Nani Darnell | |
|---|---|
 Darnell (bottom) as part of The Magic Land of Allakazam cast in 1960 | |
| Born | Toledo, Ohio, U.S. [1] |
| Other names | Nani Darnell Wilson [2] |
| Occupation(s) | Magician's assistant, dancer, stewardess |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Greg Wilson |
Nani Darnell (born c. 1930) [3] is an American former magician's assistant. As a co-star of her husband, magician Mark Wilson, throughout his television magic career, Darnell heavily influenced public perceptions of magicians' assistants.
Darnell worked as a dancer and stewardess [4] before marrying magician Mark Wilson in 1952. [5]
The role that most defined Darnell's public image was as a magician's assistant in Wilson's television series The Magic Land of Allakazam , which premiered in October 1960 and ran for four years nationally in the United States. The series has been widely credited with establishing the credibility of magic as a form of television entertainment. In doing so, it also established Darnell as a nationally-known figure. She subsequently appeared with Wilson in a host of other television shows, including Magic Circus specials and the fictional mystery series The Magician starring Bill Bixby. [6]
Darnell and Wilson had two children, both boys. [7] Their younger son, Greg, followed in their footsteps by becoming a professional illusionist. [8] As of 2011, Darnell and Wilson lived in Valencia, California. [9] Wilson died in 2021. [7]
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Here I am in 1948. I had just graduated high school and was invited to tour the islands of Hawaii with my own acrobatic act.
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