David Blaine Brother Michael James Bukalo and Family
David Blaine mom Patrice White raised the illusionist as a single mother. Patrice was a school teacher and worked two part-time jobs to support her son.
David was born as the son of Patrice and her first husband William Perez on April 4, 1973. The endurance artist was only four years old when his father abandoned the family, leaving his mother in extreme poverty.
Patrice White
Patrice White, also known as Maureen Patrice Bukalo, was a New Jersey resident of Russian Jewish heritage. She was born as the daughter of Martha and Irving Jacob White in New York on November 23, 1946.
Patrice was married twice during her life. Her first husband William Perez left the family when David was only four. To support herself and her son, Patrice worked as a school teacher in New York and held two additional jobs.
White eventually moved to New Jersey after marrying a bank personnel manager named John Bukalo in 1983. At the time, David was only nine years old. Likewise, Patrice had her second son Michael from her relationship with John.
When David was around 17 years old, Patrice was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She fought cancer for two years before passing away on January 23, 1995. She was only 48 years old at the time of her untimely demise.
Patrice's death in 1995 greatly impacted David's overall personality and his perception of life & death. Many of his fans believe that he lost the fear of death after witnessing his mother's struggle with cancer and her eventual passing.
William Perez
David Blaine father William Perez was a US Army officer who served during the Vietnam War. He served in the US Army for six years before joining the US Air Force as an aircraft mechanic.
Perez was born as the first child of Cesarina Run and William Perez Sr on April 11, 1944, in Puerto Rico. He inherited Italian and Puerto Rican heritage from his parents.
William suffered from PTSD following his six-year-long service in Vietnam. He eventually abandoned David and his mother when the illusionist was about four years old.
David's father passed away on September 28, 2021, in Jersey City, New Jersey. William was 77 years old at the time of his death.
