Criss Angel’s Toddler Son Battling Cancer, Magician Cancels Shows to Be With Him in Australia

Criss Angel has revealed the very personal reason for his sudden disappearing act.

The Las Vegas-based illusionist is going to Australia to be with his nearly 2-year-old son, Johnny Crisstopher Sarantakos, who has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

Angel (whose real name is Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos) had posted on social media Thursday that, in light of a “family emergency,” he was postponing some news he’d planned to announce.

Meanwhile, the Luxor confirmed that he has canceled his shows through Nov. 1, the first time he’s missed any dates of his nearly 3,000-performance run at the hotel.

“For many years, Criss has championed and raised money for various children’s charities here in Las Vegas, but he never thought it would hit this close to home,” a Cirque du Soleil colleague told the Vegas paper. “This is a very personal family crisis.”

Since the news broke, Angel has posted a pic of himself holding his little boy (the first time the 47-year-old Believe star has confirmed that he’s a dad) and tweeted, “Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. Criss.”