James Van Praagh Biography
James Van Praagh is an author, producer, and television personality from the United States who describes himself as a clairvoyant and spiritual medium. He also hosted Beyond with James Van Praagh, a short-lived paranormal talk show.
How old is James Van Praagh? – Age
He is 64 years old as of 23 August 2022. He was born in 1958 in Bayside, New York, United States.
James Van Praagh Family – Education
Van Praagh is the youngest of four children born in Bayside, New York. He claimed that he has witnessed spiritual phenomena since he was eight years old, including one instance when, while praying to God, a glowing open hand appeared through his ceiling, an experience he described as peaceful. He was raised as a Roman Catholic, was an altar boy, and attended pre-seminary at the age of 14. His mother, Jeanne, died in 1985, but Van Praagh claims she still visits and guides him on a regular basis. He received his bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University.
James Van Praagh Wife
Van Praagh has been married to his partner since 1995.
James Van Praagh Net Worth
He has an estimated net worth of $5 Million.
James Van Praagh Ghost Whisperer
Van Praagh was a co-executive producer on Jennifer Love Hewitt’s CBS show Ghost Whisperer. Though Van Praagh’s work and experiences influenced the teleplay, Ghost Whisperer was inspired by psychic Mary Ann Wynchowski, whom Van Praagh met while filming Beyond with James Van Praagh in 2002. Ghost Whisperer aired on CBS for five seasons, from September 23, 2005, to May 21, 2010.
James Praagh Talking with the Dead
On October 24, 2004, CBS aired Talking with the Dead (also known as The Dead Will Tell), a thriller based on Van Praagh’s experiences and directed by Stephen Kay. Anne Heche produced and starred as Emily Parkes, a woman who receives an antique engagement ring from her fiancé and begins to see visions of the ring’s murdered previous owner. Eva Longoria, Christopher Guest, and Chris Sarandon also appeared in the made-for-TV film.
James Praagh Lawsuit
On January 22, 2013, Van Praagh filed a lawsuit in federal district court in New York against his psychic sister Lynn Gratton. Van Praagh has a trademark on his name and claimed Lynn infringed on it by beginning to use her maiden name Van Praagh to financially benefit from his name, despite the fact that Lynn took her (now deceased) husband’s surname more than 50 years ago, on August 28, 1970.
James Praagh Books
Van Praagh has written a number of books that have been translated and sold in multiple languages. His book Talking to Heaven, which recounts stories about his contact with the deceased, topped the New York Times Best Seller List for several weeks in 1999. In 2008, he published Ghosts Among Us, a book that delves into ghosts and the spirit world. Growing Up in Heaven: The Eternal Connection Between Parent and Child, his 2011 book, depicts in detail what he claims happens to children’s souls after they die.
Praagh began his career by allegedly communicating with the spirits of deceased friends and relatives to give private readings for clients, and quickly advanced to a wider audience through the sale and distribution of a series of audiotapes and books. He began appearing on the NBC paranormal talk show The Other Side (broadcast 1994-1995), where he became a resident expert, in the early 1990s. Van Praagh attributes his worldwide exposure to an appearance on Larry King Live in 1997 to promote his new book Talking to Heaven.
