A magician was found dead inside The Magic Castle private club in Los Angeles on Friday after he reportedly failed to appear for a scheduled performance.
Authorities arrived at the Hollywood landmark around 7:30 p.m. after an employee found the man’s body inside of a closet, TMZ reported.
The magician was identified Saturday morning as 61-year-old Daryl Easton, his representatives confirmed to The Huffington Post.
Police said the man had been performing at the club that’s dedicated to magic on and off over the past few decades. His cause of death is believed to have been suicide, NBC Los Angeles reported citing police.
Employees told the local news station that he died just before he was due to perform.
“His family will miss him more than he could ever have realized. Our hearts are breaking,” a statement posted on his Facebook page reads.
Easton was an award-winning illusionist who was known as “the magician’s magician,” according to his website.
In a statement posted to Facebook Saturday morning, The Magic Castle, which in addition to featuring a restaurant serves as the headquarters for the Academy of Magic Arts, expressed sadness following the tragedy.
The club, which is housed in a 1910-era Gothic Renaissance chateau, celebrated its 60th-anniversary last fall.
This story has been updated with more details, including the dead magician’s identity.