Copperfield's career in television began in earnest when he was discovered by Joseph Cates, a producer of Broadway shows and television appearances. Copperfield played the character "Ken the Troll" in the 1980 horror film Terror Train. He has also made an uncredited appearance in the 1994 film Pret-a-Porter.
Copperfield owns the International Museum and Library Magic Arts, which houses the largest collection of historically significant magic memorabilia, books and articles. He was pulled from the water after 1 minute 20 seconds, hyperventilation and shock and taken to a Burbank hospital and found to have pulled the tendons in the arms and legs.
