Harry Houdini

Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) whose birth name in Hungary was Erik Weisz (which was changed to Ehrich Weiss when he immigrated to the United States), was a Hungarian American magician, escapologist (widely regarded as one of the greatest ever) and stunt performer, as well as a skeptic and investigator of spiritualists, film producer and actor. Harry Houdini forever changed the world of magic and escapes.

Houdini was born in Budapest Hungary. A copy of his birth certificate was found and published in The Houdini Birth Research Committee's Report (1972). His family name, Weiß, is German, meaning "White" in English. As to his birth date, from 1907 onwards, Houdini claimed in interviews to have been born in Appleton Wisconsin, on April 6, 1874. Houdini's father was Mayer (Mayo) Samuel Weiss (1829-1892), a rabbi; his mother was Cecilia Steiner (1841-1913). Ehrich had six siblings: Herman M. (1885); Nathan J. Weiss (1870-1927); Gottfried William Weiss (1872-1925); Theodore Weiss (Dash) (1876-1945); Leopold D. Weiss (1879-1962); and Gladys Carrie Weiss (1882). He immigrated with his family to the United States on July 3, 1878, at the age of four, on the SS Fresia with his mother (who was pregnant) and his four brothers. Houdini's name was listed as Ehrich Weiss. Friends called him "Ehrie" or "Harry".