Mark “The Knife” Faje – the self-proclaimed world’s most-dangerous comic – will be performing his act today at 9 p.m. in the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom. Admission is free.

Faje considers himself a professional. His act, which includes scorpions, chainsaws and fire-spitting baby dolls, has taken him to 19 countries and got him temporarily banned in Ireland and Britain.

Why banned? The answer is simple. His tricks are nerve-racking, exciting and potentially dangerous, and not only for Faje – for the audience too.

Northern Star: What sparked your interest in doing dangerous comedy?

Mark Faje: I started doing magic when I was a kid. I was an actor in TV commercials when I was young. I learned to juggle when I was 12 and started doing it professionally when I was 16. People always juggle dangerous things, so I graduated to that. People like to see something dangerous, something risky. I try to give the audience what they like to see.

NS: Your show has taken you to “Late Show with David Letterman” three times and “America’s Got Talent” twice. Which appearance would you consider the best?

MF: Man, well, I was on Letterman three times and the first time I was on “America’s Got Talent” exposed me to so many more people. I think the numbers were up to 20 million people a week and it was the No. 1 show prime time; it wasn’t late-night. It was amazing.

My clip on YouTube got a quarter of a million hits within a week. I couldn’t believe the exposure I got. I got a gig in China because of it. I got to go over there and bring my girlfriend and another friend. It was a great experience.

I would have to say “America’s Got Talent” has been better for my career than any of the shows I’ve been on.”

NS: Why was your act banned in Ireland and Britain?

MF: They had banned the lawn-mower trick deeming it too dangerous for myself, for performers and for the audience. We had to perform it for a committee over in Scotland and in the UK. They finally allowed it. We convinced them, basically.

NS: Ever had any close calls while performing your dangerous craft?

MF: Yeah, I’ve had some minor concussions, some cuts from the chainsaw and knives. There was one time where I was doing the lawn-mower trick; this was while I was [touring] with Nine Inch Nails for six months.

While I was bringing it down someone ran in front of the mower, that’s the most dangerous area right in front of it, so while I was bringing it down, I almost put it on somebody who wasn’t supposed to be there. I caught it and now I take it down a different way so it can’t fall on anybody.