Milt Larsen, a co-founder of Hollywood’s exclusive Magic Castle clubhouse that has counted numerous celebrities among its performers and guests, has died at 92.
A cause of death was not released in a short tribute shared Monday on the Magic Castle’s Facebook page.
“Thank you for all the magic and love you have provided for us over the years,” the post reads. “You will be truly missed. We love you, Milt.”
Larsen, who was a magician himself, created the Magic Castle in 1963 with his brother, Bill Larsen, and Irene Larsen, who married Bill soon after the launch. For decades, the private club has offered food, drinks and magic show performances for members and guests of the Academy of Magical Arts, which the Larsen trio also founded.
Located atop a hill in Los Angeles, the sprawling Magic Castle has hosted performances over the years by Johnny Carson, Orson Wells and Neil Patrick Harris, the latter of whom previously served as the president of the club’s board of directors.
“It is an interesting thing because it’s a private club, so you can’t just go knock at the door and go in,” Harris told the Daily News in 2020 while speaking about a documentary, “M is for Magic,” exploring the castle’s history and significance.
Larsen — who died Sunday in Los Angeles, according to Variety — also worked as a writer for the game show “Truth or Consequences,” hosted by Bob Barker.
He was the last survivor among the Magic Castle co-founders. Bill Larsen died in 1993 at 64 and Irene Larsen died in 2016 at 79.