Criss Angel is one of the most recognizable and awarded illusionists in the world. His Las Vegas Strip show “Criss Angel Mindfreak Live” at the Luxor will close out a decade-long run later this year and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last summer.

But Angel’s most recent accolade may have been his greatest yet. Earlier this month in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the International Brotherhood of Magicians presented Angel with the Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor bestowed upon only five other performers in the magical organization’s long history and only two other “commercial” magicians: Siegfried & Roy.

“It’s the most respected magic organization in the world and the largest one and it’s been around almost 100 years. This is essentially the highest achievement in the magical arts,” Angel says. “I’m the sixth person and also the youngest person to receive it. And everyone on the [organization’s] board has to vote unanimously, which is why it’s so difficult to get. One person votes no and it doesn’t go. It’s pretty mind-blowing.”

Angel had to accept the award and give a speech via FaceTime since he was in Las Vegas doing his traditional two shows a night at Luxor. The award was presented by Michael Finney, IBM international president, and Lance Burton, another Vegas magic legend.

Link to Full Article at Las Vegas Sun.