RIP Tony Binarelli

 

Tony Binarelli, the magician, died at the age of 81: he had been ill for some time Roma

Schronicles

by Clarida Salvatori and Barbara Visentin

July 12, 2022

 

The 1990s TV wizard passed away overnight at Rome’s Sandro Pertini hospital, where he was admitted to the emergency room a month ago. He had battled the disease for years

Tony Binarelli died at 3.20am last night at Rome’s Sandro Pertini Hospital. The TV magician was 81 and had long battled the disease. Binarelli, who had been undergoing oxygen therapy in home care for some time, was hospitalized on June 10 – after arriving in the emergency room – with severe cardiac and respiratory failure, leaving him with no way out. The news still didn’t appear on its official website as late as mid-morning.

Antonio Binarelli, as he is called at the registry office, was born on September 16, 1940 in the capital. Around the age of 30 he became interested in illusionism and card magic. And then to take part in TV shows, but success comes with Corrado and his Domenica. So much so that in the years that followed, after expanding the repertoire to include mentalism and paranormal phenomena and involving the public in his shows, he ventured into performing and designing magic programs.

Actor for Rai dramas, stunt double for several films, author of various prestigious books, also translated abroad, Binarelli was also a consultant for various theatrical productions and for the Sistina Theater in Rome. He was a familiar face on TV, his hands were even more familiar in the movies, he shuffled the cards very quickly and created incredible games, like in the famous Terence Hill poker game in They Keep Calling Him Trinit: It was Tony Binarelli on loan him his hands, protagonist of many programs from 1972 when he made his debut playing himself in two episodes of the drama Rai Serata al gatto nero.

Among the anecdotes related to his artistic activity, Binarelli had said on several occasions that he had also fascinated with his tricks Federico Fellini, with whom he had then worked in Delirium in Three Steps: the director wanted to meet him and was enchanted by his card games. He also acted as a stunt double in around fifty films: as Mister Contromani, he turned many actors into lightning-fast gamblers.

Over the years he had also devoted himself to educating younger colleagues and had won many international awards including three world championships in illusionism. In 1988 he founded and directed the specialist magazine Qui Magic. He was Territorial Vice President for Italy of IBM – International Brotherhood of Magicians and in 1995 he created the professional course and trophy of the same name Qui Magic, held for ten editions. His popularity earned him many awards in Italy and beyond. From 1991 to 1995 he was the only magician to conquer the Telegatto and was also awarded in Monte Carlo (1998) and Las Vegas (2000). In 2004 he organized the first Italian Magic Week at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.

In the poker game scene, in which Terence Hill shuffles the cards performing incredible virtuosity, the hands were actually those of the well-known magician Tony Binarelli, who "lent" his hands to the other players as well. In an interview Binarelli said "To make Trinita's and Wild Cat Hendriks' hands appear different (in reality they were always mine) they even made up my fingers. In this" hand of cards "I used all my tricks. flashy: I broke the deck with three fingers, I shuffled the cards with a very fast game, I opened the whole deck with just two fingers. The effect was exhilarating not only for the audience, but also for us in the crew: it took us three whole days to shoot that single sequence. In fact, the actors couldn't hold back their laughter "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m6yJQOUpIo&t=210s

 

BINARELLI, Tony (Antonio Binarelli)

Born: 9/16/1940, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Died: 7/12/2022, Rome, Lazio, Italy

 

Tony Binarelli’s westerns – SFX

Trinity is STILL My Name – 1971 [card tricks]

Alleluia and Sartana, Sons of God – 1972 [SFX]

The Genius - 1975