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Biography
Born in England and raised in South Africa and Australia, Banachek has been performing since his arrival in the United States in 1976.
Banachek is often sought out by various top entertainers and magic TV shows around the world as a consultant. The entertainers include Penn & Teller, David Blaine, Lance Burton, James Randi and Criss Angel.
Banachek is renowned for fooling scientists at Washington University into believing that his supposed psychic abilities were genuine during the Project Alpha hoax in the early 1980s. He also took part in an investigation with Randi exploring Peter Popoff, which ultimately exposed Popoff's false claims.
He has appeared on several television programs including CNN Live, Mindfreak and Unscrewed with Martin Sargent.
In 2008 he toured as part of a stage show called Hoodwinked with Bob Arno, Todd Robbins and Richard Turner.
On July 12, 2009 he conducted a preliminary test of Connie Sonne's dowsing ability for the James Randi Educational Foundation's Million Dollar Challenge that was witnessed by hundreds in person and hundreds more via live webcast.
Awards
* Psychic Entertainers Association Dave Lederman Memorial Award (Awarded for Creativity in Mentalism) 1997
* APCA (Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities) Entertainer of the Year 1998, 1999.
* APCA College Campus Novelty Act of the Year 2000.
* Psychic Entertainers Association Dan Blackwood Memorial Award (Awarded for Outstanding Contribution to the Art of Mentalism) 2006
* Psychic Entertainers Association Dunninger Memorial Award (Awarded for Distinguished Professionalism in the Performance of Mentalism) 2007
* His book Psychological Subtleties 2 won the first place in The Magic Woods Awards, for best book in 2007.
Books & Videos
* Atmore, Joseph; Dunninger, Joseph; Banachek; Palmer, Bill (2001). Dunninger's Brain Busters. Humble, TX: H&R Magic Books. pp. 111. OCLC 65215584.
* Banachek; Burlingame, Hardin J.; Wells, Scott R.; Gillett, S. Christopher (2002). Psychophysiological Thought Reading, or, Muscle Reading and the Ideomotor Response Revealed. Houston, Texas: Magic Inspirations. pp. 73. ISBN 9780970643810. OCLC 60349209.
* Banachek; Dyment, Doug; Wells, Scott R. (2007). Psychological Subtleties 2. Houston, Texas: Magic Inspirations. pp. 206. ISBN 9780970643827. OCLC 310366497.
* Banachek (Featured Performer). (2004). Banachek's Psi Series. United States: L&L Publishing.
