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Coe Norton

Coe Norton (1912-1998) was an actor, magician and teacher. With his wife, actress Laura Lee (d. June 23, 2001), he enjoyed a long and successful international career.

Biography
Early Life

Coe took up acting and stagecraft at a young age. He started in magic at age nine, learning from his father, and a Mysto Magic Set. After high school, Coe left his home in Tacoma, Washington to become a merchant sailor in the Orient. Upon returning home, he entered Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) where he received the degree of AB in drama. Having moved to Hawaii for his health, Coe witnessed the Pearl Harbor attack. He served in the Navy during World War II, on a Destroyer in the Pacific, and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Hollywood

After the war, Coe went to Hollywood. He worked with the prestigious Actors Laboratory, among other roles he played the leads in Peer Gynt, and Angel Street. The "red scare" eventually closed the school. While in the original cast of Lend Me An Ear, the star, Carol Channing, persuaded him to accept a teaching position at Bennington College, in Bennington, Vermont. Coe taught acting there for three years.

New York

In 1951, Coe moved to New York to pursue his acting career. He did a three year stint on the soap opera, Search for Tomorrow, which launched Coe's television career. In addition to being a TV soap opera regular on Search (and Love of Life, Secret Storm, and others), he had ongoing roles on U.S. Steel Hour, Omnibus, Naked City, Harbormaster, True Story, and so on. Coe eventually made over 400 appearances on national network television, 70 national television commercials, and numerous industrial films. He was also on Broadway, in The Andersonville Trial, The Tattooed Countess, repretory at Lincoln Center, and a number of seasons of summer stock.

Mandrake

Norton starred in the 1954 Mandrake the Magician TV series, with Woody Strode and Lisa Howard. The pilot was not very good, and it never made it to a series. Coe kept the props, books, and tailcoat from the show, and became interested in magic again. Returning to New York, he was cast several times as a magician in teleplays; and created national commercials with magic for Viceroy, Thumbelina Dolls, Nestle's Chocolate, and Cricket Lighters. Coe also pioneered the use of magic in sales and business presentations.

Working with magician Jimmy Reneaux, and others, Coe realized the possibility of an actor who could also do magic. His boyhood magic hobby became the main direction of his career. He became quite successful as a magician, and lecturer to magic clubs. Coe became President of the Magician's Guild.

Laura Lee

During the 1958 a tour of Auntie Mame, Coe met his future bride, the successful actress Laura Lee Green. They were married in 1962, and became one of the worlds top performing couples. Coe once again took to the sea, and he and Laura Lee toured the world on luxury cruise ships. They made over 240 cruises, visiting 148 ports internationally.

Later Years

In the late 1980s, the Nortons retired to Columbia, South Carolina, to be near Laura Lee's grandchildren. Both continued to do magic and act in plays, and television projects.

The Nortons were known for their engaging personalities, a joyous affection for their work, for each other, and for the audience. Their performances were always original, fast-paced, and technically flawless.

Legacy

Coe enjoyed the friendship of all the world's great magicians, with high honors and praise for his performances and lectures. He was considered a world-class authority on magic performance, and his essay, Acting and Showmanship in Magic is considered one of the definitive works on the subject.

Coe's publicity photo can be seen at the Conjuring Arts exhibit The Many Faces of Magic.

Online References

Marketed Effects

 * The Omega Wallet