Houdini was a famous magician and escape artist born as Erik Weisz in 1874. He gained worldwide fame for his incredible escape acts, including escaping from handcuffs, straitjackets, and even submerged water tanks. His performances captivated audiences and established him as one of the greatest illusionists in history. In addition to his magic career, Houdini was also an avid debunker of spiritualists and mediums. He sought to expose fraudulent practices in the spiritualist movement, believing that many claimed to communicate with the dead were simply con artists. Houdini died in 1926, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of magic and entertainment.