Cosentino (illusionist)
Paul Cosentino | |
|---|---|
| Born | Paul Cosentino November 2, 1982 Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Escapologist, Illusionist, Magician, Author |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | Australia's Got Talent (2011), Dancing With The Stars (2013), America's Got Talent: The Champions (2019) |
| Notable work | Anything is Possible: The Magic, The Mystery, The Life (book), Appearance in Bleeding Steel (2017) |
Paul Cosentino (born 2 November 1982), professionally recognized as Cosentino, is a renowned Australian escapologist and illusionist.
Early life
Cosentino grew up with a mother who served as a school principal and a father employed as a civil and structural engineer. His interest in magic was sparked early on after he found a magic book, which his mother assisted him in comprehending due to his learning challenges. At the age of 13, he acquired lock-picking abilities when he used them to regain entry into his house after being locked out—skills that later became integral to his stage acts. He completed his education at Wesley College, Melbourne.
Career
While still in high school, Cosentino made his television debut on the Australian variety program Hey Hey It's Saturday, where he earned prize money. On 17 February 2010, he executed an underwater escape performance at the Melbourne Aquarium, shackled to a 60 kg concrete block, successfully breaking free in 3 minutes and 39 seconds despite encountering technical difficulties.
He rose to national prominence through his participation in Australia's Got Talent in 2011, progressing through various rounds by performing illusions and escape feats such as unlocking nine locks underwater and freeing himself from a straitjacket while suspended inside jaws held by a burning rope. He ultimately secured second place, greatly enhancing his public profile.
Cosentino has appeared at prominent events including Carols in the Domain in Sydney and claimed victory on Dancing With The Stars in 2013 alongside partner Jessica Raffa. He also took part in episodes of Magic, The Mystery, The Madness, presenting illusions and street magic across Melbourne and Sydney.
On the international stage, he performed a vanishing act on Asia's Got Talent and competed in America's Got Talent: The Champions in 2019. In 2020, he entered the sixth season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia as an intruder contestant.
In October 2016, Cosentino authored Anything is Possible: The Magic, The Mystery, The Life, a book exploring his mindset and the inspirations behind his career. Additionally, he appeared as himself in the 2017 Jackie Chan film Bleeding Steel.
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
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- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1982 births
- Australian people of Italian descent
- Australian magicians
- Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series) winners
- Entertainers from Melbourne
- Living people
- Escapologists
- Australia's Got Talent contestants