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Mat Franco
Born
Johnston, Rhode Island
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Rhode Island
OccupationMagician
Known forAmerica's Got Talent Season 9 winner
Websitematfranco.com

Mat Franco (born May 10, 1988) is an American magician and the winner of the ninth season of America's Got Talent. Franco beat out nearly 100,000 acts that auditioned for America's Got Talent. He is the first and only magician in history to win the show, which included a $1 million prize.[1][2]

Background

Franco was born in Johnston, Rhode Island. At the age of four, he saw magic on TV and became hooked. He immediately begged his parents to get him a magic set, and he was performing the tricks in his kindergarten class the very next week. Mat continued studying magic as a child, and performed any chance that he could. At the age of 12, he had saved enough money from local shows to fly cross country to Las Vegas, to study performance art with some of his idols in magic, including Jeff McBride.[3]

Franco attended Johnston High School and the University of Rhode Island.

Early career

In 2003, at age 15, Mat was invited to perform onstage at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, as part of a show hosted by the Society of American Magicians called "Stars of Tomorrow".

After graduating college in 2010, Franco performed his one-man show on college campuses throughout the U.S., touring six months out of the year, for four years. In 2013, he was awarded "Best College Performer" by Campus Activities Magazine (based in Prosperity, South Carolina) in their Reader's Choice Awards.

Franco was always encouraged by his grandmother, Eleanor Campellone, who told an interviewer, "His mother was always working and he couldn't show her everything -- look mom, look mom. So the grandma was there and I had all the time in the world. I'd spend hours watching his tricks."[4]

Mat Franco graduated from the University of Rhode Island.[5] After his graduation in 2010, having majored in marketing with a minor in communications, he told an interviewer, "You can't major in magic."[3]

America's Got Talent

In 2014, at the ages of 25 and 26, Franco auditioned for and then achieved mainstream success as the winner of America's Got Talent.

Appearances

Reception

It's been said that Franco "specializes in creating customized, interactive presentations for his audiences that allow for spontaneity and improvisation. For Mat, magic isn't about 'tricking' or 'fooling' the audience; it's about connecting with people and bringing smiles to their faces."[9]

References

  1. ^ ""America's Got Talent" winner Mat Franco's magical night". CBS News. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  2. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (18 September 2014). "Mat Franco wins 'America's Got Talent' Season 9 -- Exclusive Interview". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Smith, Andy (September 15, 2014). "Will R.I. Magician Mat Franco's Act do the Trick in America's Got Talent Finals?". The Providence Journal. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  4. ^ Jaehnig, Dan (Sep 17, 2014). "Franco's Grandmother Sparks his Magic". NBC Channel 10. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  5. ^ "Mat Franco | About Mat". matfranco.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  6. ^ Weyant, Jennifer (August 5, 2014). "Mat Franco Amazes America With His Fiery Card Trick". Business 2 Community. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  7. ^ NBC 10 News (September 17, 2014). "Mat Franco enjoys the magic of winning 'AGT'". NBC 10 News. Retrieved January 10, 2015.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Meganrosshl (September 17, 2014). "'AGT': Rosie O'Donnell's Raunchy Magic Trick With Mat Franco". Penske Media Corporation / HollywoodLife. Retrieved January 10, 2015. ((cite web)): Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ NBC (2014). "About Mat Franco". NBC. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
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