| Biography | Topper Martyn was born Victor Martyn in England, who lived most of his life in Sweden. He had a popular comedy magic, juggling and ice skating act which he presented throughout Europe. He first billed himself as V.C. Martyn, the Eton Topper.
Martyn was the son of a well known Australian juggling act Martyn and Florence and the brother of juggler, Decima Martyn.
He claimed to have been the first juggler to adapt his act for ice shows and he played many throughout the UK during the forties and fifties. He was also a supporting act on the Stoll and Moss Empires circuit for more than thirty years and worked with many of the great variety stars of the period. When variety declined in the UK during the sixties, Topper began working abroad in cabaret, circuses and cruise liners. He eventually moved to Sweden where he met and married Ingalil Fridh. During the summer months he played many of the big outdoor park shows there. He also appeared numerous times on Swedish TV.
A member of the Magic Circle for many years, he received numerous magic awards during his career including Act of the Year from the Academy of Magic Arts. He wrote about magic for several publications and was the subject of a book, Toppers Mad, Mad, Magic by Gene Anderson. |