MURRAY, also known as Murray Sawchuck, was a magician from Season 5 of America's Got Talent. He was eliminated in the Semifinals.
Background[]
Murray John SawChuck was born in Burnaby, British Columbia - Canada and always had the passion for adventure. At age three, he began swimming and golfing. He learned how to play the accordion, keyboard and saxophone at five years old. At age seven, he began dance lessons that included: ballet, Russian, swing, break dancing, ballroom, etc. He was an avid athlete and enjoyed participating in soccer, baseball, snow skiing, and horseback riding. Murray’s parents, John and Arlene presented him with a Siegfried and Roy magic kit when he was seven years old and his uncle and aunt Bill and Olga gave him a magic gift that changed his life. Murray envisioned himself as an entertainer incorporating magic, music and dance in his routines. He wanted to perform for audiences like his idols Dean Martin, Johnny Carson, Lucille Ball, Danny Kaye and Phyllis Diller.
As a teen, Murray had over 21 different jobs from bus boy to fixing bicycles, and lifeguard at local pools. He continued to entertain folks by dancing, playing the accordion and saxophone. He continued his studies and received a degree in Broadcast Communications and Journalism. When Murray was a young man he met Marvyn and Carol Roy, a.k.a. “Mr. Electric.” The couple had toured worldwide for over 50 years and mentored Murray while he grew from an accomplished magician to an international star.
Murray was the only magician globally who invented a magic act that included the manipulation of a multitude of Compact Discs when he began his professional career. Murray has won over 24 awards for his performances nationally and internationally and received the title of “World Champion.” He has delighted audiences in theatres from Monaco and Paris to Las Vegas and the legendary Playboy Mansion. 1
Audition[]
MURRAY's audition in Episode 506 consisted of creating the illusion of his assistant disappearing from a box, and then reappearing after turning the box around one full rotation. Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel all voted "Yes," sending Murray to the Vegas Round.
Vegas Round[]
MURRAY was one of the Judges' Favorites in the Vegas Round. He was sorted into the "Magicians" category. His performance in Episode 511 consisted of creating the illusion of a car appearing out of nowhere. His audition was strong enough for the judges to send him to the Quarterfinals along with Chipps Cooney.
Quarterfinals[]
MURRAY's Quarterfinals performance in Episode 519 consisted of creating the illusion of a tiger replacing his assistant in a clear box. Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel all gave him standing ovations. MURRAY received enough votes to be sent to the Semifinals in Episode 520 instead of Doogie Horner and Mary Ellen.
Semifinals[]
MURRAY's Semifinals performance in Episode 527 consisted of creating the illusion of making a large steel train disappear. Sharon Osbourne gave him a standing ovation. However, while Piers appreciated the trick, but was slightly bored with the presentation, and felt it was somewhat "stilted". Howie somewhat agreed with Piers. He did not receive enough votes to be sent to the Finals, eliminating him from the competition in Episode 528 along with Debra Romer and Nathaniel Kenyon, instead of Michael Grasso.
After the Show[]
Murray’s star power has exploded onto the entertainment scene with the charisma, personality and talent of an entertainer born to be on stage and screen, after his successful run as a semifinalist on America’s Got Talent. In 2010, he hosted and performed at the “Toy Story 3” premiere for Snowball Express, an organization of 2 thousand families whose children have lost a parent in the war since 9/11. He dreams of performing on a USO tour overseas and supporting the U.S.A.
Murray currently guest stars on the “hit” History Channel TV series “Pawn Stars” as a magic expert, and hosts the “live” “Pawn Stars” shows in venues throughout the country. He recently completed filming 5 episodes of a new kids’ TV series called “The Jadagrace Show.” Murray plays a comical re-occuring role on the show as “Murray the Magician.”Murray co-starred on the popular VH1-TV series “Celebracadabra” highlighting pairs of magicians and celebrities who competed for $100 hundred thousand dollars and the title of “Best Celebrity Magician.” He has guest-starred on the comedy TV series “Reno 911” and NBC’s “Last Comic Standing." 2
Murray appeared on an episode of Wipeout on July 20, 2014, where he failed to make it past the first round. In 2019, Murray appeared as a magician in an episode of the Nickelodeon series Ryan's Mystery Playdate.
