Houdini was born Erich Weiss on March 24th, 1874. He was born in Budapest, Hungary and was only four years old when his family moved to the USA.

Houdini was only a small man, standing only 5'5", with dark, wavy hair and very dark grey eyes. Like so many people in his day, Houdini was poorly educated. He was, however, very athletic and highly motivated to succeed.

Houdini became fascinated with magic after seeing Dr. Lynn, a travelling magician, as a young boy. He did not, as legend has it, run away with a circus, nor was he an apprentice to a locksmith. In reality, he turned to magic at age 17 as an alternative to factory work. He teamed up with Jack Hayman, a magic enthusiast, to form the Houdini Brothers. (The name "Houdini" was used in tribute to Jean Eugene Robert-Houdini, the most famous magician of that era.) Houdini's brother Theodore (later known as Hardeen) also became his partner. Shortly, Bess Rahner, the woman who was to become Houdini's partner both in the act and in his life, then replaced Hardeen.

By 1898, Houdini had come up with the Challenge Act, the act that would make him a legend. As the Handcuff King, Houdini would escape from any pair of handcuffs produced by the audience. Generally, this act was well received. By 1904, Houdini had been forced to make some modifications in the act, due to repeated attempts by various police officers that tried to spoil his routine by secretly jamming the cuffs offered.
The Challenge Act was the big turning point for Houdini. With its success came the development of the spectacular escapes that would make Houdini a legend.
Houdini then expanded his Challenge Act to escape not only from any handcuffs offered, but in addition from pretty much any location suggested. Houdini escaped from jail cells, oversized safes, from handcuffed bridge jumps, from padlocked crates thrown into rivers, from locked canvas mailbags and even from a huge paper bag, without making even a little tear in it.
Some of his most memorable escapes were the stage illusions he made famous; the Water Torture Cell, the Milk Can Escape and Buried Alive.

The 1953 movie "Houdini" starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh did much to create the commonly held belief that Houdini died onstage attempting to perform the Water Torture Cell illusion.
The sad truth is that Houdini was in the middle of a US tour in the fall of 1926 when both he and Bess began to experience severe stomach discomfort. A performer to the core, Houdini refused medical treatment, because that would have meant missing some shows. Quite possibly Houdini was suffering from the onset of appendicitis and his own stubborn refusal to see a doctor could have spelled his doom. Houdini was tired and unusually accident-prone. In Albany, NY, his ankle broke as he was being lifted into the Water Torture Cell. In pain, he continued to perform. A few days later in Canada a Mr. J. Gordon Whitehead allegedly punched him in the stomach; a McGill university student who was testing Houdini's well-known ability to withstand blows to the body. That punch may or may not have been the cause of Houdini's ruptured appendix. Houdini collapsed onstage in Detroit, and was admitted to Grace Hospital suffering from peritonitis.
Bess was also admitted to the hospital to be treated for her stomach ailments. Every day for nearly a week, she was wheeled into Houdini's room to see him.
On October 31st, with his brother Hardeen at his side, Houdini passed away. His last words were, "I'm tired of fighting".

For ten years, Bess presided over the annual seances on October 31st, the anniversary of Houdini's death. She stopped participating in 1938 although seances to contact Houdini continued.

Why is Houdini still as famous now as he was more than 70 years ago? Perhaps it was because he was a unique, talented and motivated magician. Perhaps it was because Houdini was a terrific showman and self-promoter. Or perhaps it was because Bess kept a full-time publicist on her payroll for sixteen years after her husband's death, just to keep the Houdini legend alive. She did a fantastic job.