Fantasio | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ricardo Roucau October 3, 1936 |
| Died | October 30, 2017 (aged 81) |
Ricardo Roucau (3 October 1936 – 30 October 2017) was a magician commonly known as Fantasio.[2]
Roucau became interested in magic at an early age after seeing Fu Manchu perform in Argentina.[3]: 279
Roucau previously performed as Ricardo and then as Larry, before being warned in 1961 by John Scarne that the name would not work for a magician trying to make it in America.[2] He also performed with his wife as 'Larry and Daisy'.[1] Roucau adopted the name Fantasio after noticing it on a box of playing cards.[2]
Roucau was known for his handling of walking sticks and lit candles, which he would make materialise during his act.[3]: 279 Roucau was a prolific inventor,[1] and Mike Caveney believes that Fantasio's appearing and disappearing props were at one point the most popular magic props in the world.[4]
Roucau performed at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, and the Latin Quarter and Radio City Music Hall in New York City.[5] He also appeared on The Hollywood Palace and The Ed Sullivan Show.[5]
Roucau and his wife Monica won second place in General Magic at the 1979 Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM) competition[6] and Rocau won second place in Comedy Magic in the 1994 FISM competition.[7]
Fantasio was a lifetime member of Ring 45 and Assembly 280. In 2010, he was named Dean of Assembly 280.[8]