Family-Friendly' American Stage Hypnotist Dies in Balcony Fall While on Australian Tour

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Dave Urbanski

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. stage hypnotist Scott Lewis — whose website says he had "the longest-running family-friendly comedy hypnosis show in Las Vegas history" — has plunged to his death from the balcony of a Sydney apartment, Australian police said on Sunday.

Scott Lewis (Image source: VegasHypnotist website)

Lewis was in Sydney performing his hypnosis act along with six other performers in the show "The illusionists 2.0," which opened at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday last week.

A police spokeswoman said officers were called to an apartment building in downtown Pyrmont at 9:40 a.m. Saturday to find his body lying on a balcony.

Media reports said Lewis had fallen from an 11th floor balcony to the fourth floor. Lewis was staying with other performers at the building, which is a short drive from the opera house.

The spokeswoman, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing police policy, said investigators had ruled out any suspicious circumstances.

Police had yet to determine whether Lewis' fall was the result of "misadventure or self-harm," she said.

The Illusionists 2.0 co-producer Tim Lawson said the show would continue.

"The company is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Dr. Lewis," Lawson said in a statement. "The entire company has decided to continue the show in his honor, and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."

Sydney Opera House said in a statement that Lewis "was a wonderful performer and he will be greatly missed."

In addition to the stage, he's appeared on TV shows "The View," "Inside Edition," "Access Hollywood," "Fox News," "The O’Reilly Factor," "Mark Burnett’s The Casino," and many others.

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