Them’s the breaks

Sometimes a bad break can turn out to be a good break.

Justin Willman was trying to pull off tricks before he became a magician. One ill-advised maneuver led to his career in prestidigitation, or magic tricks.

At 12 Willman broke both of his arms while on his bicycle. "I was riding my bike while also wearing Rollerblades," Willman said. "I guess I had a daredevil streak in me way back then. I fell off and broke both arms at the same time."

The orthopedic surgeon suggested sleight of hand with a deck of cards to help with Willman's movement.

"My doctor recommended card tricks to get my dexterity back, and thus a career was born," Willman said.

A generation later and Willman still is at it as an entertainer, who impresses with his comedic magic tricks.

The St. Louis native's favorite humorists launched their careers in the same manner. "I grew up idolizing Steve Martin and Johnny Carson," Willman said while calling from his Los Angeles home. "I learned that they both started as magicians. So magic had an immediate appeal as a gateway to a comedy career."

It's worked out for the creator and star of "Magic for Humans" on Netflix, which is in its third season. Willman, who has cracked wise on "The Tonight Show," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Conan," is more than a magician. Willman is cut from the same comedic cloth as venerable magicians Penn & Teller.

"They're the best at what they do," Willman said. "I idolized them as a kid. I still idolize them as an adult."

Willman has performed his magic on "Magic Meltdown" on YouTube, which became a web series for the Nerdist Channel.

"Getting the opportunity to make Magic Meltdown on the Nerdist was a huge win for me," Willman said. "If you watch closely, you'll see the makings of what became the 'Magic for Humans' template, which is in other words, exploring a human theme through the lens of magic."

Willman, who will appear in Iowa City where he will pull off an array of magic tricks, is also a game show host. Willman is the man behind the microphone with "Cupcake Wars,' 'King of Cones" and Disney's "Win, Lose or Draw."

The charismatic Willman makes hosting look easy. "I think being a magician makes you well suited to be a host," Willman said. "You get a lot of experience thinking on your toes and being funny on the spot."

There's a higher degree of pulling off magic tricks than hosting "Cupcake Wars," according to Willman. "Magic tricks is one of the hardest things in the world (to execute)," Willman said. "Essentially I'm telling you I'm going to fool you, and then I have to fool you. That's tough. The hardest thing about hosting 'Cupcake Wars' were the limited pastel shirt options."

However, Willman believes that comedy is more difficult than magic. "I think being funny is harder, and much more unreliable," Willman said.

Comedy and magic will be delivered by Willman when he performs at 7:30 p.m. April 13 at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City.

"I'm coming to Iowa planning to make a splash," Willman said. "Minds will be blown, expectations shattered and hopefully, if all goes well, your face will be very sore from laughing."

It wouldn't be surprising if Willman hoped for such a career while studying broadcast journalism at Emery College.

"Precisely," Willman said. "It was either this or being the funny-magic-weatherman on local TV in the Midwest somewhere. That would have been fun, I’m sure. And I’m not ruling it out as a fall back if this magic thing doesn't pan out."

Willman will stick with magic and there's no chance he'll take another stab at acting. Willman appeared in "The Gilmore Girls" and "The Defender."

"My roles were always brief," Willman said. "Fun, but brief. I don't think acting is my superpower. It took me awhile to realize that."

But Willman doesn't have to be Robert DeNiro to visit the White House. In 2014, the Obamas invited Willman to 1600 Presidential Ave. to perform.

"That was the peak moment of achievement, for sure," Willman said. "Nothing was more surreal than that. It's a memory I'll treasure forever."

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