Page 43 - Demo

E d Ellis is man of many talents. Ed was born and raised in Canton, Ohio. Ed pursued studies in film acting after finishing high school in 1986-1988. Ed always had a love for drumming. In 1974, Ed began traveling with his band, performing all over the country. Around the age of 12, Ed was at a friend's house and began beating on a cardboard box. His friend's mom had a conversation with Ed%u2019s mom, encouraging her to nurture the drummer in him early on. Ed had a love for Buddy Rich and his style of music. Ed prides himself as being a competitive drum soloist and is the only person to solo on jazz drummer Buddy Rich drums in concert. Ed did not start practicing magic until 1978 at 26 years old. During a break at a show, Antony Gerard approached him with a memorable magic act. Ed visited this fellow%u2019s magic shop, eager to see and learn more. With his already steady access to a platform, Ed began performing as a magician in 1980 for $20 a night. Ed continued his studies of magic under the mentorship of his beloved mentor John Quine, who passed away last year. Ed was featured on a television show, called PM Magazine, where he performed a segment in Canton, Ohio. His big performing break happened when he was invited to come down to Hilton Head Island at the Marriott on Shipyard Plantation. They hired him on the spot for 6 nights per week. Every night, Ed had the opportunity to build his skills. He was then offered to travel to the Marriot in Atlanta, GA, where he worked for a year. To continue broadening his skills, Ed moved to Dallas to pursue an acting career, where he studied under Spencer Milligan from Land of the Lost. Ed enjoyed racing mountain bikes as well. He began racing mountain bikes cross country while performing in the many towns and cities that he passed through. In 1999, Ed was featured in Hollywood each year at the world-famous Magic Castle Hotel. Ed continued drumming while also pursuing his career as a magician, which Ed states came out of the blue. He has been featured at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and will be returning to Magic Castle in Hollywood for his 25th anniversary performance January 27%u2013February 2, 2025. In the early 1990s, Ed%u2019s agent reached out to inform him to audition for The Shawshank Redemptionfilm by Stephen King. Ed received six call backs from that audition and landed the role. Unfortunately, the scene did not make the finished cut, but Ed enjoyed every moment on the set with the cast of the film. Shortly afterwards, Ed earned the opportunity to perform on his own television show and has been featured on television over 100 times. His show ran locally for 6 months. Ed enjoyed the opportunity to feature guest magicians, giving them a platform to perform and sharpen their skills. He would often have random patrons featured on his show as well. Ed recalls the joy of having his own show locally. In 1993, Ed performed for every Army base in Seoul, Korea. Ed enjoys entertaining those who have given their lives to service through the Armed Forces. In 2010, Ed was featured at Black Pool, an event where over 5,000 magicians from around the world gathered in Blackpool England to share their gifts and talents. Ed returned to Hilton Head at Marley's Island Grille in 2010, working six nights a week. With all the knowledge and skills he had cultivated, Ed created an eight-series DVD, where he teaches sleight of hand techniques to magicians. He has lectured in Hollywood as well. Ed so vividly recalls when the Covid pandemic sent his world into a downhill spiral. At this time in Ed%u2019s life, he recalls only doing one show per year. As a result, Ed began doing landscaping and side jobs to make ends meet. While navigating the new normal that the pandemic jolted so many into, Ed began to find opportunities to perform while attempting to maintain the %u201c6 feet%u201d social distancing. Though this was no easy task, Ed never threw in the towel. He continued to entertain through his magic. Ed currently lives in Beaufort and will begin performing at Panini%u2019s on Thursday evenings from 5:30 p.m.%u20137:30 p.m. after February 14, 2025. Ed has performed with Downtown Operations and Beaufort Corridor, all locally. Ed also performs periodically at Tomfoolery's restaurant in Habersham. He performs locally for the Marines here in town at the Air Station and on Parris Island as well. Ed enjoys being able to do many things and believes that %u201cperfect practice makes BeaufortLifestyle.com | February 2025 43First Show for Marriott. 1982The Shawshank Redemption