David Oliver

David Oliver
Born	April 28, 1966 Rockland, Massachusetts
Died	June 21, 2024 (age 58) Boston, Massachusetts
Nationality	United States
Known for	convicted of sexually abusing boys
Categories	Books by David Oliver

David Oliver (b.1966), born David Hussey, an American magician born and raised in Rockland, Massachusetts (a suburb of Boston), was known for his neoclassic style of performing with Doves, Zombie and Linking Rings, his comedy and Close Up Magic, as well as for mentoring many youth performers throughout the New England and New York areas for more than 25 years. In 2021, Hussey pled guilty to four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14.

Biography

The son of a police officer and homemaker, Oliver was the youngest of four brothers. Involved in the arts and magic since youth, he appeared onstage and television since the age of six. Performed magic & comedy shows throughout high school and college years, and worked part-time for over a decade at Hank Lee's Magic Factory in Boston. Oliver headlined and lectured at numerous conventions and magic clubs across the U.S. He performed regularly at The Mystery Lounge in Cambridge, Massachusetts and at Monday Night Magic in New York City.

David Oliver was a full-time, professional magician who performed for corporations, colleges, cruises and at private functions across the United States. Oliver and his magic was also been featured in three films, "A Woman In Half" (1991) "American Carney: True Tales From The Circus Sideshow" (2005), and the documentary, "Magic Camp" (2012)

He was a columnist for M-U-M Magazine, written for MAGIC Magazine, Linking Ring, The Magic Menu and was a product reviewer for Genii Magazine . Since 1987, he served as adult director of The John Calvert, Boston Area Assembly Number 29 of The Society Of Young Magicians, and as one of the senior advisors at Tannen's Magic Camp.

In October 2008, David Oliver underwent lung surgery, for a potentially fatal lung affliction called Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis or Bird Fancier's Lung, caused by working and living with the birds in his show. Subsequently, the doves were removed from his show, after being a feature in his act for more than 25 years. The August 2011 issue of Genii detailed his ordeal with the birds ("Death Defying Dove Acts"), complete with a list of symptoms and how to avoid the same situation.

In July of 2012, the Society of American Magicians national council honored (and surprised) David for his 25 years of mentoring the Boston area S.Y.M., by renaming the group, "The John Calvert - David Oliver, Boston-Area Assembly Number 29 of The Society Of Young Magicians." *

In June 2013, after years of declining health due to Bird Fancier's Lung, Oliver had both of his lungs replaced during a grueling 14-hour double lung transplant surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. Months of recuperation and recovery followed. The magic community from around the globe rallied together in tremendous support of David's recovery.

MAGIC Magazine featured David Oliver as its January 2014 cover story ("DAVID OLIVER: Celebrating Life!" ), following his difficult journey through the arduous double lung transplant and his subsequent recovery and his second chance at life. The article chronicled the details of his months in Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as the history of his life in magic as a performer, director, writer and mentor.

In January, 2019, Oliver, (born David Hussey) was accused of sexually assaulting four boys at his Rockland home over a ten year period and in July was indicted on four counts of indecent assault and battery on a person younger than 14 by a Plymouth County Grand Jury.* [3] Hussey pled guilty in 2021.*

Oliver died on June 24, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.*

Bibliography

Books

• Oliver's Twists - The David Oliver Lecture Experience by David Oliver (1995, 2008)
• A Pocket Full Of Glitter by David Oliver (1999)

Contributor to:

• Shinko Nagisa's Arm Twisting Illusion by Meir Yedid (1989)
• Son Of Simon Says by Simon Lovell (2000)
• SWITCH, Unfolding the $100 Bill Change by John Lovick (2006)

• Grandson Of Simon Says by Simon Lovell (as of 2008- currently at press)
• Fulminations Plus, Vol. I by Gary Ouellet (Book one - reprinted from Genii column #10, #17) (1994)
• Magic Menu - The First Five Years by Jim Sisti (March/April 1993, Issue 16) - 1995.

Awards and Honors

• Super Sunday Convention in PA; Honoring David Oliver, November 2007
• NEMCON XXV Convention in CT; Honoring David Oliver, February 2006
• S.A.M. National Presidential Citation For Dedication To The S.Y.M., February 2006
• "David Oliver; Magician, Mentor & More", Featured Cover Story, M-U-M, April 2001
• "Resolution Of Congratulations For Accomplishments In The Field Of Magic" from Mass. House Of Representatives, Adopted July 24, 1996

References

This page incorporated content from David Oliver (magician), a page hosted on Wikipedia. Please consult the history of the original page to see a list of its authors. Therefor, this article is also available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

• The Magic Of David Oliver - Official Site
• David Oliver: The Internet Movie Data Base
• Society Of Young Magicians #29 - Official Site
• The Mystery Lounge
• Monday Night Magic
• Weymouth Magician Accused of Sexual Assault in Rockland Indicted, Patriot Ledger, June 26, 2019
• Creep Update, The Jerx
• Obituaries: David A. Hussey

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