Silvan (born 18 May 1937) is an Italian illusionist, writer and television personality.

Life and career

Born Aldo Savoldello in

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

, Silvan started his career at 20 years old and made his television debut in 1956, in the RAI show '' Primo applauso'' (''First Applause''). He gained mainstream popularity in 1973 hosting the RAI Saturday night magic and illusionism show ''Sim Salabim''. After six decades as a magician, Silvan continues to perform on television and touring his full evening show. Silvan won two Merlin Awards, in 1998 and in 2011, being the first Italian magician to win the award. The

Academy of Magical Arts The Magic Castle is a performance venue, restaurant, and clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts for magicians and magic enthusiasts in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, United States. The Academy was started in 1952 by W ...

awarded him "Magician of the Year" twice, in 1990 and in 1999. He is also in the "Hall of Fame" of the Society of American Magicians. In 2018, The Magic Circle awarded him The Devant for "Services to International Magic". Silvan has written several books, appeared in some films (notably, as "The great Pacco", in ''Modesty Blaise'',1966) and has collaborated with a number of publications. He is an honorary member of CICAP, a skeptic scientific organization. He considers himself Roman Catholic.

References

External links

* * {{Authority control 1937 births Living people 20th-century Italian male actors 20th-century Italian male writers 21st-century Italian male actors 21st-century Italian male writers Academy of Magical Arts Masters Fellowship winners Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Film people from Venice Italian magicians Italian male film actors Italian male television actors Italian Roman Catholics Italian television presenters Male actors from Venice Rai (broadcaster) people Writers from Venice