Harry Houdini

Date of Birth: March 24, 1874

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: October 31, 1926

Biography

Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz (later Ehrich Weiss), was a Hungarian-born American illusionist and stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. Born on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary, he immigrated with his family to the United States in 1878, where they settled in Appleton, Wisconsin. Houdini began his career in magic in 1891, but it wasn’t until he started focusing on escape acts that he gained widespread fame. Houdini’s acts included escaping from handcuffs, straitjackets, and underwater tanks. He was also known for exposing fraudulent spiritualists and mediums, dedicating part of his life to debunking those who claimed to have supernatural powers. His relentless pursuit of truth and dedication to his craft made him one of the most famous entertainers of his era. Houdini died on October 31, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan, from peritonitis, secondary to a ruptured appendix. His death came after a series of events, including a punch to the stomach that he received from a student who wanted to test his abdominal strength, a stunt Houdini often performed but was unprepared for at the time.

5 Interesting Facts about Harry Houdini

1. Harry Houdini’s real name was Erik Weisz, which he later Americanized to Ehrich Weiss.

2. He was an avid aviator and owned one of the first airplanes in Australia.

3. Houdini served as the President of the Society of American Magicians from 1917 until his death.

4. He was known for his ability to pick locks and often challenged police forces to lock him up for publicity stunts.

5. Houdini authored several books on magic and even wrote a book debunking spiritualism titled “A Magician Among the Spirits.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harry Houdini

1. “My Brain is the key that sets me free.”

2. “Never try to fool children, they expect nothing and therefore see everything.”

3. “The greatest escape I ever made was when I left Appleton, Wisconsin.”

4. “What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.”

5. “I think that I could spend all my life studying the art of magic and still know nothing about it.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Harry Houdini’s net worth was estimated to be around $500,000, which would be approximately $7 million today when adjusted for inflation.