One of the primary jobs of a magician is to create wonder. And that’s what Roy does when he is first introduced to his audience. He says “You’re probably wondering if Roy Shank is my real name. It is. My father is American and my mother is Japanese. So I’m half caucasian and half asian which makes me... caucasian?”

Born in Sagamihara, Japan , just outside of Yokohama, Shank was transplanted in California after only a few years in Japan. In his early years in America, Roy grew up watching James Bond, Man From U.N.C.L.E. and The Wild Wild West. So he decided he wanted to be a secret agent. That goal was eventually changed to master magician. "I ended up being a magician which is pretty close to being a spy but without the danger. Not unlike 007, I have to be very secretive and I get to play with some fancy gadgets too."

When asked how he got started in magic, Roy explains that his dad showed him his first magic trick. “I was about ten or eleven years old and back then my dad use to smoke. I’m watching television and dad stands right in front of the TV with a burning cigarette in his hand. He takes a puff and blows smoke on the cigarette and it disappears! He then reached into thin air and made it reappear. He walked away not saying a word. From that moment on I was hooked. I started with menthols and quickly moved to unfiltered cigarettes.”

Roy is an award winning sleight of hand artist but it’s his use of grand illusion that makes him really shine. As one reviewer said, “Shank’s bright personality and unique presentation skills make him a super-nova among the many other shining stars.”