Michael Ammar (born June 25, 1956) is one of America's best-known close-up magicians, and is famous within the worldwide magical community.

Ammar was born in Logan, West Virginia, and is the youngest of four children.


His interest in magic began when he read a comic book and noticed an advertisement which read "500 tricks for 25 cents!". Ammar sent his quarter and received a catalog. He began ordering tricks and practicing. Before long, he had a full
magic
show, complete with doves and a teenage assistant. The community, small as it was, supported him and booked him for local shows for schools and birthdays.
While in college at West
virginia University
, Ammar developed friendships with others involved in
magic
. He began to publish his ideas in the early 1980s, and performed for Johnny Carson, as well as at the
Magic
Castle.

In 1983, Ammar entered the FISM
magic
competition and was awarded the Gold Medal for Close-Up
Magic
. In doing so, he became the second American in the history of the competition to do so.
After winning at FISM, Ammar traveled west and became friends with the great Dai Vernon who became Ammar's mentor throughout the following years.


He has produced over forty video titles, also books and magazines
. In 1999 The
Magic
Magazine named him one of 100 most influential magicians of the century.

Michael Ammar was the 2008 special guest at Sorcerers Safari
Magic
Camp.