The Spanish Prisoner, David Mamet’s 1998 film, remains one of my favourites. The movie has a stellar cast that includes Campbell Scott, Steve Martin, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ben Gazzara, Felicity Huffman and Ricky Jay.

Ricky Jay died on Saturday, at the age of 72. The Spanish Prisoner was my first exposure to him, so I knew him as an actor before I knew him as a magician. That was corrected in 2002 when, at the insistence of my friend Dave, we took in his show in New York City.

I was a true fan. He will be missed.