Piff the Magic Dragon, whose real name is John van der Put, is a magician and comedian from the United Kingdom. He gained popularity after competing on the reality TV show "America's Got Talent" in 2015. Piff's unique act combines magic tricks with comedy, as he performs in a dragon costume with his trusty sidekick, Mr. Piffles, a chihuahua. Piff's deadpan humor and witty remarks have endeared him to audiences worldwide. His performances often involve card tricks, illusions, and mind-reading, all infused with his signature dry and sardonic humor.

AGT's Piff the Magic Dragon talks illness that made him leave IT job for showbiz

Forget Adele, Sir Elton or Sir Rod - the UK's biggest headliner on the Las Vegas Strip in the last decade is a London comic and best friend, a dog called Mr. Piffles.

Piff The Magic Dragon has been pulling in crowds in his own room at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. And the star, famous in the USA thanks to America's Got Talent, is banking millions as the most successful Brit comic and magician ever in Sin City.

John van der Put has enjoyed seven years of playing close to 1,500 gigs as a Strip headliner since appearing on Simon Cowell's 10th season of NBC's America's Got Talent where he placed in the top 10. The entertainer loves being an "AGT loser", especially as he hit the jackpot in Las Vegas.

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.

His style is best described as a modern-day mix of the tomfoolery of iconic British magician Tommy Cooper, the comic deadpan genius of Jack Dee, and the quick-fire side-splitting joke-cracking of Jimmy Carr - without the really rude stuff. He is lauded in Vegas after close to 1500 shows and adored by magic icons Penn and Teller and David Copperfield.

Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, joker John, 42, admitted: "Las Vegas is perfect for dragons because it is in the desert and we are hotblooded and this is where we thrive. I came from England, whose patron saint George is famous for slaying dragons, so it's a terrible place to be if you are a lizard like me.

"Las Vegas is a Mecca for magic and it's great that I have gotten to do all these shows," he added. The theatre he works in was once the site of Donnie and Marie Osmond's show along with other famous names.

"I'm on the same stage as Wayne Newton, Elvis, and Tom Jones, who famously had women throw panties and room keys at him," He said, "And we actually tried to reinstate that. But we're on a budget, so we went to Walmart, got 38 pairs of men's boxer briefs, and offered them to anyone who could toss them at me. And it wasn't quite the same atmosphere as Tom. Honestly, I just prefer people just throwing cash at me. I want to instigate that. Marie's old dressing room includes a steam shower. Unfortunately Jade and I have yet to christen it."

Jade is not just his long-term partner, but also his stage assistant, alongside Mr Piffles, who is a rescue dog originally from Dundee, Scotland.

"I's a special kind of person who looks at an adult man in a dragon outfit and goes,' I'm on board,' He says of his partner, "Jade looks after being a showgirl and buying lots of chicken feathers and dying them yellow and takes care of the dog. And I look after the magic part and say horrific things to strangers. We recognize that we help each other out a lot. We're a great team."

The Forest Hill funnyman almost never made it to the bright lights of the entertainment capital of the world as he endured "dark times" during his twenties. A debilitating pancreas defect prompted him to rethink his life goals, studying drama at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

"I got a computer science degree and IT job, because I wanted to have a backup in case the magic didn't work out. But five nights a week I was hustling. But I got pains in my stomach and it got worse with me needing morphine for the pain over two years," Piff explained. Finally, doctors figured a key tube in his pancreas was missing, meaning the organ was digesting itself. The operation to fix it was like being in a car crash, with a 25% chance of dying. But Piff made it through and started hustling during the beginning of his comedy and magic career.

"At the start, I was taking it like Chris Rock. I wasn't wearing a dragon outfit, but in a regular suit doing magic and loved coming up with funny things," he said. One experience he recounted was: "At a small Croydon Italian restaurant I asked a table to see some magic. The guy scrapes his chair across the floor, he stands up and he says, 'My wife has just asked me for a divorce, so you really think I want to see some f***ing magic?' I said, 'No, 'cause I guess she's already made your half of the house disappear.' Hilarious, but I got kicked out immediately."

In 2008, John's life took a twist when he borrowed a dragon outfit from under his sister's bed for a costume party that was canceled. However, that moment of embarrassment inspired him to use the costume for his shows.

Another twist came when an Edinburgh Festival show chief asked him to involve her pet Chihuahua as an assistant. Audiences loved the comedy between the pair, which saw John adopt Mr Pibbles from a Dundee shelter. "He is a natural. He was unfazed by whatever we did, including firing him out a cannon," said Piff.

