Who is Harry Houdini?
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian magician and escapologist popular in the early 20th century. His extraordinary abilities led to a lasting reputation as one of the greatest magicians of all time. Houdini died at age 52, suffering an acute inflammation caused by a ruptured appendix. His life and talents have been subjects of many books and movies since his death. Houdini was born Erik Weisz in Budapest, Hungary, in 1874. His father was a rabbi who moved their large family to America in 1878. The young Harry began his magic career performing at circuses and sideshows, first with his brother and later with his wife, Bess. In 1899, Houdini met with manager Martin Beck, who arranged for him to tour vaudeville circuits and Europe. The young magician met with unprecedented success in Europe, gaining an international reputation as an escape artist. He performed many high profile public stunts, including escaping from prison vans. At one point, he successfully sued a French policeman who claimed h
