Eric Thompson has been delighting and entertaining audiences since the early 1980’s with his unique style of comedy, magic, and illusions. Eric is an accomplished comedic magician, a veteran of hundreds of venues including comedy clubs, theaters, college campuses and corporate events. His distinctive variety of humor, his individual flair and his cleverly adept ability to amaze has brought rave reviews from audiences and media alike.

While traveling abroad many years ago, Eric Thompson recognized that many families, especially those with children, lacked necessities that we often take for granted in the United States. Hearing about the impoverished nations and seeing the suffering are two different perspectives.

The seed was planted when Eric thought about the people he saw who were lacking consistently clean water, basic nutritional needs, and access to any medical treatment, schools, and jobs. He continued to search for a way he could help when a long-time friend approached him and offered a seat on a plane heading to meet up with a missionary group in Latin America. Eric jumped at the chance and the group decided the best way to use Eric’s skills as an entertainer would be to organize shows in each of the many villages they would visit. The news of a professional American entertainer coming to perform for them brought out large crowds and anticipation in every village they visited.

The children fell in love with his humor and magic tricks. In many villages, he quickly became known as “Senor Mago Loco,” translated that’s Mr. Crazy Magician. The children would see his show at their school during the day and bring their entire family to the village center or a large church for a second show that evening. It was here that Eric had the opportunity to meet and talk at length with many of the people. He learned of their plight and how they worked to combat the problems associated with poverty and hunger.

These people touched Eric in a way that no one else could. Having shared their homes, food, and fellowship, Eric knew what he would do to help. Upon returning to the United States, he began a campaign to raise money. The money would buy not just a handout for his new friends in Latin America, but an opportunity to grow their food. They could be able to sell or trade the extras at the market.

Eric quickly decided that this would become an obsession, and he named his program MILLION MILES MILLION SMILES. He made his promise to the world to visit as many remote and distressed destinations where people were void of joy and hope. Bringing his ability for magic and comedy performance, Eric helps them learn to laugh and forget their problems, even if just for a little while. At many of his MILLION MILES MILLION SMILES destinations, he tries to arrange a donation of food for the families in his audiences to take home.