David Seth Kotkin, known professionally as David Copperfield, is an American stage magician and illusionist born on September 16, 1956, in Metuchen, New Jersey. Described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history, he began performing at age 10 as a ventriloquist before switching to magic and adopting his stage name inspired by Charles Dickens' novel. Copperfield's career spans over 40 years, featuring groundbreaking television specials that earned 21 Emmy Awards from 38 nominations, 11 Guinness World Records (as of 2004), a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a knighthood from the French government, and designation as a Living Legend by the US Library of Congress. His style blends storytelling, influenced by Orson Welles, Walt Disney, and classic MGM musicals, with spectacular illusions like the 1983 disappearance of the Statue of Liberty. Copperfield has performed globally, including long-running Las Vegas residencies at the MGM Grand, and hosted shows like 'The Magic of ABC.' He is also a writer, film actor, hypnotist, and stunt performer. In investigative contexts, Copperfield has been associated with Jeffrey Epstein, having performed at Epstein's properties and reportedly questioning an Epstein victim about recruitment during a dinner attended by Ghislaine Maxwell, as detailed in court testimonies from Epstein-related cases.