{{Short description|American paranormal writer (1973–2026)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox social media personality | name = David Wilcock | image = File:David Wilcock (cropped).jpg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = Wilcock in 2009 | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = {{Birth date|1973|03|08}} | birth_place = Rotterdam, New York, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2026|04|20|1973|03|08}} | death_place = Nederland, Colorado, U.S. | other_names = | occupation = Writer, media personality | known_for = | website = {{URL|divinecosmos.com}} | notable_works = | youtube_handle = @davidwilcock333 | youtube_display_name = David Wilcock {{!}} Divine Cosmos | youtube_years_active = 2010–2026 | youtube_genre = Paranormal | youtube_subscribers = 550,000<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 46.8 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = May 10, 2026 }}
'''David Wilcock ''' (March 8, 1973 – April 20, 2026) was an American paranormal writer, media personality, and YouTuber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/22/david-wilcock-dead/|title=David Wilcock, Paranormal Writer and YouTuber, Dead at 53|date=April 22, 2026|website=TMZ}}</ref> He was a significant figure in the disclosure movement and a regular contributor to pseudoscientific theories in popular culture media, appearing in productions made by Gaia and on ''Ancient Aliens''.
Wilcock believed himself to be in telepathic contact with extraterrestrial beings and indirectly proffered this belief as a basis for his teachings. Some of his followers believe he was the reincarnation of Edgar Cayce. According to his website, ''Divine Cosmos'', he offered teachings in "soul growth, ascension, and the evolution of consciousness."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Divine Cosmos |url=https://divinecosmos.com/ |access-date=2026-04-24 |website=Divine Cosmos |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life and education== David Wilcock was born on March 8, 1973, in Rotterdam, New York.<ref name="davidg">{{cite book |last1=Robertson |first1=David G. |title=UFOs, Conspiracy Theories and the New Age: Millennial Conspiracism |date=2016 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1474253222 |pages=174–202}}</ref> His father, Donald, was a journalist and the author of a biography of Buddy Guy. David graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz (SUNY, New Paltz) in 1995, where he studied psychology.<ref name="davidg"/> He unsuccessfully applied to graduate school at Naropa University.<ref name="davidg"/> Following his graduation from SUNY, New Paltz, Wilcock worked for several weeks at a psychiatric hospital, according to religious studies scholar David G. Robertson, who was quoting directly from Wilcock's book, ''The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce? Interdimensional Communication and Global Transformation''.<ref name="davidg" />
==Interest in the paranormal== Robertson reports that Wilcock's interest in the paranormal began in 1993 when he heard from someone who, in turn, heard from someone else, that it was "common knowledge at NASA that UFOs had been recovered from crash sites".<ref name="davidg"/> He was later told by his girlfriend, Yumi, that a Shinto shaman said he would become a "famous spiritual leader", and a roommate had a dream in which Wilcock appeared as a "wanderer".{{efn|The idea of "wanderers" is a theory described by writer Scott Mandelker that posits that space aliens reincarnate into human forms to work toward the spiritual development of Earth.<ref name="davidg"/>}} By the late 1990s, it had been suggested to Wilcock that he was the reincarnation of Edgar Cayce.<ref name="davidg"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Humanity’s Ascension: Assessing the History Channel’s New Age, Time Travel Guru David Wilcock {{!}} Christian Research Institute|url=https://www.equip.org/articles/humanitys-ascension-assessing-the-history-channels-new-age-time-travel-guru-david-wilcock/|website=www.equip.org|access-date=2026-01-29}}</ref>
==Later career== He established himself as a significant figure in the disclosure movement, which advocates for the end of what it believes is United States Government secrecy about the existence of aliens and UFOs, and authored a number of books.<ref name="vice" /> In 2004, North Atlantic Books published Wilcock and Wynn Free's ''The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce?'' which the publisher describes as presenting a theory that "Wilcock might indeed be [Edgar] Cayce's reincarnation" and in which Wilcock and Free go on to posit that humanity would soon undergo a transformation from matter to energy.<ref>{{cite news |title=End of Time Stories are as Old as Time |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/285001896 |access-date=August 14, 2005 |work=Sun Sentinel |date=May 25, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce? |url=https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/the-reincarnation-of-edgar-cayce/ |website=northatlanticbooks.com |publisher=North Atlantic Books |access-date=May 25, 2025 |archive-date=April 22, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422095401/https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/the-reincarnation-of-edgar-cayce/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Wilcock sold $533 enrollments to his seven-week "Ascension Mystery School" which, he suggested, could prepare participants for salvation from the doom of a forthcoming alien invasion.<ref name="vice" /> He also solicited cash donations.<ref name="vice" />
