Harry Lorayne

Harry Lorayne was an American memory expert, magician, and author, born in Manhattan on May 4, 1926. Best known for making memory training feel approachable and useful, he built a long career around showing people that names, facts, and lists could be remembered with the right methods.

He became widely known through television appearances, including many visits to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and through bestselling books such as The Memory Book. Alongside his memory work, he was also highly respected in the magic world, especially for close-up and card magic.

Lorayne died on April 7, 2023, at age 96. His work still stands out for its energy, clarity, and confidence: he didn’t just present memory as a rare talent, but as something ordinary people could strengthen and enjoy.