After support gigs for Penn and Teller and Mumford & Sons on their 2012 Tour of Two Halves and a role in a short-lived Vegas cabaret, America's Got Talent came calling in 2015. Stand-in judge Neil Patrick Harris sent him to the final with a golden buzzer. "I rang Jade and said: 'I think it's going to be okay. I think we've done it," he recounted.

After the show was over, The Flamingo offered him a few shows. As audiences flocked to Sin City. Piff's dates increased which led him to have the room named The Piff The Dragon Theater

AGT's Piff the Magic Dragon talks illness that made him leave IT job for showbiz

Forget Adele, Sir Elton or Sir Rod - the UK's biggest headliner on the Las Vegas Strip in the last decade is a London comic and best friend, a dog called Mr. Piffles.

Piff The Magic Dragon has been pulling in crowds in his own room at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. And the star, famous in the USA thanks to America's Got Talent, is banking millions as the most successful Brit comic and magician ever in Sin City.

John van der Put has enjoyed seven years of playing close to 1,500 gigs as a Strip headliner since appearing on Simon Cowell's 10th season of NBC's America's Got Talent where he placed in the top 10. The entertainer loves being an "AGT loser", especially as he hit the jackpot in Las Vegas.

His style is best described as a modern-day mix of the tomfoolery of iconic British magician Tommy Cooper, the comic deadpan genius of Jack Dee, and the quick-fire side-splitting joke-cracking of Jimmy Carr - without the really rude stuff. He is lauded in Vegas after close to 1500 shows and adored by magic icons Penn and Teller and David Copperfield.

Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, joker John, 42, admitted: "Las Vegas is perfect for dragons because it is in the desert and we are hotblooded and this is where we thrive. I came from England, whose patron saint George is famous for slaying dragons, so it's a terrible place to be if you are a lizard like me.

"Las Vegas is a Mecca for magic and it's great that I have gotten to do all these shows," he added. The theatre he works in was once the site of Donnie and Marie Osmond's show along with other famous names.

"I'm on the same stage as Wayne Newton, Elvis, and Tom Jones, who famously had women throw panties and room keys at him," He said, "And we actually tried to reinstate that. But we're on a budget, so we went to Walmart, got 38 pairs of men's boxer briefs, and offered them to anyone who could toss them at me. And it wasn't quite the same atmosphere as Tom. Honestly, I just prefer people just throwing cash at me. I want to instigate that. Marie's old dressing room includes a steam shower. Unfortunately Jade and I have yet to christen it."

Jade is not just his long-term partner, but also his stage assistant, alongside Mr Piffles, who is a rescue dog originally from Dundee, Scotland.

"I's a special kind of person who looks at an adult man in a dragon outfit and goes,' I'm on board,' He says of his partner, "Jade looks after being a showgirl and buying lots of chicken feathers and dying them yellow and takes care of the dog. And I look after the magic part and say horrific things to strangers. We recognize that we help each other out a lot. We're a great team."

The Forest Hill funnyman almost never made it to the bright lights of the entertainment capital of the world as he endured "dark times" during his twenties. A debilitating pancreas defect prompted him to rethink his life goals, studying drama at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

"I got a computer science degree and IT job, because I wanted to have a backup in case the magic didn't work out. But five nights a week I was hustling. But I got pains in my stomach and it got worse with me needing morphine for the pain over two years," Piff explained. Finally, doctors figured a key tube in his pancreas was missing, meaning the organ was digesting itself. The operation to fix it was like being in a car crash, with a 25% chance of dying. But Piff made it through and started hustling during the beginning of his comedy and magic career.

"At the start, I was taking it like Chris Rock. I wasn't wearing a dragon outfit, but in a regular suit doing magic and loved coming up with funny things," he said. One experience he recounted was: "At a small Croydon Italian restaurant I asked a table to see some magic. The guy scrapes his chair across the floor, he stands up and he says, 'My wife has just asked me for a divorce, so you really think I want to see some f***ing magic?' I said, 'No, 'cause I guess she's already made your half of the house disappear.' Hilarious, but I got kicked out immediately."

In 2008, John's life took a twist when he borrowed a dragon outfit from under his sister's bed for a costume party that was canceled. However, that moment of embarrassment inspired him to use the costume for his shows.

