Rob Zabrecky

Robert Zabrecky (born June 2, 1968, in Burbank, California)[1] is an American actor, author, magician, and songwriter. His career began as a musician while being the front man for the band Possum Dixon. In the later years of his career, he has found success as a magician, actor, and author.[2][3][4]

Rob Zabrecky
Zabrecky in 1992 at Al's Bar in Los Angeles
Born
Robert Zabrecky

(1968-06-02) June 2, 1968
Burbank, California, United States
OccupationActor, musician, magician, songwriter
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Spouse(s)Tommi Zabrecky

Life and career

Zabrecky was born and raised in Burbank, California. From 1989 to 1999 he was the singer-songwriter and bassist for the Los Angeles group Possum Dixon. The band, originally hailing from Silver Lake, released three albums during the 1990s.[5]

During the mid-1990s, he began practicing magic and has since become a magician at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. In the mid-2000s he began a career in acting and has since landed roles in films and television programs.[6]

Actor

In 2017, Zabrecky landed a supporting role in the supernatural drama, A Ghost Story. His film credits also include a supporting role in Ryan Gosling's directorial debut Lost River, playing the master of ceremonies at an underground fetish nightclub,[7] and a starring role in the psychological thriller, Decay, portraying a troubled theme park groundskeeper who falls in love with a corpse.[8] As a television actor he has made several appearances in popular shows including GLOW, Strange Angel, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, Comedy Bang! Bang! and Angie Tribeca.[9][10] He has also appeared in several short films and a wide range of television commercials.[9][11][12]

He graduated from a two-year training program at Theatre West, where he appeared in theatrical adaptations of the television classic, The Twilight Zone and other productions.

In 2019, Zabrecky and his wife Tommi Zabrecky created the supernatural comedy series, The Other Side with Zabrecky.[13] In each episode, Zabrecky invites guests into his home to participate in a séance to contact a departed spirit of their choice. Guests have included Jack Black, Jason Sudeikis, Kate Flannery, Will Forte, and David Arquette.[14] The program is featured on the online visual arts magazine Night Flight.[15]

Author

In June 2019 Zabrecky released his memoir, Strange Cures (RothCo Press).[4]

Magician

Zabrecky is best known for an aberrant magician character he portrays by combining irreverent dark humor, mentalism and an artful use of elongated pauses in performances.[16] In 2011 and 2012 he was voted "Stage Magician of the Year" by the Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle. In 2014 and 2015 he was voted "Parlour Magician of the Year" by the same organization.[17][18]

After his music career ended he has worked throughout the United States, Japan and Europe as a magician.[19][20] Since 2002 he has been a regular performer at the Magic Castle, where he formed the magic trio, The Unholy Three in 2003.[21] He has also been the featured magician at annual magic conventions worldwide and appeared on the cover of magic-related journals and periodicals including Genii, Reel Magic and the Mandala.[22][23]

The Zabrecky Hour, a one-man variety show, directed by John Lovick and Tommi Zabrecky, was premiered and developed at the Steve Allen Theater from 2010 to 2016.[24] The show featured highlights from his Magic Castle act, song & dance, conversations with the moon and audience interaction.[25]

After Zabrecky performed on Penn & Teller's Penn & Teller: Fool Us in August 2016, Penn Jillette said "We were trying to think if there's ever been a mentalist doing a mentalist act that was sincerely funny and sincerely good. You may be the first ever."[26]

Musician

As the frontman for Possum Dixon, Zabrecky became a notable figure in the early 1990s emerging Silver Lake independent music community. During those years he wrote, recorded and performed with several musicians and producers including Beck, Earle Mankey, Tom Rothrock, Pleasant Gehman, Carla Bozulich, Tim O'Heir and others.[27]

In 1998, Zabrecky, with Possum Dixon, released New Sheets, which would be the last album by the band. The LP, produced by Ric Ocasek, featured co-written material with Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Dave Stewart and Pat MacDonald.[28] Shortly after the breakup of Possum Dixon he spent time singing for the Los Angeles art rock band, Human Hands and played bass in a Gun Club tribute band alongside original members Ward Dotson and Terry Graham.[29][30]

In early 2010 he appeared on-stage with Maria McKee at a fund raiser in Hollywood. The pair sang a duet to Lou Reed's Satellite of Love.[31] The pair performed the song again as part of a Night of Zabrecky performance at the Steve Allen Theater in 2012.[32]

Auctioneer

He is a skilled auctioneer, trained by Bonhams auction house (known then as Butterfield & Butterfield) during the late 1990s. For over a decade he has helped organizations such as the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Laguna Art Museum and many others with fundraising events.[33][34][35][36]

Personal life

Zabrecky lives with his wife, Tommi Zabrecky, whom he married in 1998.

