Full Name: Erik Weisz
Profession: Magician and Escape Artist

Biography: Harry Houdini was an Hungarian-American escape artist, illusionist, and stunt performer known for his sensational escape acts. His 1904 challenge with the Daily Mirror's special handcuffs and several Hollywood films are among his well-known acts.

Born in Budapest, he arrived in the United States with his family in 1878. He took on various jobs as a child, including performing as a trapeze artist. Houdini began his magic career in 1891 without initial success, but his fortunes changed after meeting manager Martin Beck who advised him to focus on escape acts.

Houdini's parents were Rabbi Mayer Sámuel Weisz and Cecília Steiner. After emigrating to the United States, the Weisz family changed their name to the German spelling Weiss. They lived in Appleton, Wisconsin, and then, after financial struggles, moved to New York City. Houdini's public debut was as "Ehrich, the Prince of the Air" at nine years old, and he was a champion cross country runner in his youth.

As a magician, Houdini adopted the stage name "Harry Houdini" after French magician Robert-Houdin and possibly American magician Harry Kellar. His brother Theodore Hardeen also pursued a career in escape acts.

Houdini became famous during European tours, challenging police to contain him and successfully suing those who claimed his acts were fake. He married Wilhelmina Beatrice "Bess" Rahner, who became his stage assistant.

Houdini took on various roles beyond escapology; he acted in movies, briefly ran his own film production company, and wrote books refuting spiritualism and fraudulent mediums. He also served as the president of the Society of American Magicians, devoted to maintaining professional standards and debunking frauds in the magician community.

Houdini's notable escape acts included the Daily Mirror handcuff challenge, the Milk Can Escape, the Chinese water torture cell, and the suspended straitjacket escape. He wrote "The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin" criticizing his former idol and "A Magician Among the Spirits" confronting spiritualist frauds. His voice was recorded on Edison wax cylinders in 1914.

Houdini vehemently defended his methods and sued for slander when challenged. He was a Freemason and bought a townhouse in Harlem. Late in life, he suffered a fatal blow to his abdomen by Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead. Houdini was hospitalized and died of peritonitis in October of 1926.

Afterward, his estate, effects, and memorabilia were inherited by his brother and later obtained by collectors including David Copperfield. Attempts to communicate with Houdini after death through séances, as per a pact between him and his wife, were unsuccessful.

Born: March 24, 1874
Birthplace: Budapest, Austria-Hungary
Star Sign: Aries

Died: October 31, 1926 (aged 52)
Cause of Death: Peritonitis and a ruptured appendix

Career Highlights

• 1903-01-12 Harry Houdini performs at Rembrandt theater, Amsterdam
• 1903-01-21 Harry Houdini escapes from Halvemaansteeg police station in Amsterdam
• 1907-08-26 Harry Houdini escapes from chains underwater in 57 seconds, at Aquatic Park in San Francisco, California
• 1923-06-12 Harry Houdini frees himself from a straight jacket while suspended upside down, 40 feet (12 m) above ground in NYC
• 1926-08-05 Harry Houdini stays in a coffin underwater for 1½ hours before escaping
• 1926-10-22 Boxer J. Gordon Whitehead sucker punches magician Harry Houdini in the stomach in his dressing room at the Princess Theater in Montreal. The attack started or helped cause the appendicitis that would take Houdini's life 9 days later.
• 1926-10-24 Harry Houdini's last performance, at the Garrick Theatre in Detroit, Michigan

Personal Life

References

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