Erich Weisz, better known by his stage name Harry Houdini, was an American escape artist, magician, and stunt performer.

He was born on March 24, 1874, and died on October 31, 1926. His alias is a nod to the French magician Robert-Houdin (1805–1871), who served as his spiritual mentor.

He originally gained notoriety in American vaudeville before touring Europe as “Harry ‘Handcuff’ Houdini,” when he defied authorities’ attempts to keep him imprisoned.

Soon, he added chains, ropes dangling from buildings, straitjackets submerged in water, and needing to escape from and hold his breath inside a sealed milk can with water to his repertoire.

Harry Houdini parents: Mayer Samuel Weisz, Cecelia Weisz

Jewish parents gave birth to Erich Weisz in Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary.His parents were CecíliaSteiner (1841–1913) and Rabbi Mayer Sámuel Weisz (1829–1892).

Herman M. (1863-1885), who was Houdini’s half-brother by Rabbi Weisz’s first marriage, Nathan J. (1870-1927), Gottfried William (1872-1925), Theodore (1876-1945), Leopold D. (1879-1962), and Carrie Gladys (1882-1959), who was nearly blinded in a childhood accident, were the other six children.