Juan Tamariz, one of the most recognized figures of Spanish magic and an international reference of card magic, has died this Tuesday at the age of 83 at the Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid, according to El País. His daughter, Ana Tamariz, has confirmed the death through social media.
"With immense sadness, today I say goodbye to my father Juan Tamariz, an incredible person, very loved and admired by all," she wrote, according to RTVE.
With his top hat, his mane, his imaginary violin, and the unmistakable "¡Chan, tatachán!", Tamariz turned illusionism into a recognizable show for millions of viewers. But behind that seemingly improvised character was also one of the great scholars of contemporary magic.
From a magic box to the world championship of card magic
Juan Manuel Tamariz-Martel Negrón was born in Madrid in 1942. His interest in illusionism began when he was only four years old, after attending a magician's performance. Shortly after, he asked for a magic game box and started practicing with family and friends.
At the age of twelve, he discovered the books of the illusionist Wenceslao Ciuró, which allowed him to delve into the technique and the psychological mechanisms involved in a show. As he explained in a interview published by the Madrid City Council, those readings were decisive in understanding that magic was not just about performing a trick.
His precocity opened the doors of the Spanish Society of Illusionism before he reached the minimum required age. He joined at 18, two years earlier than established, after convincing the institution's officials with his skills.
Tamariz studied Physical Sciences and was also interested in cinema, two fields that influenced his way of understanding the construction of a show. However, he ended up dedicating himself entirely to illusionism.
In 1972, he won the Grand Prize at the National Magic Congress. A year later came the recognition that definitively boosted his international career: the World Card Magic Prize, achieved during the World Magic Congress held in Paris.
The profile published by the Government of Spain highlights that, from then on, he presented his shows in cities such as Chicago, Tokyo, Paris, London, Bogotá, Cairo, New York, and Santiago de Chile.
The magician who entered every home
Although his professional prestige grew in international congresses, it was television that turned Juan Tamariz into a familiar character for several generations of Spaniards.
The RTVE archive preserves the pilot program of "Tiempo de magia", produced in 1975, in which he shared the screen with Julio Carabias. That participation anticipated a relationship with the small screen that would last for decades.
His appearance on "Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez" multiplied his popularity. Then came other shows like "Por arte de magia", "Magia Potagia", "Chantatachán" and the children's program "El recreo".
Against the traditional image of the solemn magician, Tamariz built a character that was approachable, overflowing, and apparently chaotic. His jokes, his constant conversation with the audience, and his way of celebrating each number ended up becoming an inseparable part of the show.
That staging, however, concealed a meticulous preparation and a deep understanding of the audience's attention. The ability to direct the gaze, anticipate the spectator's suspicions, and maintain the surprise explained much of the admiration he inspired among other professionals.
Books, teaching, and a school run by his daughter
Tamariz's contribution to magic went far beyond his television appearances. Throughout his career, he published books dedicated to the technique, theory, and presentation of illusionism.
Among his works are "La vía mágica", "Los cinco puntos mágicos", "Sonata" and "Sinfonía en mnemónica mayor", titles included in the bibliographic catalog of Todos Tus Libros.
His works addressed issues such as the relationship between the magician and the audience, the narrative construction of tricks, and the use of memory and psychology in card magic. This combination of reflection and spectacle helped to consolidate his prestige both inside and outside of Spain.
Part of his legacy continues in the Great School of Magic "Ana Tamariz", run by his daughter. Tamariz himself designed the training contents of the center, conceived to convey his way of understanding illusionism to new generations.
The school has included professionals such as Jorge Blass, Anthony Blake, Miguel Gómez, and Rafael Benatar. Its program combines the learning of tricks and techniques with subjects related to the history of magic, theory, and the psychology of the show.
Gold Medal of Fine Arts and recognition from Madrid
The recognition of Juan Tamariz's career also came from the institutions. In 2011, he received the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, awarded through a royal decree published in the Official State Bulletin.
Previously, in 2009, he had obtained the Honorary Award for Theory and Philosophy from the World Congress of Magic held in Beijing, a distinction linked to his work as a researcher and innovator of illusionism.
In 2019, his hometown also awarded him the Gold Medal of Madrid. The City Council of the capital then highlighted his contribution to the international dissemination of magic and his ability to combine creativity, humor, and research.
With his death, one of the most recognizable faces of Spanish television disappears, and an artist whose influence reached both the general public and several generations of illusionists.