Las Vegas Weekly

December 20, 2008 · 5:55 AM

Morning Call Photo Gallery: Criss and Holly celebrate their birthdays

By Robin Leach

Holly Madison and Criss Angel celebrate their birthdays at LAX.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

It was a long night and early morning of double celebrations for lovebirds and birthday couple Criss Angel and Holly Madison -- and Vegas DeLuxe was with them for all of it. Criss is celebrating his 41st birthday, and Holly will be 29 on Tuesday. By 1:30 this morning, they’d received three birthday cakes in a nonstop celebration the moment the curtain came down on Believe’s 108th performance at 8:30 p.m. yesterday at the Luxor.

Criss even showered the jam-packed crowd at LAX in the Luxor early today by throwing out multiple denominations of greenbacks so they could share in the birthday happiness.

The special party night began, though, in the Believe Cirque du Soleil theater. As Criss was applauded by the audience -- even before performing his final illusion of the show -- steady gal pal Holly Madison of The Girls Next Door and showgirls from the cabaret revue Fantasy there jumped the finale and rushed the stage for a surprise birthday presentation. Luxor President Felix Rappaport escorted his daughter and Criss’s mom, while an amazing “magic” cake carved from sugar playing cards and Believe illusions was rolled onto the stage.

Said Criss: “I never expected this. I guessed something might be up, but not this. It’s such a beautiful cake. I have such a wonderful family and unbelievable cast who support me. It’s sad that my father isn’t with us anymore to join us on this incredible night, but it’s so good that my mother and Holly are with me here. I especially thank Felix Rappaport; he really believed in me. If it wasn’t for him and sharing my vision, there would be no show.”

Then he remembered he had one more illusion to perform in the production rundown, and he shooed everybody off stage so he and his cast could complete the show.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Holly Madison and Criss Angel at LAX.

The second cake of the night was rolled on stage after show No. 109 ended at 10:30 p.m., and then he and Holly prepared for their big bash at nearby LAX. They arrived at 12:30 a.m. and were mobbed and cheered on by the frenzied crowd who were delighted that Holly now had best girlfriend and The Girls Next Door cast mate Bridget Marquardt in the VIP group. Within minutes, a sexy squad of servers with sparklers carried in the third cake of the night!

It was tough to keep the inseparable, lip-locked twosome apart long enough to chat with me. They are simply “over the moon” with each other.

“We’ve become soul mates. It’s the most incredible and beautiful feeling, but I loved him from the very first moment -- before we even really got together. I just knew it was meant to be, and we’re hopelessly in love,” Holly told me.

Criss added: “ It really was meant to be. I don’t believe in fate, but I do believe you can make it happen -- and that’s what happened to us. We found a book of celebrities and their pets. The photos were taken way before we even met, and you know what? Our pictures are on the same facing page. What does that tell you?”

Photo: TVT

Holly Madison, Criss Angel and Mom.

Holly told me that when they retired back to their suite at 4 a.m., she was giving him his birthday gift: a valuable lithograph of his favorite artist Salvador Dali. I had to push Criss away so her surprise would remain secret without being spoiled. Then I had to push Holly away so I could learn from Criss what he was giving her.

“I’ve rented the lobby of our theater Tuesday night for a joint birthday party for Holly and a Christmas party for all the cast and crew. Then I’m going to give her a special piece of jewelry to celebrate her birthday.”

He told me what it was, but swore me not to mention it here, as Holly is one of our regular readers! So they’ve invited me to join them Tuesday night for that soiree and then we’ll tell you about the jewelry -- but don’t go jumping to advance conclusions! I need say no more! But check here Wednesday morning for the really intimate details you’ll never find anywhere else!

Holly told me they’d just spent two days of his midweek show break at Disneyland. “It was the very first time he’d ever been there. I love that place and wanted him to share all the fun of the rides with me,” she said. “We did every one of them -- we went right up to the top of the Matterhorn. He loved it.”

I asked Bridget what she thought of the Criss and Holly love match.

“It’s the real thing. I wouldn’t have guessed it, but it’s the perfect match, and I’ve never seen her so happy in all the time I’ve known her. They are genuinely in love.”

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Bridget Marquardt, Holly Madison, Criss Angel and Michael Goddard.

Holly leaned in and said, “He is the sweetest, nicest, most caring man I’ve ever known. You can forget all the perceptions people have of him. He is kind, and we are just so happy and comfortable together.”

Criss added: “I can’t begin to explain how she makes me feel. She’s changed me. I’ve really found that one special girl in the world.”

So where does it all lead? I dared ask that question!

Said Holly: “You have to ask Criss that, but all I know now for absolute certain is that we are genuine soul mates. This was meant to be.”

So I turned to Criss and put it right to him -- and his response: “Holly has been extraordinary. She’s brought peace into my life and taken away restlessness. She’s been there when it hasn’t been easy. She’s brought me this sense of comfort. I haven’t felt this way before. My mom and my brothers adore her. She approves! We know we are very good for each other, and that’s going to go on getting even better as time goes by. You’re not going anywhere; you’ll be the first to know anything.”

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Two little lovebirds sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!

Today Kendra Wilkinson will join Holly and Bridget at 1 p.m. for an autograph and photo session at the official Playboy store in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. They will sign copies of their new book, The Girls Next Door, distributed in time for the holiday gift-giving season. It’s a 256-page, behind-the-scenes tome of their hit E! Entertainment reality series.

Even though all three have moved out of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion, they’re getting ready for the sixth season, which will show their departure and the arrival of Hef’s new gal pals the Shannon twins! Kendra is getting married to NFL wide receiver Hank Baskett of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Holly, who is mulling a contract offer to appear here in a show on the Strip, also is developing her own spinoff series for E!

I’ll be there with them at Playboy in Caesars, and we’ll have that photo report for you right here Monday morning.

Criss had the last word: “We can’t bear being apart, so I’ll join you over there to watch Holly go to work!”

— From Vegas Deluxe

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