Famous Escapologists
Escapologist↕ | Country↕ | Active↕ | Signature Escape↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Houdini | Hungary / United States | 1891-1926 | Chinese Water Torture Cell | The original and still most famous escape artist, handcuff king, straitjacket hangs over cities |
| Theodore Hardeen | Hungary / United States | 1890s-1945 | Straitjacket in full view | Houdini's brother and rival, popularized the open straitjacket escape, inherited the Houdini act |
| David Blaine | United States | 1997-present | Drowned Alive water sphere | Endurance stunts, buried alive, encased in ice, 44 days in a box above the Thames |
| Dorothy Dietrich | United States | 1970s-present | Straitjacket escape while hanging from a burning rope | First woman to catch a bullet in her teeth on TV, Houdini Museum co-founder |
| Dean Gunnarson | Canada | 1980s-present | Handcuffed in a coffin submerged in a river | Televised escapes in extreme cold, close-call near-death Winnipeg river escape |
| Norman Bigelow | United States | 1970s-2000s | Door of Death spike release | Dangerous blade-and-spike escapes, Houdini tribute performances |
| Murray Hatfield | Canada | 1980s-present | Buried alive in concrete | Large-scale illusions mixed with escapes, Canadian tour circuit |
| Jonathan Goodwin | United Kingdom | 2000s-present | Burning straitjacket hang upside down | Dynamo consultant, America's Got Talent: Extreme accident, ultra-high-risk stunts |
| Roslyn Walker | United Kingdom | 1970s-1990s | Underwater handcuff release | British Isles circuit stages, shows paired with classic illusions |
| Steve Baker | United States | 1960s-2016 | Mailbag escape | Guinness world records for handcuff escapes, called the King of Escapes in Las Vegas |
| Bill Shirk | United States | 1970s-present | Buried alive and strapped in a straitjacket | Midwestern radio personality turned escape artist, multiple Guinness entries |
| Rick Maisel | United States | 1980s-present | Underwater chain and padlock release | Texas-based stunt performer, televised straitjacket escapes |
| Alan Alan | United Kingdom | 1940s-2000s | Burning rope straitjacket hang | British escapologist who performed suspended escapes over London streets |
| Anthony Martin | United States | 1980s-present | Sky-dive handcuff escape | Escapes from aircraft mid-fall, multiple handcuff and chain records |
| Criss Angel | United States | 1990s-present | Straitjacket suspension over Las Vegas | Mindfreak series, large-scale televised escapes, Las Vegas residency spectacles |
Free to explore · No signup needed
Frequently asked questions
How is the Famous Escapologists list ranked?
The Famous Escapologists list is currently sorted by the source data's default ordering. Community voting is not enabled on this dataset.
How many entries are in this Famous Escapologists dataset?
This dataset contains 15 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.
Can I download the Famous Escapologists data?
Yes. The download buttons at the top of the page give you the full 15-row dataset as CSV, JSON, or Excel. Use of the data is permitted under a Creative Commons Attribution license — credit dtbse.com when you republish.
Related Datasets
More in People
Female Monarchs Throughout History
The queens and empresses who shaped world history — from Cleopatra to Elizabeth I to Catherine the Great, who really wore the crown best?
Japanese Shoguns
The military dictators who ruled feudal Japan in the name of the emperor — Tokugawa, Minamoto, Ashikaga and the real power behind the throne.
Child Prodigies in History
Mozart composing at 5, Pascal proving geometry at 12, Terence Tao doing calculus at 9 - whose early genius astonishes most?
Famous Astronomers
Notable astronomers throughout history.
Renaissance Artists
The master painters and sculptors of the Italian Renaissance — who truly settled the Da Vinci vs Michelangelo rivalry?
Famous Philanthropists
Notable philanthropists and their contributions.
Dutch Golden Age Painters
The masters of 17th-century Holland — Rembrandt, Vermeer and the artists who defined the Dutch Golden Age, but who really reigns supreme?
Nobel Laureates by Country
Nobel Prize winners organized by country of birth or citizenship.
Greatest Cellists
Casals, du Pre, Ma, Rostropovich — who made the cello sing loudest?
Famous Autistic Savants
Kim Peek memorized 12,000 books, Stephen Wiltshire draws cities from memory, Daniel Tammet sees numbers as colors - minds beyond compare.
Famous Biologists
Darwin vs Mendel vs Watson & Crick - life sciences GOATs across four centuries.
Nobel Peace Prize Winners
All Nobel Peace Prize laureates and organizations.