Another twist came when an Edinburgh Festival show chief asked him to involve her pet Chihuahua as an assistant. Audiences loved the comedy between the pair, which saw John adopt Mr Pibbles from a Dundee shelter. "He is a natural. He was unfazed by whatever we did, including firing him out a cannon," said Piff.

After support gigs for Penn and Teller and Mumford & Sons on their 2012 Tour of Two Halves and a role in a short-lived Vegas cabaret, America's Got Talent came calling in 2015. Stand-in judge Neil Patrick Harris sent him to the final with a golden buzzer. "I rang Jade and said: 'I think it's going to be okay. I think we've done it," he recounted.

After the show was over, The Flamingo offered him a few shows. As audiences flocked to Sin City. Piff's dates increased which led him to have the room named The Piff The Dragon Theater.

After the pandemic, he was the first Vegas star to return to a residency in the Flamingo main room in October 2020. And it seems he'll be there for a while. "We just re-signed for another three years to stay until 2026," he announced.

Piff says that his season's AGT judges Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, and Mel B have "all been fantastic." He thanks judge Howie Mandel, saying: "has been incredible to me, always saying if you want to talk about anything call me up." John hopes to find time off from his mega-money deal to go on a UK tour in the next couple of years.

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America's Got Talent

His performances often involve card tricks, illusions, and mind-reading, all infused with his signature dry and sardonic humor. Piff's onstage persona is that of a grumpy and jaded magician, which provides a stark contrast to the awe-inspiring magic he performs. During his run on "America's Got Talent," Piff impressed both the judges and viewers alike with his unconventional act.

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America's Got Talent

He made it to the finals of the show, captivating the audience with his hilarious and mind-boggling performances. Although he did not win the competition, Piff's appearance on the show helped him gain a substantial following. Following his success on "America's Got Talent," Piff embarked on a world tour, performing his unique brand of magic and comedy to sold-out shows around the globe. He has also appeared on various television shows, including "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" and "Piff the Magic Dragon Holiday Special." Piff has become a fan favorite in the magic community and regularly performs at The Flamingo in Las Vegas as part of his long-running residency show. His performances feature a mix of classic magic tricks and original routines that continue to entertain and astonish audiences. In addition to his stage performances, Piff has also released a variety of merchandise, including his autobiography, "Piff's Guide to the World of Magic," and a Magic Kit for aspiring magicians. He has also appeared as a guest on numerous podcasts and radio shows, further cementing his reputation as a popular and talented entertainer. Overall, Piff the Magic Dragon has carved a niche for himself in the entertainment industry with his unique blend of magic and comedy. With his deadpan delivery, memorable dragon persona, and astonishing tricks, Piff continues to captivate audiences and leave them wanting more..

Reviews for "The Extravagant Style of Piff the Magic Dragon: How His Costume Became an Iconic Symbol on AGT"

- Jane Doe - ★★☆☆☆

I was really looking forward to seeing Agt piff the magic dragon, but I was quite disappointed. While his magic tricks were impressive at times, I found his comedy to be lacking. His jokes felt forced and awkward, and I didn't find myself laughing as much as I had hoped. Additionally, his stage presence was underwhelming, and I didn't feel a strong connection with him as a performer. Overall, I wouldn't recommend seeing Agt piff the magic dragon if you're looking for a stand-up comedy experience.

- John Smith - ★☆☆☆☆

I have to say that Agt piff the magic dragon's performance was one of the most boring shows I've ever seen. His magic tricks were predictable and unimpressive, and his attempts at humor fell completely flat. The show lacked energy and excitement, and I was left feeling bored and uninterested. I regret spending my money on this show and would advise others to choose a different entertainer.

- Sarah Thompson - ★★☆☆☆

I had high expectations for Agt piff the magic dragon's show, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. While his magic tricks were decent, they lacked that wow factor that I was hoping for. The comedy aspect was even more disappointing. His jokes were stale and predictable, and I didn't find myself laughing much throughout the performance. Overall, it was an okay show, but I expected more from Agt piff the magic dragon.

- Mark Johnson - ★☆☆☆☆

I found Agt piff the magic dragon's show to be incredibly underwhelming. The tricks were average, and the comedy was just not funny. The whole act felt too rehearsed and robotic, lacking spontaneity and genuine entertainment value. It felt like I had seen it all before from other magicians. I was definitely not impressed, and I wouldn't recommend wasting your time and money on this show.

Breaking Down Piff the Magic Dragon's Top Five AGT Performances