Harry Houdini

About

Iconic magician and escape artist whose most difficult stunt entailed escaping from handcuffs that took a locksmith five years to build.

Before Fame

In his youth, he took a job as a trapeze artist under the name Ehrich, the Prince of the Air, and was a successful cross-country runner.

Trivia

A university student and a boxer named J. Gordon Whitehead tested Houdini's immortality by striking him in the gut several times, which ruptured his appendix and killed him.

Family Life

His parents were German Jews named Cecelia Weisz Steiner and Mayer Samuel Weisz. He was married to Bess Houdini from 1894 until his death in 1926.

Associated With

David Copperfield purchased the entirety of Mulholland's Houdini holdings from Mulholland's estate in 1970.

Video

Harry Houdini Highlights