Hollywood’s Magic Castle is one of the most famous magic clubs in the world; an invitation-only nightspot for dedicated practitioners and fans to watch shows and ply their trade. According to The Hollywood Reporter, though, the club’s normal tricks-and-patter routine was disrupted earlier tonight, when a dead body was found in a closet at the club.
The LAPD was quickly called to the scene, and the death—reportedly of a magician, although no identifying details have been revealed—is apparently being investigated as a suicide.
The Magic Castle has been a frequent shooting location for a number of magic-inclined projects; most recently, Judd Apatow’s Love filmed an episode there that aired last year. It’s also served as a performance venue for any number of celebrity hobbyists, including Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Alexander, and Johnny Carson.
UPDATE: Variety is now identifying the dead body as magician Daryl Easton. A long-time member of the Castle, Easton specialized in card tricks, close-up and parlor magic; you can see some of his tricks below.