Carl Ballantine, Sept. 27, 1917 – Nov. 3, 2009, comedian and entertainer also known as “The Amazing Ballantine,” has died in his sleep. He was 92.
He started his career as a magician and but found more fame as the
“Magician who could never do a trick.”
Billing himself as "Ballantine the Great" or "The Amazing Ballantine," he created a comedy magic act similar to that of British prestidigator Tommy Cooper, where the trick always failed. His act played all over the world with spots on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Steve Allen Show” and became the first magic act to headline in Las Vegas.
In addition to his magic act, he landed numerous acting and voice over roles including a memorable voice of a Claymation character in a California Raisin commercial. In movies, he was most well known for playing Lester Gruber in the 1964 movie “McHale’s Navy” alongside Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway. He appeared regularly on the TV series “Car 54 Where Are You?” And, on stage, he portrayed slave merchant/procurer Marcus Lycus in the musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” opposite Phil Silvers. In cartoons, he became popular with a recurring role in the series “Garfield and Friends.”
Carl Ballantine is predeceased by his wife, actress Ceil Cabot who died in 2000 and leaves behind his daughter, actress Sara Ballantine.
