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James Van Praagh biography

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James Van Praagh has worked as a psychic medium and popular media figure, and is also the bestselling author of the book Talking to Heaven.

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Synopsis

Born on August 23, 1958, in Bayside, New York, James Van Praagh would speak of being able to see spiritual energy as a child and established himself as a psychic medium. He authored the 1997 book Talking to Heaven, a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, and has appeared on a slew of programs, including The View and Larry King Live. Van Praagh has also produced series like The Ghost Whisperer.

Supernatural Career

Psychic and author James Van Praagh was born on August 23, 1958, in Bayside, New York. The youngest of four children reared in a Catholic household, Van Praagh served as an altar boy and was fascinated by death from a young age. After graduating from San Francisco State University, Van Praagh moved to Los Angeles where he worked in the legal department of Paramount Studios. Claiming to be a medium, he began giving paid psychic readings and published two best-selling books, Talking to Heaven (1997) and Reaching to Heaven (1999).

The popularity of his books combined with his celebrity clientele and appearances on Oprah, Larry King and other talk shows have made Van Praagh something of a celebrity himself. In 2002, CBS aired a miniseries based on his writings, Living With the Dead, starring actor Ted Danson. A short-lived TV talk show, Beyond With James Van Praagh, also debuted that year. In 2005, Van Praagh was co-executive producer for the CBS primetime series The Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt.

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