Harry Houdini

Harry Houdini was born Erik Weisz in Budapest and immigrated with his family to Wisconsin, where his father, Rabbi Mayer Samuel Weisz, had a pulpit. At age thirteen, Erik Weiss—he Americanized his name—left Wisconsin to make money to support his family. Attracted to the vaudeville stage, he became Harry Houdini, and in 1893, he married Wilhelmina Beatrice “Bess” Rahner, who performed with him as his stage assistant. Audiences in America and Europe flocked to his death-defying magic and escape acts. In addition to having an incredibly successful career in vaudeville, Houdini was an actor, businessman, airplane pilot, author, and president of the Society of American Magicians. He died in Detroit of appendicitis.