Ricky Jay 1946-2018


Ricky Jay passed away at his home in Los Angeles last Saturday.  Known for his superior card skills which lead him from the stage to screen in such films as "Heist", "State of Maine", "Boogie Nights", "the Spanish Prisoner", "House of Cards" & "Magnolia".  His talent was most of all his skills with a deck of cards.

It has been reported that Jay started practicing magic tricks at age four.  Jay's interest in tricks and cons lead him to form a company with his partner Mark Weber called Deceptive Practices.  He had several Broadway shows one of them called "Ricky Jay & his 52 Assistants" directed by David Mamet.

*"Jay’s film career hit its saturation point in 1997, a year in which he appeared in Mamet’s The Spanish Prisoner, played an adult movie cameraman in Boogie Nights, and popped up as a cyberterrorist in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. He reunited with Anderson for a double role in 1999’s Magnolia, appearing on screen as a game show producer and voicing the narrator, whose opening monologue plays to Jay’s talent for rattling off anecdotes of the distant past. In the aughts, he had a recurring role as a card sharp in the first season of HBO’s Deadwood, and continued his collaborations with Mamet, showing up in State and Main, Heist, and Redbelt."
                                                                    By 
                                                                                                                                (Slate.com)


What I liked about Mr. Jay's performance was how natural he came across. His performances were stellar.  I always watched Ricky's performance in anything and I was convinced that he loved what he did.  He had a skill that translated well into film.  He was the guy who said it like it was.  Like his Brooklyn origins he never strayed too far away from what he knew.  His characters had history which even though not stated seemed authentic.  He was a regular on Late Night with David Letterman, and he could fascinate you with his stories and his ability to work his magic with cards.  I was saddened to hear that he had passed away because he was a true talent and a heck of a character.  His recurring character in "Deadwood" was something to behold.  When Ricky had the screen he had the screen.  I always wanted to know more about the characters he played, and that's what was Mr. Jay's talent.  Ricky made you want more as any good performer can tell you that is as good as it gets.

He will be missed and he is gone way too soon. Thanks for the performances.

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