Honoring Tom Silver
The Legendary Hypnotist Taught Me Some Important Lessons
The world of hypnotism has lost a giant. My friend—and a legend in the entertainment hypnosis profession—Tom Silver has passed away. It’s hard to sum up a life and career as expansive as Tom’s, but for those of us lucky enough to know him, we remember not just what he did, but how he did it—with fearless creativity, relentless drive, and a generous heart.
The Outlier Who Changed the Game
Tom wasn’t just a stage hypnotist. He was a trailblazer—someone who didn’t walk the path; he cleared a new one entirely. Early in his career, Tom told me how he found hypnotism almost by accident, working behind the scenes as a camera operator for gigs before stepping into the spotlight. His brother got him his first shot, and Tom instantly knew: “This is me. This is what I’m supposed to do.”
But he also made it clear from the beginning that he wouldn’t do it like everyone else. “I’m gonna think different. I’m gonna be out of the box,” he said. “I’m gonna take hypnosis to the outer limits.” That mindset carried him through decades of bold, groundbreaking work that few others dared to attempt.
TV’s Favorite Hypnotist
Tom earned the nickname “TV’s Favorite Hypnotist” for good reason. He made more television appearances than any other entertainment hypnotist I know. He appeared on The Montel Williams Show, The Doctors, Dr. Phil, and even Jimmy Kimmel Live, showcasing his rapid induction techniques and mind mastery skills to millions. He was a featured expert on National Geographic and Discovery Channel specials, bringing credibility and curiosity to the art of hypnosis on a global stage.
Tom didn’t just appear on TV—he used it as a platform to elevate public understanding of hypnosis. He demystified it, challenged misconceptions, and showed the world that hypnotism could be both powerful and practical.
A Risk-Taker Who Relished the Unknown
When Tom was a guest on my podcast, he said something that stuck with me:
“You gotta get out there, man, into the uncharted territories. Where the tsunamis are, where the undercurrent is… where you have a high percentage of not being successful. And we can call that failure, but you gotta get out there into the undoable stuff.”
That wasn’t just talk. That was how Tom lived his life. He constantly pushed boundaries—whether developing new methods, launching his Hypnosis Science Institute, or pioneering forensic hypnosis techniques that have been used in courtrooms. He saw the profession as a limitless frontier, and he leaned into the uncertainty with joy, curiosity, and resilience.
Perhaps the best example of this, for entertainment hypnotists like me, was his NBA halftime shows. Tom performed 8 minute hypnosis shows during halftime for most of the NBA teams.
Yes, you read that correctly. EIGHT MINUTE SHOWS. Tom devised a method for getting volunteers from an audience of people who thought they just came to see a basketball game, getting them hypnotized, and putting on a thrilling show in just eight minutes.
When he first told me about it, I thought he was crazy. Then he walked me through his process using old video footage, and I realized how brilliant he was. I would never have thought to even pitch that idea to a professional sports team. Tom pitched it, got it approved, and then did it over and over. (Oh, and he got paid a full show fee, too.)
A Quiet Worker in a Loud World
Tom wasn’t the type to chase likes or build a personal brand. He rarely showed up at conferences. He didn’t spend hours cultivating a polished online persona. Instead, he did the real work. He trained hypnotists in both entertainment and therapeutic practices. He produced results. He helped people.
Because of that, there are people in our profession today who don’t know his name. And yet, I can tell you: Tom Silver was the real deal. No shortcuts. No hype. Just a body of work and a way of being that commanded respect.
A few months before he passed, we caught up during a live Facebook call. We laughed a lot—Tom always made me laugh—but he also shared something poignant. He’d recently attended the Performance Hypnosis Summit in Las Vegas and had rich, heartfelt conversations with newer hypnotists. He was struck by how many of them wanted big careers but weren’t truly prepared to do the work.
He didn’t say this with judgment—there was sadness in his voice. Tom knew the magic that came from building a life in this profession. Traveling the world, meeting fascinating people, impacting lives. He wanted that for others, but he also knew it doesn’t come without effort.
I said to him in that conversation,
“Tom, you’re sort of a dinosaur—and I say that with love and respect. People with your drive and determination are rare. People who are willing to take the kind of risks you took, over and over again, are even more rare.”
He laughed and said maybe, but to him, it wasn’t about being special. It was just doing what needed to be done. That was Tom—humble, honest, and generous with his time and knowledge.
His Legacy Lives On
Tom Silver changed this profession for the better. He showed us what it looks like to truly commit to your craft, to stay curious, and to never be afraid of doing things differently. For those of us lucky enough to have known him, we carry that inspiration forward.
Rest in peace, Tom. Thank you for your friendship, your fearless example, and the light you shined on so many stages—and in so many lives.