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Houdini's Last Punch: The Blow That Killed a Magician?
20 Oct
Summary
- Houdini died at 52 from a ruptured appendix, nine days after being punched.
- A student asked about Houdini's famed abdomen and then struck him.
- The official cause of death contradicts Houdini's death-defying image.
On October 22, 1926, legendary magician Harry Houdini was visited in his Montreal dressing room by students. One student, Joscelyn Gordon Whitehead, inquired about Houdini's ability to withstand abdominal blows. Following this question, Whitehead struck Houdini. Houdini, though surprised, boarded a train to Detroit that evening.
Nine days later, on November 2, 1926, Houdini passed away at the age of 52. The official cause of his death was an abdominal infection stemming from a ruptured appendix. This event profoundly shocked audiences who viewed the Hungarian-born escape artist as invincible, given his renowned feats of escaping perilous situations.