In 2012, E. P. Dutton published Wilcock's ''The Source Field Investigations: The Hidden Science and Lost Civilizations Behind the 2012 Prophecies'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weiss |first1=Jeffrey |title=Apocalypse 2012 Explained |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2011/04/06/faq-apocalypse-2012-explained.html |access-date=May 25, 2025 |work=CNBC |date=April 6, 2011}}</ref> which ''Kirkus Reviews'' described as chronicling his prediction that the year 2012 would be "the start of an epoch that may usher in a higher state of consciousness".<ref>{{cite news |title=The Source Field Investigations |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-wilcock/source-field-investigations/ |access-date=May 25, 2025 |work=Kirkus Reviews}}</ref> According to publisher Penguin Random House, Wilcock's books ''Awakening in the Dream'' and ''The Ascension Mysteries'' were both ''New York Times'' bestsellers.<ref name="prh">{{cite web |title=David Wilcock |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/231411/david-wilcock/ |website=penguinrandomhouse.com/ |publisher=Penguin Random House |access-date=May 25, 2025 |archive-date=December 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210173546/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/231411/david-wilcock/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{external media | float = right | caption = ''Above Majestic'' (2018), official trailer | headerimage= alt=YouTube logo|x20px|left | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4TjJPx-QtM] | video2 = }}
From 2013 to 2018, Wilcock hosted a show on Gaia titled ''Wisdom Teachings''. He, along with Corey Goode, co-hosted a program also on Gaia called ''Cosmic Disclosures'' from 2015 to 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sommer |first1=Will |title=Inside the War Between a UFO Influencer and Alien-Friendly Streaming Company |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/ufo-community-explodes-in-lawsuit-drama-accusations-of-luciferianism/ |access-date=May 25, 2025 |work=The Daily Beast |date=May 16, 2021 |archive-date=May 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250530071325/https://www.thedailybeast.com/ufo-community-explodes-in-lawsuit-drama-accusations-of-luciferianism/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Wilcock's 2018 documentary-style film ''Above Majestic'', according to ''Vice'', makes the case that "reptilian aliens occupy large swaths of Antarctica, are massing for an invasion, and control the world's governments and banks".<ref name="vice"/> A review of the film on ''Movieweb'' describes it as advancing the theory that the September 11 attacks were an "alien conspiracy cover up".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Orange |first1=B. Alan |title=Above Majestic Trailer Exposes Craziest Alien Conspiracy of All Time |url=https://movieweb.com/above-majestic-trailer/ |website=movieweb.com |date=October 16, 2018 |publisher=Valnet |access-date=May 25, 2025 |archive-date=May 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250525123403/https://movieweb.com/above-majestic-trailer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, Wilcock produced the documentary style film ''The Cosmic Secret'', which ''Vice'' described as predicting an upcoming global catastrophe based on information Wilcock purported to have received via telepathic contact with space aliens.<ref name="vice">{{cite news |last1=Banias |first1=MJ |title=UFO Conspiracy Theorists Offer 'Ascension' From Our Hell World for $333 |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/david-wilcock-ufo-conspiracy-theorist-covid-19-deep-state-ascension/ |access-date=May 25, 2025 |work=Vice |date=May 13, 2020 |archive-date=May 29, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529154042/https://www.vice.com/en/article/david-wilcock-ufo-conspiracy-theorist-covid-19-deep-state-ascension/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
From 2010 on, Wilcock hosted a YouTube channel that eventually garnered half a million followers.<ref name="vice" /> He regularly appeared on the History Channel program ''Ancient Aliens''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Joe |title=UFO convention starts in Joshua Tree |url=https://www.sbsun.com/2014/08/08/ufo-convention-starts-in-joshua-tree/ |access-date=May 25, 2025 |work=The San Bernardino Sun |date=August 8, 2014 |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204232218/https://www.sbsun.com/2014/08/08/ufo-convention-starts-in-joshua-tree/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
He had become the "director of advanced technology" of Stavatti Aerospace by 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stavatti Aerospace Briefing |url=https://www.stavatti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/STAVATTI-AEROSPACE-BRIEFING-FEB-2023.pdf |website=stavatti.com |publisher=Stavatti Aerospace |access-date=May 25, 2025}}</ref>
