The Most Famous Escape Artist, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the escape artist you think is the most famous!

Updated on Apr 30, 2024 07:06

In the thrilling world of magic and mystery, escape artists captivate audiences with their daring feats, slipping free from handcuffs, chains, and watertight tanks. Ranking these skilled performers helps fans connect with new and legendary talents, understanding who has truly mastered this dangerous art. It also illuminates the range of techniques and creative innovations each artist brings to the stage. By participating in the ranking process, you contribute to a community-wide appreciation of escapology. Your votes help determine who stands out in this unique field, guiding newcomers to performances that have defined and expanded the boundaries of what's possible. This continuous input from enthusiasts like you keeps the list current and reflective of who is making the biggest impact in the world of escape artistry today.

Who Is the Most Famous Escape Artist?

1

37
votes
LaPine Studios · Public domain

Harry Houdini

He is widely regarded as the most famous escape artist of all time. He performed death-defying feats such as escaping from handcuffs, straitjackets, and water-filled tanks.
Harry Houdini in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most successful magician of all time
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous daredevil
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous Harry
- Position 5 of 10 in Most famous Freemason
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular stuntman
2

35
votes
David Shankbone · CC BY-SA 3.0

David Blaine

He is a modern-day escape artist who has performed a wide range of stunts, including being buried alive, frozen in ice, and submerged in water for several days.
David Blaine in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous magician on YouTube
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous mentalist
- Position 5 of 10 in Most famous daredevil
- Position 9 of 10 in Most successful magician of all time
3

18
votes
Thomas Rutan · CC0

Criss Angel

He is known for his extreme stunts and illusions, which include escaping from straightjackets while hanging upside down and being buried alive.
Criss Angel is an internationally renowned magician known for his mind-bending and visually stunning illusions. He has captivated audiences around the world with his unique blend of magic, daredevil stunts, and theatrical performances.

Television Shows: Created and starred in multiple successful television series including Mindfreak and Believe.

Las Vegas Shows: Performs regularly in Las Vegas with his iconic show, Mindfreak Live, which combines magic, illusions, and death-defying acts.

Illusions and Escapes: Known for his groundbreaking illusions and daring escape acts, often pushing the boundaries of what is physically possible.

Multiple Awards: Recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including Magician of the Year and the World Magic Legacy Award.

Endurance Stunts: Performed incredibly dangerous endurance stunts, such as being suspended by hooks and buried alive.
Criss Angel in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most successful magician of all time
4

15
votes

Magicusb · Public domain

Dorothy Dietrich

She is known as "The First Lady of Magic" and has performed numerous escape stunts, including escaping from a straitjacket while hanging from a burning rope.
5

17
votes

Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Charles Morritt

He was a British escape artist who performed under the stage name "The Great Omani" and was known for his daring stunts, including escaping from a straitjacket while suspended from a crane.
6

12
votes

Dean Gunnarson

He is a Canadian escape artist who has performed numerous stunts, including being buried alive, chained underwater, and escaping from a straitjacket while hanging from a helicopter.
7

11
votes

Hans Koberger · CC BY-SA 4.0

Steve Baker

He is an American escape artist who performs under the stage name "Mr. Escape" and has set numerous world records for his stunts, including being submerged in water for over 16 minutes.
8

8
votes

Alan Alan

He was a British escape artist who performed in the 1950s and 60s and was known for his daring stunts, including being buried alive for several days.
9

4
votes

Thomas Blackthorne

He is an American escape artist who has performed numerous stunts, including being suspended from a burning rope and being buried alive.
10

3
votes

Harry Price · Public domain

Kuda Bux

He was a Pakistani escape artist who performed in the 1940s and 50s and was known for his ability to escape from seemingly impossible situations, such as being chained and locked inside a coffin.

Missing your favorite escape artist?

Graphs

Discussion

Ranking factors for famous escape artist

Popularity and Familiarity

How well-known are they?
Historical Significance

Were they influential in their field? Do they have a lasting legacy?
Difficulty of Escapes

How difficult were their escapes? Did they perform feats that others were unable to replicate?
Innovation

Did they come up with new techniques or methods for escaping?
Risk

Did their escapes put themselves in serious danger?
Performance

How entertaining were their escapes? Did they captivate and engage their audience?

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous escape artist. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or escape artist is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1743 views
161 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each escape artist once every 24 hours. The rank of each escape artist is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous escape artist

Escape artists have been captivating audiences for decades with their daring feats of escaping from seemingly impossible situations. From Harry Houdini to David Blaine, there have been many famous escape artists throughout history. These performers use their skills in lock picking, contortion, and illusion to break free from handcuffs, straightjackets, and other restraints. But who is the most famous escape artist of all time? Let's take a closer look at some of the top contenders and see who comes out on top.