Silentium.

Mark Edward died on August 4,2024, at the age of 73 from prostate cancer.