James Van Praagh

Psychic

James Van Praagh is the author of the best-selling books Talking to Heaven (1997) and Reaching to Heaven (1999). Van Praagh claims to be a "survival evidence medium" who can communicate with the spirits of the dead. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in broadcasting; later he moved to Los Angeles, worked in the legal department of Paramount Studios, and began to give paid readings as a psychic. Appearances on Oprah Winfrey and other talk shows increased his fame. In April of 2002 CBS aired a miniseries based on his writings, Living With the Dead, starring actor Ted Danson as Van Praagh. A TV series, Beyond With James Van Praagh, debuted in the fall of 2002.

Extra credit: According to a 1998 New York Post report, singer Cher hired Van Praagh to help her communicate with the spirit of the late Sonny Bono.

Van Praagh joins John Edward and Miss Cleo in our loop on TV Psychics.