History Creator / HarryHoudini

In addition to stagecraft and escape artistry, Houdini worked as a circus strongman, and that played a big role in his career as an escape artist. Take a look at that picture up there. Houdini didn't ''always'' work naked (though he frequently did publicity stunts where he proved he wasn't hiding keys anywhere... but only in the presence of gentlemen. Even so, he was always MrFanservice, and that was the key to his act, even more than the daring escapes.

* Appeared on ''WesternAnimation/TimeSquad'' where he used his skills to pull heists. It was Time Squad's job to get him to [[CutLexLuthorACheck use his magic acts legitimately as a way to earn money.]]

Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American escape artist, illusionist, and stunt performer.

* He appears in ''Series/MurdochMysteries'' being framed as a suspect for a bank robbery and homicide.
* ''Series/DrunkHistory'' covers Houdini's hatred and skepticism on spiritualism. He was portrayed by Ken Marino.

Houdini married his stage partner Wilhelmina Beatrice "Bess" Rahner three times. Once in secret and then once in each of their houses of worship, as Houdini was Jewish ([[PreachersKid the son of a rabbi]]) and Bess Roman Catholic. They were HappilyMarried.

Jewish-American escape artist born March 24, 1874 (with the name Erik Weisz), died October 31, 1926 at age 52. A native of Budapest, Hungary, he moved with his family to the US as a child.

The preeminent StageMagician of his time and the greatest EscapeArtist of ''all'' time, Harry Houdini (who based his stage name on the French magician, Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin) was one of the great entertainers in {{Vaudeville}} and became one of the highest paid in the industry. He also accepted dares to see if he could escape various police jail cells, secure transports and personal restraints, and usually did, and sometimes while nude to "prove" he wasn't carrying tools.[[note]]In reality, he was often [[StomachOfHolding hiding them in the back of his throat]], and could cough them up at any time.[[/note]] Authorities noted that they were very lucky he never decided to turn his talents to crime, as it would be impossible to keep him imprisoned.

* In ''Series/HoudiniAndDoyle'' (2016), Harry Houdini appears as one of two titular male protagonists. He was portrayed by Michael Weston.

* He appears in ''Series/MurdouchMysteries'' being framed as a suspect for a bank robbery and homicide.

Houdini had some interest in the supernatural, but was disgusted to find the only ones available were frauds. As a result, Houdini dedicated himself to debunking claims of the paranormal by infiltrating seances to expose the fakery and showing how the fakers did it on stage. All the while, Houdini dearly hoped to find the real thing in this crusade and even arranged a secret signal that he would try to use after he died. After his death, his wife would regularly do seances trying to contact him until she gave up in 1936, saying "Ten years is enough for any man."

* In ''The Great Houdinis'' (1976) MadeForTVMovie, he was portrayed by Paul Micheal Glaser.

* One death on ''Series/1000WaysToDie'' covered his eventual death.

* ''The Master Mystery'' — Octagon Films (1918), playing Quentin Locke.