Harry Houdini

Born in Budapest in 1874 and raised in the United States, Houdini became the era's best-known escape artist, illusionist, and stunt performer. After struggling through circus and vaudeville work early on, he broke through with daring handcuff escapes and public challenges that made him an international sensation.

He built his fame on feats that looked impossible: slipping free from jail cells, chains, straitjackets, sealed crates, and the famous Water Torture Cell. He also appeared in films and wrote about magic, using every part of the growing entertainment world to build his legend.

Later in life, Houdini became just as well known for exposing fraudulent spiritualists, driven in part by personal loss and a deep interest in the supernatural. He died in Detroit in 1926, but his name still stands for nerve, mystery, and the art of escaping the impossible.