He maintained a website, ''Divine Cosmos'', until his death in 2026 where his teachings and lectures could be found.<ref name=":0" />
==Personal life and death== According to his family, Wilcock suffered a long period of depression and, in later life, encountered significant financial troubles.<ref name="angela"/> Wilcock moved to Colorado by 2017.<ref name="prh" />
On April 18, 2026, Wilcock expressed doubt that he would live stream a planned YouTube video, stating that he "had some very intense stuff going on this weekend."<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbXvRyKeWp8</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonavita |first=Julia |date=2026-04-23 |title=UFO writer, paranormal YouTuber dies in suicide at home after mental health call: police |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/ufo-writer-paranormal-youtuber-dies-suicide-home-mental-health-call-police |access-date=2026-04-24 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> He died at his residence on April 20, 2026, at the age of 53, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His death was witnessed by law enforcement officers who had responded to an earlier 911 call he placed.<ref name="angela">{{cite news |last1=Ankeney |first1=Angela |title=Alien researcher and documentarian David Wilcock dies at 53 near Nederland |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2026/04/23/alien-researcher-and-documentarian-david-wilcock-dies-at-53-near-nederland/ |access-date=April 23, 2026 |work=The Denver Post |date=April 23, 2026}}</ref> His family later issued a statement of remembrance, acknowledging that while there were concerns about misinformation in regards to his beliefs, he was yet engaged in an "eternal quest for clarity."<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2026 |title=Family of Paranormal YouTuber David Wilcock Speaks Out Afters He Dies by Suicide at 53 |url=https://people.com/family-of-paranormal-youtuber-david-wilcock-speaks-out-after-he-dies-by-suicide-11957395 |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=People.com|last=Chinman|first=Luke}}</ref>
His death ignited interest relating to the disappearance and deaths of eleven scientists whose work specialized in nuclear and space programs and supposedly classified projects.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-23 |title=UFO researcher David Wilcock found dead in Colorado, coroner’s office confirms |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ufo-researcher-david-wilcock-found-094528802.html |access-date=2026-04-24 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}</ref> One day before Wilcock's death, he commented on the disappearance of the scientists in his final live stream on April 19, which contributed to scrutiny about the circumstances of his own death;<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Madhurima |date=2026-04-22 |title='We're losing so many guys that were speaking truth': Netiens discuss conspiracy theories amid deaths of Erich Von Daniken, Nick Pope and David Wilcock of Ancient Aliens |url=https://www.primetimer.com/features/were-losing-so-many-guys-that-were-speaking-truth-deaths-of-erich-von-daniken-nick-pope-and-david-wilcock-of-ancient-aliens-spark-conspiracy-theories-among-netizens |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=primetimer.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-24 |title=Mystery of the 12 missing or dead scientists as lawmakers launch investigation |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/scientists-missing-dead-fbi-investigation-b2963785.html |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
The House Oversight Committee and the FBI announced that they would each investigate the fates of the scientists.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-21 |title=FBI launches investigation into missing and dead US scientists |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/fbi-scientists-us-government-investigation-b2961708.html |access-date=2026-04-24 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Wilcock's death also sparked unsubstantiated rumors of foul play regarding the deaths of fellow researchers Erich von Däniken and Nick Pope, who died within months of each other,<ref name=":1" /> the former from old age and the latter from cancer.
==Bibliography== *''The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce?: Interdimensional Communication and Global Transformation'' with Wynn Free (2004) *''The Source Field Investigations: The Hidden Science and Lost Civilizations Behind the 2012 Prophecies'' (2011) *''The Synchronicity Key: The Hidden Intelligence Guiding the Universe and You'' (2013) *''The Ascension Mysteries: Revealing the Cosmic Battle Between Good and Evil'' (2016) *''Awakening in the Dream: Contact with the Divine'' (2020)
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|3675855}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilcock, David}} Category:1973 births Category:2026 deaths Category:2026 suicides Category:American UFO writers Category:Male suicides Category:People from Rotterdam, New York Category:State University of New York at New Paltz alumni Category:Suicides by firearm in Colorado Category:YouTubers from Colorado Category:YouTubers from New York (state) Category:21st-century American male writers Category:Missing scientists investigation