Magician, Illusionist. For more than 30 years Avadon was known as America’s “premier exhibition pickpocket”. He began practicing magic as a hobby while in elementary school and later studied theater at UCLA. In his 20s he changed his last name from Hutchins to Avadon and began appearing as a professional illusionist at clubs in Hollywood and went on to become a featured performer at the Magic Castle for more than 30 years. He gained national attention in 1977 when he began working with a rabbi at a synagogue in the San Fernando Valley. The rabbi saw Avadon performing for children outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and was so impressed that he asked the magician to team up with him to present Sabbath services. While the rabbi told a Biblical story, Avadon contributed visual aids and illusions from center stage. Attendance at the services rose from the usual 150 or 200 worshipers to crowds of 750, including many children, when Avadon began participating. In addition to his stage act, which he performed all around the world billed as the ‘Desperado of Deceit’, he educated police officers and security guards on techniques for spotting pickpockets and lectured on the topic. He was also a technical advisor on pickpocketing for television and motion pictures and wrote the book, “Cutting Up Touches: A Brief History of Pockets and the People Who Pick Them.”. He died from a heart attack while exercising at a fitness club.  (bio by: Louis M.)