
Tommy Wonder
(Lisse, Holland: 29th November 1953 - 26th June 2006)
Real name was Joseph Bemelman. Inspired seeing a magician on TV at age 4. Learned magic at 10. Pro close-up and stage magician since age 18. Aka "Julian" (1973), "Jos Bema" (1973-78), and "Tommy Wonder" (since 1979). Died of lung cancer.
1972 Junior Magician of Holland; 1979 FISM 2nd prize in close-up; 1988 FISM 2nd prize in general magic.
Invented a version of Diminishing Cards (c1972) and Floating Cage (1987). Wrote two lecture-note booklets: Original Magic from Holland (1977) and Wonder Material (1982); plus The Books of Wonder (1996, 2 vols with Stephen Minch). See also Gene Matsuura, Tommy Wonder Entertains (1983).
Coauthors: Troels Holm, Chris Wasshuber