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Famous Austrians.

15 PROFILES

15 celebrated Austrian figures including composers, actors, scientists, writers, athletes, and cultural stars across Austrian history.

Harry Houdini

Editor’s spotlight — updated daily

Harry Houdini

Hungary

Harry Houdini, born Erich Weiss in 1874, perfected the Challenge Act in 1898 and became the escape artist known worldwide. He debunked fraudulent mediums while hoping to contact his dead mother. The magician died of peritonitis in 1926 after a student punched him in the stomach, sparking annual Halloween séances led by his wife Bess.

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Celebrities in Austria

Gender
Status
Birth month
Occupation
1730 1940