David Blaine, a young and talented magician, is rapidly changing the face of magic. Known as the "magician of the millennium" Blaine broke through cult status by levitating on the streets of New York in his first ABC special "David Blaine: Street Magic" in 1997.

On May l, 2006, Blaine was submerged in an 8 foot (2.4m) diameter, water-filled sphere (isotonic saline, 0.9% salt) in front of the Lincoln Center in New York for a planned seven days and seven nights, using tubes for air and nutrition. He did succeed in setting a record (as yet unrecognized by any record-keeping institution) for being fully submerged in water for more than seven days straight (170+ hours).

He concluded this event by attempting to hold his breath underwater to break the world record of 8 minutes, 58 seconds. In a change to the original stunt plans, while attempting to break this record, Blaine also tried to free himself from handcuffs and chains put on him upon coming out after the week in the sphere. Blain held his breath for 7 minutes and 8 seconds before being pulled up by the support divers, thus failing in his attempt. It has been said that David would have been less than 38 seconds from death if he'd not been rescued by divers, due to high carbon dioxide levels in his body.

For his next stunt, Blaine has announced that he will be living alon with animals in a jungle; however, the date, location, or duration of the stunt has not been announced yet. He tells the New York Post, "I'm planning to live harmoniously among wild beasts. And I'd like to do it alone in the jungle".

Born in Brooklyn, New York on April 4, 1973, Blaine was inspired by his mother Patrie White, a gypsy, to practice magic. His interest further peaked, at the young age of four, when Blaine witnessed a subway performer which led him to practice his own card tricks. By the age of ten, Blaine's mother remarried and the family moved from New York to New Jersey. During his teen years, Blaine took regular trips back to New York to pursue acting. He was fortunate enough to land some commercials and appearances on daytime dramas. When Blaine turned 17, he moved back to the city and took residence in the notorious Hell's Kitchen. In 1994, Blaine's mother died of ovarian cancer. Although devastated by the loss, his burning desire to perform was not stifled. Blaine continued with his plan to be the best at what he was able to do best.

Blaine's name began circulating when he began performing at celebrity parties. Confident in his entertaining abilities, Blaine decided to venture out to greater heights by sending a tape of his craft to ABC studios. The response he received was overwhelming and immediately an interview was requested. In 1997, ABC aired "David Blaine: Street Magic." "Street Magic" introduced the world to Blaine's talent, ability and charm. It was after this television special that Blaine's life story was optioned by Robert DeNiro's production company, Tribeca, for a big screen treatment. In 1999, David directed, with the help of director Harmony Korine, his second ABC special "David Blaine: Magic Man." Unlike "Street Magic", "Magic Man" was shot like a movie and took his show to a whole new level. Then in April 1999, Blaine overcame a fear that Houdini had always possessed; a fear of being buried alive. He conquered this fear by burying himself underground at the Trump Place in New York City, without food and water. He emerged, after seven days, emaciated and weak. In November 2000, Blaine performed what was known as the greatest feat ever. He froze himself in a 6-ton block of ice in New York City's Times Square. Close to one million people watched him emerge from the block of ice 61 hours later on a live television special called "David Blaine: Frozen In Time".

Blaine took his act outside of the U.S. in December 2000. He released his first video in the United Kingdom, which was a compilation of "Street Magic" and "Magic Man." The video titled "Mystifier" blew the United Kingdom viewers away. Blaine "mystified" the U.K. and as a a result, they nomimated him for a BVA award (British Video Association) as well as a HEW(Home Entertainment Weekly) award. In November 2001, Blaine released "Showman," his second video in the U.K. The video showed his "Frozen In Time" special in addition to unseen footage dating back to his first street performance.

In May 2002, Blaine hoisted himself on top of an 80 foot pillar. He remained on the pillar for a total of 35 hours before stepping off and landing onto a 12 foot-high pile of boxes. In preparation for the stunt, Blaine went without food and had minimal amount water.

On September 5, 2003, Blaine began his 44 day endurance stunt sealed inside a transparent Plexiglas case suspended 30 (9 m)in the air over Potters Fields Park on the south bank of the River Thames in London. A guant Blaine emerged on schedule on October 19th murmuring "I love you all!" and was quickly hospitalized.

Blaine has also authored Mysterious Stranger: A Book of Magic which was published by Randon House and released on October 29, 2002. Part autobiography, part history of magic, and part armchair treasure hunt, the book also includes instructions on how to perform card tricks and illusions.

The treasure hunt, Blaine's $100,000 Challenge, was devised by game designer Cliff Johnson, creator of "The Fools Errand", and was solved by Sherri Skanes on March 20, 2004, 16 months after the book's publication.

Blaine enjoys bringing magic to the public like Houdini did 100 years ago. Like the famed magician, Blaine favors endurance tests more so than magical feats. It's the ability to escape a "tight squeeze" and not make a "card appear out of thin air" that gets this magician's adrenalin pumping.