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Ali Bongo dies aged 79
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Magician Ali Bongo died in hospital today at the age of 79, a spokesman for the Magic Circle said.
The performer, whose real name was William Wallace, died at St Thomas' Hospital in central London at 9am.
He was president of the Magic Circle and helped devise tricks for other magicians including Paul Daniels.
Acting President of The Magic Circle Jack Delvin said he suffered a stroke on a visit to France to lecture at a magicians convention.
He added: "Ali made his name on television in his own right as The Shreik of Araby and also as Alistair, assistant to David Nixon and as principal advisor to the Paul Daniels Show. He was famous throughout the world of magic and indeed the world generally."
David Renwick, the creator of the television show Jonathan Creek, said he based the show's title character on Ali's work as an adviser to other performers.
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It is with great sadness that those of us in the Magic fraternity have learned of the death of our great friend and ambassador Ali Bongo. Ali was a true giant in the world of magic, the loss of such a generous, warm and wonderful human being will be so very evident to us all in the years ahead.
I first met with him over 25 years ago and I cherish the photograph of us together with him dressed as 'The Shreik of Araby.' He touched my life as a child in his many appearances on television as assistant to David Nixon over the years. As I sat last night taking in the sad news, I remembered all the times I had seen him and met him, all the magical memories, the fact that he will never again grace our magical gatherings, there will never be another quite like him in our lifetime, it is sad his tenure as our president of The Magic Circle was so short-lived, yet it will be long remembered by all who knew him, he has left us all such a wonderful legacy. RIP Ali. Respectfully, Sean Brannigan MMC
Posted by Sean Brannigan | 09.03.09, 12:51 GMT