Host of 'The Carbonaro Effect'

Michael Carbonaro | Biography 2021

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Update : July 13, 2021

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Michael Carbonaro is an American actor, magician, and comedian, famously known for his TruTV hidden camera magic show 'The Carbonaro Effect.'

Who is Michael Carbonaro?

Michael Carbonaro made frequent appearances as a magic clerk on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno between 2011 and 2014. Following his jaw-dropping illusions on the show, he got an opportunity to launch his own hidden-camera prank show, The Carbonaro Effect, in 2014. In the show, he performed mind-blowing illusions with matter-of-fact explanations making the unsuspecting public believe the unbelievable, simultaneously entertaining the audience. The show became so popular and continued for five seasons until it concluded in January 2020.

In addition to his hit magic show, Carbonaro had also appeared in several films, including Another Gay Movie (2006), which earned him the Outfest ‘Best Actor in a Feature Film’ award. He also appeared in television series like All My Children, CSI: Miami, Grey’s Anatomy, and Happily Divorced. 

Early Life and Education

Michael Carbonaro was born on 28 April 1976 in Oakdale, New York, United States, to an electrician father and a nurse mother. He started doing magic tricks from a young age and kept practicing them in his room. Growing up, he learned the ropes of magic by imitating his role model David Copperfield. “My goal was becoming the next David Copperfield. I learned how to be a performer by emulating him as a kid -- his formula of just talking to people onstage, being free to improvise, being charming and witty with a crowd, together with great, beautiful magic,” Carbonaro said to Newsday in May 2014.

Carbonaro eventually started performing live. His family also supported him in forwarding his career as his mother became his manager and booker while his father helped build props and fix the illusions. When he was a child, Carbonaro attended Tannen’s Magic Camp on Long Island. The people he met during the camp became his collaborator on his future hit show, The Carbonaro Effect.

While Carbonaro was still a high school student at Connetquot High School in Bohemia, New York, he started earning sufficient money as a performing magician. Carbonaro was able to pay his tuition for the graduation course B.A. degree in Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts. at New York University.

Movie Career

A drama graduate Carbonaro appeared in several films and television series. In 2003, he played the role of Mikey Falcone in Vincent Sassone’s romantic comedy film A Tale of Two Pizzas. In 2006, Carbonaro landed a breakout role as Andy in Todd Stephens’ romantic comedy film Another Gay Movie, which follows the story of four gay high school friends. Later, in 2011, he portrayed the role of Robbie Barkley in the black comedy film God Bless America. The following year, Carbonaro appeared as Kyle in the 2012 romantic comedy film Love or Whatever. In 2013, he played the role of Nolan in the horror-thriller comedy film The Trouble with Barry. 

Television Career

On television, he appeared as Drunk Groom in two episodes of ABC drama series All My Children and as Magician/Rookie Cop in five episodes of CBS soap opera, Guiding Light in 2006. Carbonaro also appeared in several other television series, including 30 Rock in 2009, CSI: Miami in 2010, Wizards of Waverly Place in 2011, and Grey’s Anatomy in 2012. Between 2011 and 2013, he appeared in two episodes of the romantic comedy television series Happily Divorced, portraying the role of Jeremy. Later, Carbonaro appeared as Sticky Jay in the action-crime comedy television series Rush Hour in 2016. He also portrayed Ricky Dekanter in the 2018 biographical T.V. movie A Tale of Two Coreys, based on the story of the rise and fall of two 1980s Hollywood teen stars, Corey Feldman and Corey Haim. In 2019, he made a cameo as The Amazing Carbonaro in the adventure-comedy television series Knight Squad. 

‘The Tonight Show’ to ‘The Carbonaro Effect’

The playful nature of the hidden-camera magician Alan Funt — a creator of a prank show called Candid Camera — inspired Carbonaro to become a magician like him. Carbonaro showcased similar kinds of magic acts for the show The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In one of the show episodes, he posed as a convenience store clerk doing unbelievable acts along with his seemingly convincing explanations in front of customers who were unaware that the clerk was a magician and they were being filmed.

Carbonaro made frequent appearances on Jay Leno’s late-night show as a magic clerk between 2011 and 2014. His outstanding illusions on the show ultimately begot him an opportunity to launch his hidden-camera prank show, The Carbonaro Effect. Carbonaro became the star and the executive producer of the show. The show premiered on TruTV on 15 May 2014, following the pilot episode on 1 April 2014. The show became so popular and ran for several seasons. The fifth season premiered on 7 November 2019 and concluded in January 2020. 

Tours

In addition to his television works, Carbonaro also showcased his mind-blowing live magic across the country. He had performed in hundreds of sold-out live theatrical tours. And he is expected to return with an upcoming live performance national tour called Carbonaro: Lies on Stage, scheduled to begin from 24 September 2021.

‘Live From Space’

Carbonaro organized an interactive live stream magic show called Live From Space between February and March 2021.

Awards and Recognitions

For his outstanding work in Another Gay Movie, Carbonaro won the Outfest ‘Best Actor in a Feature Film’ award in 2006. Later, in 2015, he was honored with the title ‘Magician of the Year’ by The Academy of Magical Arts. The following year, Carbonaro became the first-ever recipient of the Copperfield Prize, established by David Copperfield to honor individuals for their outstanding achievement in the art of magic.

Personal Life

Carbonaro found himself to be different since his childhood. However, due to the negative perception of gay in society, he was reluctant to admit himself as gay. In an interview with The Huffington Post in 2017, he said, “I’ve always known I’m gay. It wasn’t like I decided to be gay ― I was gay! I didn’t think I was ‘gay’ only because I had learned the word ‘gay’ was a bad word. ‘Gay’ was perverted, terrible, horrible, weird and I was like ‘Oh, I’m not that but I do like guys, so I must be something else.’ So for a while I couldn’t come to terms with that word.”

When he was barely six years old, he had a crush on Elliott — the lead character of the 1982 Sci-Fi film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial — but he did not tell anyone about it. 

Husband

Carbonaro has been together with actor Peter Stickles since 2005. After nearly a decade of relationship, Carbonaro married Stickles in 2014. “Married life is awesome. We’re really good for each other. We met in New York. We’ve been together 12 year,” Carbonaro shared about his post-marriage life with Orlando Sentinel in November 2017.