Harry Houdini, born Ehrich Weisz, was a famous magician and escape artist in the early 20th century. He gained worldwide fame for his incredible and death-defying stunts and his skills as an illusionist and performer.
Harry Houdini’s Early Life
Houdini was born in Hungary in 1874, but his family immigrated to the United States when he was just a child. Upon arriving at Ellis Island, immigration officials decided his name was too foreign-sounding, so they changed it to “Harry Houdini,” inspired by French magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin.
Houdini’s Career
As a young man, Houdini worked as a trapeze artist and contortionist before getting interested in magic. He soon began performing with his brother Theodore, known as Dash, as “The Brothers Houdini.” Houdini gained notoriety for his handcuff escape acts, which he would perform in front of crowds. His stunts grew increasingly daring, including jumping off bridges while handcuffed and freeing himself underwater.
International Magician
Houdini became an international star throughout the 1910s and 20s. He toured Europe, where rumors spread that he was a spy for the British government. Back in America, he started making films, though most were lost. He continued pushing his physical limits with stunts like being buried alive. He also began debunking fraudulent spiritualists as part of his act.
How Did Houdini Die?
In 1926, Houdini died suddenly from complications of a ruptured appendix after a fan punched him unexpectedly in the stomach. Some claim Houdini told his wife a secret code before dying, which she was to use to communicate with him from beyond the grave during a séance. Though she held a séance for him every year on Halloween, Houdini never revealed his code, leaving his death shrouded in mystery.
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