Marvyn Roy (Marvin Roy): The Magician Known as Mr. Electric

 Marvyn Roy (1925–2020), also known as Marvin Roy, was an American magician and illusionist famous for his Mr. Electric act. Performing alongside his wife and creative partner, Carol Roy, he turned ordinary light bulbs into the centerpiece of an international stage career. 

Born Marvin Levy on April 1, 1925, in Los Angeles, California, Roy developed an interest in magic as a child and earned recognition for his silk magic while still a teenager. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, participated in the Normandy campaign and received the Purple Heart after being wounded. Following his military service, he studied theater at UCLA. 

Roy’s signature act, Artistry in Light, featured light bulbs that appeared to illuminate without visible electrical connections. One memorable sequence involved producing a long string of glowing lights from his mouth. The familiar objects, striking visual effects and carefully staged presentation gave Mr. Electric a distinctive identity. 

Carol Williams, whom Roy married in 1956, became essential to that presentation. Billed as Mr. Electric & Carol, the duo performed around the world for decades. Carol contributed to the act’s choreography and design as well as its onstage performance. 

Their career included appearances at Radio City Music Hall, the London Palladium, the Lido de Paris and major Las Vegas showrooms. Television audiences saw them on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Hollywood Palace and The Tonight Show. They also toured with Liberace, presenting both their light bulb magic and their Diamond Illusionist act. 

The Academy of Magical Arts recognized Marvyn and Carol with its Performing Fellowship in 1974. Roy later received the Academy’s Masters Fellowship in 1998, honoring his achievements in magic. 

His autobiography, Mr. Electric Unplugged, published in 2005, preserved stories from his early performing years and his travels with Carol. Roy died on July 1, 2020, at age 95. His career remains a distinctive example of how a magician can build a memorable theatrical act around a single visual theme.