Here are seven facts about the life of a man who pushed the boundaries of reality to great effect and everlasting fame. Nevertheless, several truths have emerged like Houdini himself rising to the surface after one of his patented underwater escapes. For decades, biographers had to contend with Houdini's changing accounts of formative events in his life, along with the myths that built up around his celebrated performances.
The escape artist’s legend endures not only because he constantly introduced new mesmerizing challenges to his repertoire, but also because he was a skilled promoter who used embellishment and misdirection to his advantage. Few entertainers reach the heights achieved by early 20th-century illusionist Harry Houdini, who earned renown for his ability to free himself from seemingly impenetrable modes of confinement.