Criss Angel (born Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos, December 19, 1967in East Meadow, New York) is an American musician, mentalist, magician, illusionist, hypnotist, escapologist, stunt performer, and the creator and director of the Criss Angel Mindfreak television series on A&E Network and Discovery Channel.

Angel made his first television appearance as a magician on the ABC special, "Talents ", in 1995. In 1998, he mounted "Criss Angel: World of Illusion" as the headline feature of Madison Square Garden's annual Halloween celebration. In October 2002, Angel debuted an hour-long television special, "Criss Angel Mindfreak", on the ABC Family channel. He has subsequently starred in several television specials. His Broadway production, "Criss Angel Mindfreak", ran for 600 performances at The World Underground Theater in Times Square, ending January 6, 2003.

"Criss Angel Mindfreak", Angel's half-hour television series, premiered on the A&E Network on July 20, 2005. He is currently filming the third season. His illusions have included walking on water, floating between two buildings, and cutting himself in half in full view of an audience. Guests have included Korn's Jonathan Davis (who also co-produced the show's theme music), Rob Zombie, the Amazing Jonathan, Mandy Moore, Penn & Teller, and Lance Burton.

Criss Angel guest starred on CSI: NY on February 28, 2007 in an episode titled "Sleight Out of Hand" as a character named Luke Blade, a famous magician whose assistants die in unusual circumstances.[3] He performed three illusions (being sawed in half, being lit on fire, and a version of his "Submerged" illusion). All three illusions have been performed by Angel on "Criss Angel Mindfreak".

Criss Angel has won the Academy of Magical Arts' Magician of the Year award a record three times: 2001, 2004, 2005 and the IMS Magician of the year for 2007 and 2008.

Some of Angel's levitation tricks have been explained by Angel himself, notably on a DVD which is available for purchase from his official website store. The levitation featured on the DVD was an original invention of Jacob Spinney. Angel often claims that several of the levitations, teleports and demonstrations of telekinesis are done through the power of the mind, body and spirit attained through meditation. Some of the other methods are well known within the magic fraternity and have been performed previously by magicians such as David Copperfield, David Blaine and the Pendragons. Angel is writing a book entitled Mindfreak: Secret Revelations from the Master of Surreality.

Many viewers and critics allege that Angel is only a "video illusionist," using camera special effects, post-production effects, forced viewing angles, and assistants acting as amazed spectators for the TV audience. During the second season, Criss Angel introduced a "Spectator's Point of View camera", a handheld video camera given to a what he says is random person in the audience to shoot the action in any way he or she wants. However, the camera has seemingly fallen out of favor as the second season continued, only showing up very sporadically. He has even revealed the methods for some of his tricks to viewers at home on TV and in Stuff Magazine (although the effects are usually very simple such as making a toothpick disappear, or making a styrofoam cup float.) Angel guest starred on an episode of "Las Vegas" in which he says "If it's real, it's not magic!".

Perhaps Criss’s most controversial illusion is his “splitting a lady in half” publicly in Sunset Park, Las Vegas. Learn Street Magic, a magic exposure site, offers explanations held by most people.

Criss Angels Official Website