Carl Ballantine

Carl Ballantine, born Meyer Kessler on September 27, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, was an American comedian, magician, and actor who built a career around vaudeville-style comedy magic before transitioning into film and television. His parents, Israel Kessler and Rose Cohen, were Jewish immigrants from Borshchiv, Ukraine, and Russian Poland. Ballantine died on November 3, 2009, at his home in Hollywood, California, at age 92.

His interest in magic began at age 9, when his barber performed tricks with thimbles during haircuts. His first job was as a printer. During the 1930s, he performed straight magic in Chicago under the names Count Marakoff, Carlton Sharpe, and Carl Sharp, helping support his family financially. He later relocated to New York City, where he worked nightclubs and television variety programs. In the early 1940s, he abandoned conventional magic after concluding he could not match his peers technically. A botched trick that drew audience laughter prompted him to begin incorporating deliberate failures into his act. He adopted the stage name Carl Ballantine after seeing a Ballantine whisky advertisement, finding the name suitable for show business, and titled his act Ballantine: The World's Greatest Magician. He entertained military troops during World War II. By 1950, he was billed as The Amazing Mr. Ballantine at the New York Capitol, and he appeared as The Great Ballantine on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Steve Allen Show during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1956, he became the first magician to perform in Las Vegas, appearing on a bill with Harry James, Betty Grable, and Sammy Davis Jr. at El Rancho Vegas.

Ballantine's television career included a recurring role as Lester Gruber, a PT boat sailor known for hucksterism and scheming, on the ABC sitcom McHale's Navy from 1962 to 1966, alongside Ernest Borgnine, Joe Flynn, and Tim Conway. An earlier television appearance cast him as magician Al Henderson in episode 15 of the first season of Car 54, Where Are You?, which aired on December 24, 1961. He guest-starred on The Partridge Family, I Dream of Jeannie as a used car salesman, and on The Monkees episode The Audition, which aired January 23, 1967. In 1971, he appeared as Matty Ryan in The Men From Shiloh episode The Politician. He played magician The Great Marvello on the CHiPs episode Rustling, which aired January 28, 1978. In 1973, he appeared as Dr. Hankim in The Girl Most Likely to.... He was also a frequent panelist and judge on The Gong Show, including the series finale of the NBC daytime version. In later years, he provided recurring voice work on Garfield and Friends, primarily as Al J. Swindler, a seller of shoddy merchandise.

His film credits include McHale's Navy (1964), Penelope (1966), Speedway (1968), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), The World's Greatest Lover (1977), Just You and Me, Kid (1979), Disney's The North Avenue Irregulars (1979), and Billy Crystal's directorial debut Mr. Saturday Night (1992). His final feature film appearance was in the 2006 biopic Aimee Semple McPherson.

Ballantine made his sole Broadway appearance in 1972, playing Lycus the slave merchant in the revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which starred Phil Silvers.

In his personal life, Ballantine's first marriage ended in divorce. In 1955, he married actress Ceil Cabot, born Celia Cabrera on March 8, 1927, and remained married to her until her death on January 24, 2000. Their two daughters, Saratoga and Molly, are both named after racetracks. Saratoga became an actress and Molly an advertising sales executive.

Ballantine received the Academy of Magical Arts Special Fellowship in 1973, the Performing Fellowship in 1984, and the Louie Award from Tannen's Magic in 1985. In 2007, he was presented with the Academy of Magical Arts 2006 Lifetime Achievement Fellowship by Steve Martin. His remains were cremated following his death in 2009.