Biography

His father was a Vietnam War veteran of half Puerto Rican and half Italian descent, and his mother a school teacher of Russian Jewish ancestry.

Set a new world record on April 30, 2008 when he held his breath underwater for 17 minutes 4 seconds.

Voted the 'Biggest Loser' of 2003 in a British poll for spending 44 days in a box suspended over the River Thames in London, without any food.

Has a daughter named Dessa (b. January 27, 2011) with his ex-fiancée Alizée Guinochet.

Was engaged to French Actress Alizée Guinochet.

But as they say about sharks, it's not the ones you see that you have to worry about, it's the ones you don't see.

In truth, the only restrictions on our capacity to astonish ourselves and each other are imposed by our own minds.

My mother encouraged it so much. She was so supportive. Even if as a kid, I would do the dumbest trick, which now that I look back on some things, she would love it, she would say that's amazing, or if I'd make the ugliest drawing, she would hang it up. She was amazing.

I just believe that the feeling of wonder is amazing. I am pushing myself as far as I can humanly push myself... I can only hope for the best and expect the worse.

Magic's an art where you use slight of hand or illusion to create wonder. And I was just intrigued with that idea.