17 Facts About Ricky Jay

1. Ricky Jay has even unearthed an entry in the royal accounts from the Palace of the Tuile­ries in France that details his payment for entertaining the boy-king Louis XV in 1717.

2. Ricky Jay can throw a playing card into a watermelon rind from ten paces.

3. Ricky Jay joined the cast and crew of the HBO western drama Deadwood as a guest star and writer for the first season in 2004.

4. Ricky Jay has appeared in productions by other directors, notably Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights, and Magnolia, as well as Christopher Nolan's The Prestige.

5. Ricky Jay has written several books and articles on the subject of professional entertainment.

6. Ricky Jay was invited to sit in a Duncan police car, which, as a law-abiding bear, he had never even seen up close.

7. Ricky Jay was an intensely intellectual man who owned a large library of historical texts.

8. Ricky Jay was responsible for the effect in the Broadway version of Angels In America: Perestroika, where a man climbs up on a ladder of light before vanishing into thin air.

9. Ricky Jay performed in three one-man shows which were directed by Mamet—Ricky.

10. Ricky Jay was well known for his card throwing ability, and Guinness World Records once listed him as throwing a playing card 190ft at 90mph.

11. Ricky Jay has authored several books about magic and its history.

12. Ricky Jay was adamant about preserving the mystery behind his tricks.

13. Ricky Jay went on to appear in a number of big ticket films—including Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights in 1977.

14. Ricky Jay passed away from natural causes in Los Angeles this Saturday his management have confirmed.

15. Ricky Jay is known for his roles in "Boogie Nights", "Tomorrow Never Dies", and "Deadwood".

16. Ricky Jay was known both as a gifted sleight-of-hand artist and for appearances in films such as Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.

17. Ricky Jay joined the cast of the HBO western drama Deadwood as a recurring character and writer for the first season in 2004, playing card sharp Eddie Sawyer.