7. Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz in Budapest, Hungary, to a Jewish family, became the world’s most famous illusionist and stunt artist. He began his career in the United States in vaudeville reviews and began a trip of Europe performing escape stunts after his tricks began to earn him wider recognition. In addition to performing magic tricks and escaping standard items such as handcuffs and straight jackets, Houdini would go on to develop his stunts, such as the Chinese Water Torture Cell, that would become parts of future magicians’ acts.
Over his career, Houdini would perfect many daring escape acts including the water torture cell, being sealed into a milk can full of water, rope escapes, and even being buried alive. While many believed his acts to be faked, he rigorously pursued legal action against spiritualists and magicians he considered to be demeaning the art through obvious fake displays. He also would sue anyone who attempted to copy his own invented stunts too closely.
Houdini’s death has been the subject of much speculation. It is known that he died of peritonitis, due to a ruptured appendix, at the age of 52 in 1926. What is not known, is what role the punches to the abdomen he received from overeager students played in his death. The connection between abdominal trauma and appendicitis complications is not clear.
