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Joe Nickell, the renowned paranormal investigator often dubbed the “real-life Scully” and “real-life Sherlock Holmes,” has died at the age of 80. Nickell passed away on March 4 at his home in Buffalo, New York, according to his daughter. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Nickell was celebrated within the skeptical community as a pioneering figure who spent decades investigating mysteries with a rational, scientific approach. A longtime columnist for The Skeptical Inquirer, he was known for delving into a vast array of enigmas, ranging from alleged hauntings and crop circles to historical puzzles and claims of supernatural beings.
“Joe was a hands-on investigator who could be found aboard the Queen Mary looking for alleged ghosts, or in a farmer’s field investigating crop circles, or roaming the shores of Loch Ness looking for Nessie,” said Barry Karr, executive director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, which oversees The Skeptical Inquirer. “What a tremendous loss. He can never be replaced.”
Nickell called himself “the world’s only full-time professional paranormal investigator” and embraced what he described as a “kinder, gentler skepticism.” He resisted being labeled a debunker, instead emphasizing the importance of curiosity and discovery. “I think the chances are closer to 99.9 percent that there isn’t [a ghost],” he told The New Yorker in 2002, “but let’s go look. We might learn something interesting as hell.”
Throughout his storied career, Nickell claimed to have taken on more than 1,000 different roles to aid in his investigations, including magician, private investigator, beer master, and even Bigfoot hunter. His goal, as stated on his website, was not to mock believers but to genuinely solve mysteries through investigation and evidence.
Kenny Biddle, chief investigator at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, said Nickell’s approach set him apart. “He didn’t treat a ghost story as a ghost story or a UFO story as a UFO story,” Biddle said. “He treated them all as mysteries to be solved.”
Born on December 1, 1944, Nickell became an icon to many within the scientific and skeptical communities. His legacy lives on through his extensive writings and the spirit of curiosity and inquiry he championed.
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