David Kaye (magician)
David Kaye (born David Friedman) is a professional magician and author. He performs under the stage name Silly Billy.
Bibliography
He authored a long-running column for Magic magazine entitled, "Turn it around: Magic for the family audience."[1]
Personal life
Kaye is the son of Arnold and Elaine Friedman. He is the oldest of their three sons. Kaye's younger brothers are Seth and Jesse.[2] He grew up in Flushing, Queens and then moved to Great Neck, Long Island with his family when he was a teenager.[3]
In 1987, Kaye's father Arnold and his youngest brother Jesse were charged with molesting young boys in computer classes taught in the basement of the Friedman's Great Neck home.[3] In 1988, Arnold and Jesse pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse and went to prison. The case was chronicled in the 2003 documentary Capturing the Friedmans, in which Kaye was featured prominently.[2]
Kaye adopted his current surname in the 1990s.[4] He says he registered with the union for television performers with the surname Kaye to differentiate himself from the 27 David Friedmans already in the union.[3]
References
- ↑ Kaye, David (April 2007). "Turn it around". Magic. 16 (8): 92–93.
- 1 2 "Brother's Keeper". Long Island Press. June 12, 2003.
- 1 2 3 "COPING; A Clown's Sad Tale, And the Solace Of a Silly Hat". The New York Times. June 8, 2003.
- ↑ "Man about clown: New York's best-known party clown talks about magic, psychology and life after Capturing the Friedmans". Time Out New York. March 1, 2005.