John Edward Szeles, the standup comedian and magician who delighted in surprising audiences for many years as “The Wonderful Johnathan,” died Tuesday after a protracted battle with coronary heart illness. The self-described “Freddy Krueger of comedy” was 63.
“Johnathan Szeles (Wonderful Johnathan ) has handed away at round 11:30 pm 2/22/22,” fellow standup comedian Penny Wiggins, 60, posted on Fb. “My coronary heart is damaged. Considered one of my finest mates, one of many funniest people I’ve ever met. I beloved him so very a lot and can always remember this excellent, wonderful, form, humorous, nice individual.”
Detroit native Szeles gained mainstream fame on Vegas headliner Criss Angel’s mid-2000s actuality TV present “Mindfreak,” and sometimes injected gonzo, faux-gore bits into his exhibits. Signature shock worth moments included pretending to suck on his personal dangling eyeball, slitting his wrists and spiking his personal tongue.
The Bally’s on line casino star attraction and Comedy Central staple — who reportedly earned $3 million a 12 months at his peak — was recognized in March 2007 with “a severe coronary heart situation,” the Las Vegas Journal assessment reported on the time.
“I used to be advised I've a 12 months to stay,” he introduced throughout a public look in 2014. The viewers, assuming the darkish declaration was one other of his pranks, began to chuckle — however he stopped them: “Not a joke,” he confirmed, his voice cracking.
His official web site later recognized the sickness as cardiomyopathy and introduced that, because of a mixture of weight reduction and blood thinners, his well being was enhancing.
The “alt-magician” gained additional notoriety as the topic of a controversial 2019 Hulu documentary, “The Wonderful Johnathan Documentary.” The movie adopted Szeles, then 60, as he mounted a comeback tour after defying his terminal sickness prognosis — and concurrently coping with an ongoing drug dependancy.
Earlier on Monday, Szeles’ spouse of almost eight years, stuntwoman and magician Anastasia Synn, posted that her husband was “utterly unresponsive” and reaching the ultimate stage of life after an “absolute nightmare” week.
“His decline was quick, nevertheless it additionally wasn’t. He's so sturdy,” Synn wrote in an emotional plea for family members and acquaintances to cease texting and calling him throughout his hospice care. “He has crushed the chances for therefore lengthy. I do know you all love him a lot and everybody desires to say goodbye.”
Synn continued, “I don’t assume we thought at the present time would ever come as a result of he's so sturdy and has crushed it so many occasions. Thanks for all of the effectively needs, however because the information spreads it’s getting overwhelming and I’m going to must take a step again. I really like you and thanks on your assist.”
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