Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Austria- Hungary, was a Hungarian-American magician, escapologist, illusionist, and stunt performer famous for his sensational escape acts
. He gained international fame for escaping from handcuffs, ropes, chains, straitjackets, locked containers like milk cans, coffins, and prison cells, often under dramatic and dangerous conditions such as underwater or suspended upside-down
. Houdini began performing in vaudeville in the United States and toured Europe, where he challenged police forces to keep him locked up, which helped build his reputation
. One of his most famous escapes was the Chinese Water Torture Cell, introduced in 1912, where he was suspended upside-down in a locked, water- filled glass-and-steel cabinet, holding his breath for over three minutes
. Beyond his performances, Houdini was known for debunking fraudulent spiritualists and mediums, exposing their tricks to protect the public from deception. He was actively involved in the Society of American Magicians, serving as its president from 1917 until his death in 1926, working to unify magicians and uphold professional standards
. He died on October 31, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan, from peritonitis caused by a stomach injury
. Houdini's legacy endures as one of the greatest magicians and escape artists in history, remembered not only for his daring acts but also for his crusade against spiritualist fraud
