Walk into a room where Bill Hunter is present, and something shifts. The air feels lighter, the mood brighter. Conversations pause, eyes turn, and smiles spread. Known fondly as “Magic Bill,” the 102-year-old Roscoe, IL resident doesn’t just light up a room—he captivates it. And once you learn who he is, it all makes sense. Because in Bill’s case, the magic is real. He was a professional magician for more than half a century, dazzling audiences across 42 states and 19 foreign countries.
Even now, Bill continues to enchant those around him—including the staff at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital in Madison, WI. Bill has been receiving care at the VA, including routine eye exams, for over 20 years.
Six years ago, he noticed changes in his vision. Under the care of retina specialist Dr. Kimberly Stepien and her team of ophthalmology residents, Bill was diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of vision loss for older adults. Neovascular AMD is a specific type of AMD, known as ‘wet’ AMD that affects central vision. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of the eye. These blood vessels leak, causing fluid to build up and damage the macula, the central part of the eye, responsible for sharp, central vision.
The most common treatment for wet AMD is an injection of a medicine called anti-VEGF into the eye. Bill receives these injections every six weeks.
“It is a privilege and a pleasure to take care of veterans like Bill Hunter,” said Dr. Stepien, who is a professor at the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. “Bill and many other veterans have vision-threatening eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, and the care we provide at the VA Eye Clinic allows them to keep seeing and doing the things they love.”
Bill agrees wholeheartedly. “Dr. Stepien has been there for every injection to make sure things go well. She’s marvelous. And the injections have definitely helped preserve the vision I have today.”
Bill’s mastery of faster-than-a-blink sleight-of-hand card tricks earned him international acclaim. His performances read like a Who’s Who of the rich and famous—astronauts, movie stars, and celebrities—all who became not just fans, but friends.
“Being a magician, I’ve met a lot of great people,” Bill said. “It’s been quite interesting.”
Bill was born in Lake Forest, IL, the son of a Scottish golf professional. In 1924, his family moved to Monroe, WI, where his father designed the city’s golf course. Tragically, Bill’s father died when Bill was just two years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his two older brothers through the hardships of the Great Depression and the turbulence of World War II.
In 1943, Bill joined the United States Naval Armed Guard, serving as a gun captain aboard three different merchant cargo ships and tankers in the South Pacific. The following year, he contracted malaria and spent several months in a US Navy hospital in Sydney, Australia. There, he met Steve Belloise, a top-ranked middleweight boxing champion with a curious side hobby—card tricks. Belloise taught Bill the art of sleight-of-hand, unknowingly setting him on a path that would define the rest of his life.
After leaving the Navy in 1945, Bill continued practicing magic, eventually turning his passion into a full-time career in the early 1960s. His big break came at the Indianapolis 500, the largest sporting event in the world. Amid the pageantry and excitement, Bill performed in VIP suites and driver parties, charming racing legends and sponsors alike. He became a fixture at the event for over five decades, earning the nickname “The Indy 500 Magician.”
Bill’s spirit remains unshaken. His eyes still sparkle with humor, joy, and—yes—magic. He makes every person feel like the center of his attention, and his visits are a delight to all who meet him.
“As eye care doctors at the VA, we are treated to working with this unique population and hearing some amazing life stories. Bill is one of our favorites,” Dr. Stepien said. “He has been known to do a few magic tricks for us and tell us about his wild life stories.”
That same sparkle and showmanship were on full display during his final official performance in February 2023. On his 100th birthday, he opened the show at Jeff Hobson’s theater in Palm Springs, CA.
Even after the curtain closed on his performing career, Bill continues to be surrounded by excellence—this time, in the form of compassionate and skilled eye care providers.
“Dr. Stepien and her team of residents are incredibly talented,” Bill said. “Madison is one of the best VAs in the country. I haven’t had a single bad experience.”
Bill Hunter is a testament to resilience, charm, and the enduring power of wonder. Whether on stage or in a clinic, he continues to inspire, reminding us all that a little magic can go a long way.