Acting

Ricky Jay

Born 1946-06-26 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Died 2018-11-24

Richard Jay Potash (June 26, 1946 – November 24, 2018) was an American actor, magician, cardsharp, and film consultant. Ricky's love and deep study of card tricks and deception gained him worldwide fame and respect, and he was often called in to consult for movies and TV shows where deception was a key element of the story. Ricky was an exceptional close-up magician and playing-card handler, but he also acted in movies such as Boogie Nights, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Magnolia, as well as TV shows like the X-Files, HBO's Deadwood, and David Mamet's The Unit, always playing intense characters who seemed to know everything but only handed out information in riddles and suggestions.

Credits

Newest first

Dai Vernon: The Spirit of Magic
as Self
2017
The Automatic Hate
as Uncle Josh
2016
Sneaky Pete
as T.H. Vignetti
2015
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
as Self
2014
Getting On
as Thoracic Surgeon
2013
Teen Titans Go!
as Narrator (voice)
2013
Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay
as Self
2012
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
as Self
2010
Lost Masterpieces of Pornography
as Narrator
2010
FlashForward
as Man in Warehouse
2009
The Brothers Bloom
as Narrator (voice)
2009
Lie to Me
as Mason Brock
2009
Redbelt
as Marty Brown
2008
The Great Buck Howard
as Gil Bellamy
2008
David Mamet on House of Games
as Himself
2007
Ricky Jay Plays Poker
as Self
2007
Ricky Jay Plays Poker
Executive Producer
2007
Ricky Jay Plays Poker
Writer
2007
The Prestige
as Milton
2006
The Unit
as Agent Kern
2006
David Mamet on 'House of Games'
as Himself
2005
Last Days
as Detective
2005
Incident at Loch Ness
as Self - Party Guest
2004
Deadwood
as Eddie Sawyer
2004
Deadwood
Writer
2004
The Making of Last Days
as Self
2004
Heist
as Don 'Pinky' Pincus
2001
Heartbreakers
as Dawson's Auctioneer
2001
State and Main
as Jack
2000
That Moment: Magnolia Diary
as Self
2000
Magnolia
as Burt Ramsey / Narrator
1999
Mystery Men
as Vic Weems
1999
Tomorrow Never Dies
as Henry Gupta
1997
The Story of Magic
as Host
1997
The Spanish Prisoner
as George Lang
1997
Boogie Nights
as Kurt Longjohn
1997
Sink Or Swim
as The Hat
1997
Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants
as Self
1996
Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants
Writer
1996
Hustlers, Hoaxsters, Pranksters, Jokesters and Ricky Jay
1996
Muppets Tonight
as Self
1996
The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky
as Hawkes
1995
The X-Files
as The Amazing Maleeni / Herman Pinchbeck / Albert Pinchbeck
1993
Ring of the Musketeers
as Kerns
1992
The Water Engine
as Ratty Inventor
1992
Homicide
as Aaron
1991
Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women
1990
Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women
Writer
1990
The Simpsons
as Ricky Jay (voice)
1989
Things Change
as Mr. Silver
1988
House of Games
as George
1987
The Paul Daniels Magic Show
as Self
1979
Doug Henning's World of Magic
1976
Doug Henning's World of Magic
as Self
1975
Saturday Night Live
as Self / Patron
1975
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
1961