Works

Memoir

  • Strange Cures (2019)
  • The Feral Boy Who Lives in Griffith Park contributor (2019)

Publications

  • Music for Deaf People chapbook (1992)
  • Smartish Pace Art/Poetry Journal (contributor)
  • The Underground Guide to Los Angeles (contributor)
  • Stories of Famous Magicians (contributor)
  • Secrets of My Friends 2 (contributor)
  • MAGIC, The Magazine for Magicians (contributor)[37]
  • M-U-M, The Society of American Magicians (contributor)[38]
  • An Exploration at the Intersection of Magic and Theater (2010)[39]
  • Genii – The Conjuror's Magazine (Cover Feature, April 2013)[40]
  • A,B,Z's of Magic, (2019) Vanishing Inc[41]

Interviews

  • Dana Gould Hour Podcast, 2019.
  • Boo Crew Podcast, 2019[42]
  • Monster Party, Apple Podcast, 2019[43]
  • Hollywood Anonymous, Apple Podcast, 2019[44]
  • Three Thousand, Melbourne[17]
  • The Magic Newswire, 2012[45]
  • The Avant/Garde Diaries, 2012[46]
  • Dan & Dave, 2012[47]
  • The Alibi; Illusion Noir, 2012[48]
  • Los Angeles Times, 2011[49]
  • Pop Culture: Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie, 2011[50]
  • Carson Daly, 2010[51]

Awards and nominations

  • 1999 LA Weekly Award for Best Pop/Rock Band (Award)
  • 1999 California Music Awards (Award)
  • 2008 Parlour Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Nomination)
  • 2009 Parlour Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Nomination)
  • 2010 Parlour Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Nomination)
  • 2010 Stage Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Nomination)
  • 2011 Lecturer of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Nomination)
  • 2011 Stage Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Award)[52]
  • 2012 Stage Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Award)[52]
  • 2014 Parlour Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Award)[52]
  • 2015 Parlour Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Award)[52]
  • 2016 Lecturer of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Award)[52]
  • 2017 Lecturer of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Award)[52]

References
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  7. dawnday9622 (April 10, 2015). "Lost River (2014)". IMDb.
  8. "Decay (2015)". IMDb. November 1, 2015.
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  15. http://nightflight.com/other-side-with-zabrecky-a-new-seance-series-puts-celebrities-in-contact-with-the-spirit-world/
  16. Salwak, Dale. "MAGIC, The Magazine For Magicians". Magicmagazine.com. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  17. "STRAY – An interview with Rob Zabrecky – Three Thousand". Thethousands.com.au. June 29, 2015. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
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  23. "past issues – vol 1 » The Mandala". web.archive.org. May 5, 2012.
  24. Chris Nichols (October 19, 2012). "The Spooky Magic Of Night Of Zabrecky". Los Angeles Magazine.
  25. "Night Of Zabrecky! Eban Schletter! Janet Klein!". Trepanyhouse.org. July 23, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  26. "Penn & Teller Fool Us Here's Moxie". YouTube. August 31, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
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  33. Lina Lecaro. "Eddie Vedder, Mickey Avalon and Red Hot Chili Peppers at Hullabaloo". L.A. Weekly.
  35. "Tickets for HULLABALOO 2007 : Benefit for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music with Red Hot Chili Peppers / Eddie Vedder / Charlie Haden / Ditty Bops / Mickey Avalon – Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre at TicketWeb". TicketWeb.
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  41. https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic/magic-books/astonishing-essays-rob-zabrecky/
  42. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-boo-crew-28917826/episode/episode-8-the-strangers-wspecial-guest-29056706/
  43. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magic-with-rob-zabrecky/id793623934?i=1000429228505
  44. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-142-rob-zabrecky-is-magic/id985803895?i=1000431542224
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