• 1911-1988
• Real Name: John Ball
• Birthday: July 8
• Birthplace: United States
• Buried: ?

John Ball was an American author most noted for his 1965 novel, In the Heat of the Night, featuring detective Virgil Tibbs. The novel was made into an Oscar-winning film of the same name.

To help finance his Carrollton College education, Ball performed magic as "Howduzi" and "Jacques Morintell".

A man with wide interests, Ball was also a martial arts-trained Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy and a nudist. Hopefully, not at the same time.

Credit: This biography originated on MagicTricks.com. Please credit this source if you use this information.