David Kwong
David Kwong | |
|---|---|
Kwong at "Now You See Me" Q&A, 2013 | |
| Born | August 20, 1980 |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Occupations | Magician, Puzzler, Producer, Public Speaker |
| Years active | 2002 – Present |
David Kwong (born 1980)[1] is a magician, mentalist, puzzle creator, writer, and producer.[2][3]
Kwong is known for creating illusions and puzzles for film and television and for functioning as a producer and consultant in the field. He produced Deception, ABC's action crime drama about a magician that joins the FBI.[4] Other productions that Kwong has been involved with include Now You See Me (head magic consultant), NBC's Blindspot, The Magnificent Seven, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, and The Imitation Game.[1][5][6] Kwong also frequently contributes to the New York Times crossword puzzle along with crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz.[7]
Early life
Kwong is a native of Rochester, New York, where both of his parents are professors at the University of Rochester.[1]
Kwong attended Harvard University, where he studied intellectual and cultural history in the history department.[8] He wrote his honors thesis on the history of oriental magicians and their impersonators. He graduated in 2002.[2][9]
Career
Magic
Kwong was inspired to pursue professional magic after attending a talk by conjurer Ricky Jay at Harvard University. After graduation, he moved to Hong Kong for two years, where he performed as a magician at cocktail parties. He later moved back to the United States, working in marketing for HBO in New York and later archiving for Ricky Jay in Los Angeles.[2]
Kwong debuted The Enigmatist at The High Line Hotel in New York City on January 4, 2019.[10] Presented by Greg Berlanti and Robbie Rogers, The Enigmatist is an immersive evening of puzzles, cryptology and illusions.[11] The Enigmatist performed on the West Coast in 2021 at the Geffen Playhouse,[12] The Kennedy Center in 2023,[13] and The Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2024.[14]
Public speaking
Kwong has given several TED Talks and regularly speaks on the principles of illusion. His main stage TED Talk on magic and puzzles was coordinated with hiding a secret message in The New York Times crossword puzzle.[15] In 2017, he wrote the book Spellbound: Seven Principles of Illusion to Captivate Audiences and Unlock the Secrets of Success.[16]
Puzzles
Kwong's first crossword puzzle, a joint construction with his friend Kevan Choset, was published in The New York Times on April 1, 2006.[10][2]
In 2020, Kwong debuted his interactive online puzzle show "Inside the Box", hosted on Zoom, for the Geffen Playhouse, garnering a Critic's Pick from The New York Times.[17]
References
- ^ a b c "David Kwong helps 'Now You See Me' make magic". Los Angeles Times. May 26, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
Kwong, 32
- ^ a b c d Zhang, Qichen (January 2012). "Five-letter Word for Magic: David Kwong has a trick that's all his own". Harvard Magazine. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
- ^ Kwong, David. "David Kwong | Speaker | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
- ^ "Magic Procedural From 'Blindspot' Trio, Futuristic War Drama Land ABC Pilot Pickups". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
- ^ "Seen on a Street Corner, Briefly". The New York Times. December 21, 2014.
- ^ "Blindspot boss drops clues on Jane Doe's tattoos" Entertainment Weekly September 11, 2015
- ^ "The Magician and the Crossword". New York Times. December 6, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
- ^ Millman, Debbie (2025-05-12). "Best of Design Matters: David Kwong". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
- ^ "David Kwong '02". history.fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- ^ a b Amlen, Deb (2018-12-12). "Who Made My Crossword? (Published 2018)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- ^ Meyer, Dan (2019-01-30). "Immersive Theatre Experience The Enigmatist Extended Through March 2019". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
- ^ Writer, LA Times staff (27 September 2021). "The magic of David Kwong and 'Enigmatist' at Geffen Playhouse". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ Floyd, Thomas (2023-06-16). "Review | In 'The Enigmatist,' David Kwong pulls off a feat of cerebral sorcery". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
- ^ Sun-Times, Steven Oxman | For the (2024-06-02). "'Enigmatist' solves the puzzle of finding something fun to do". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
- ^ "Two nerdy obsessions meet – and it's magic". TED.com. July 11, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
- ^ HarperCollins, ISBN 9780062448460, 0062448463, 272 p.
- ^ Green, Jesse (2020-10-14). "Review: What's 'Inside the Box'? A Rewarding (Rewording) Time". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-22.