James Randi, the magician who escaped from jail cells, underwater coffins and straitjackets before becoming a scientific skeptic bent on debunking those who peddle in the paranormal and supernatural, has died.
He was 92. Randi died Tuesday "due to age-related causes," according to a post on the James Randi Educational Foundation website.
In a Twitter post, Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller called Randi "our inspiration, mentor and dear friend." He appeared on occasion on the duo's Showtime doc series Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
In 1956, The Amazing Randi appeared live on the Today show, surviving for 104 minutes in a sealed metal coffin submerged in a swimming pool to better a record held by Harry Houdini.
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