Juan Tamariz, one of the most influential figures in Spanish illusionism and card magic, died in Madrid at the age of 83 on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
His daughter, Ana Tamariz, announced his death in a message posted on social media, describing her father as an incredible person who was deeply loved and admired by all.
She expressed immense sadness at his passing and said she was deeply grateful for the love he gave his family and for the love of magic he shared with the world, adding that his memory and work would remain with them forever.
The family expressed gratitude to fellow magicians, friends and relatives who accompanied Tamariz until his final day, as well as the staff at the Ballesol residential home, the Clinico and Cruz Roja hospitals, and the ambulance services. Ana Tamariz did not state a specific cause of death.
Born in Madrid on October 18, 1942, Tamariz developed a passion for magic as a child. By the age of 18, he had already joined the Spanish Society of Illusionism (Sociedad Española de Ilusionismo).
Before committing to magic full-time, he studied Physical Sciences and later attended the Official Film School (Escuela Oficial de Cine), where he studied directing and stage production. That training in staging became central to his performance style. During his film studies, actress Carmen Maura appeared in one of his student directing projects titled El espíritu, marking one of her earliest screen roles. He also explored clowning and puppetry before focusing exclusively on illusionism.
Pioneering career on Spanish television
Television turned Tamariz into a household name across Spain. His first appearances on Spain's public broadcaster Televisión Española (TVE) took place in the late 1960s, with his television profile expanding throughout the 1970s.
In 1975, Tamariz recorded the pilot for Tiempo de magia alongside Julio Carabias, blending sleight of hand, pastimes and illusionism. The show highlighted what would become his trademark style of turning every trick into a complete narrative.
His major television breakthrough came on Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez, one of Spain's most popular game shows. He initially appeared in a comedic role as Don Estrecho, a member of the Los Tacañones panel, before returning to the program as a featured illusionist.
His high-energy performances, direct camera interaction, humor and ability to involve studio audiences established him as one of television's most recognizable figures. On the children's program El Recreo, alongside host Torrebruno, he introduced magic to younger viewers and popularized signature elements including his chan-ta-ta-chán phrase and his habit of playing an imaginary violin.
Tamariz later hosted and starred in magic-focused programs including Por arte de magia, Magia Potagia, and Telemadrid's Chan-tatachán, which featured guest performers such as Alaska and Pedro Reyes. He also appeared on formats such as Nada x aquí and made a notable 2024 appearance on TVE's La matemática del espejo with Carlos del Amor, where he reflected on magic as an art of provoking wonder rather than a mere technical demonstration.
International master of card magic
Beyond his television stardom, Tamariz was recognized within the global magic community as a master of contemporary card magic, known as cartomagia. In 1973, he won the First World Prize in Card Magic at the World Championship of Magic in Paris, cementing his international reputation.
He published influential theoretical works that became standard textbooks for illusionists worldwide, including Los cinco puntos mágicos, La vía mágica, Sonata, Sinfonía en mnemónica mayor, and Por arte de verbimagia. He also developed the Mnemonica system, a memorized deck structure that remains a primary reference tool in international card magic.
Teaching, radio work and prestigious honors
Teaching formed another major part of his career. Tamariz spent decades training new generations of performers through books, courses and a magic school operated alongside his daughter Ana, shaping many of Spain's leading contemporary magicians.
He also demonstrated that illusionism could work without visual media, collaborating between 2002 and 2007 on the popular radio show No somos nadie, hosted by Pablo Motos on M80 Radio.
Tamariz received numerous major honors during his lifetime, including Spain's Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts in 2011 and the Gold Medal of Madrid in 2019. In 2025, the London-based Magic Circle awarded him the David Devant Award in recognition of his international contribution to magic.
