{{short description|Hungarian-Italian escape artist}} {{Infobox person | name = David Merlini | image =David Merlini President - The House of Houdini Budapest.jpg | imagesize = | caption = David Merlini President - The House of Houdini Budapest | birth_date = | birth_place = Budapest, Hungary | occupation = escape artist, Director | children = No | years_active = 1993–present | website = [http://www.merlini.com www.merlini.com] | footnotes = }}
'''David Merlini''' is a Hungarian-Italian escape artist, and World Record holder, described by Expo 2015 as the world's most famous escapologist,<ref name="David Merlini, the New Houdini: A Great Show of Illusionism At Expo Milano 2015 on Thursday, October 29">{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.expo2015.org/archive/en/david-merlini--the-new-houdini--a-great-show-of-illusionism-at-expo-milano-2015-on-thursday--october-29.html |title=David Merlini, the New Houdini: A Great Show of Illusionism At Expo Milano 2015 on Thursday, October 29 | Expo Milano 2015 |website=Expo2015.org |date= |accessdate=2017-01-23 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> currently serving as Director of The House of Houdini, the only Houdini museum in Europe.<ref name="No escape from the genius of Harry Houdini">{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/2016/10/28/no-escape-from-the-genius-of-harry-houdini |title=No escape from the genius of Harry Houdini |website=Euronews.com |date=2016-10-28 |accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref>
Merlini's signature performances had been broadcast live in some of the most relevant television networks worldwide.<ref name="2004-09-03">{{cite news |date=2004-09-03 |title=Illúzió vagy titkos tudomány? |trans-title=Illusion or secret science? |url=http://www.epa.oszk.hu/00800/00804/00342/46722.html |newspaper=Hetek |language=Hungarian |accessdate=2016-09-11 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192953/http://www.epa.oszk.hu/00800/00804/00342/46722.html |archivedate=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="David Merlini, La finale">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/extreme-escapes/cast/716193/ |title=Extreme Escapes Cast and Characters |website=TVGuide.com |date= |accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref><ref name="Italian man refreshes {{notatypo|Guiness}} World Record for underwater breath holding">{{cite web|author= |url=http://en.people.cn/90001/90783/7380073.html |title=Italian man refreshes Guiness World Record for underwater breath holding - People's Daily Online |website=En.people.cn |date= |accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref>
==Early life and career== His mother is Hungarian and his father is Italian.<ref name="Balázs2004-12-02">{{cite news |last=Balázs |first=Eszter |date=2004-12-02 |title=Escaping his dreams |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/106C4A890A6A9787?p=AWNB |newspaper=The Budapest Sun |accessdate=2016-09-11 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240527232143/https://www.webcitation.org/6kQzgGusW?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/106C4A890A6A9787%3Fp=AWNB |archivedate=2024-05-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was raised in Italy, where he moved with his family from Hungary at the age of 4.<ref name="Balázs2004-12-02"/>
Around the age of 4, Merlini became interested in locks and handcuffs. As a child, he was given a magic trick, which founded his career. Around 13, Merlini attended night school at Turin's Circolo Amici della Magia, an illusionist school. When he was 17, he returned to Hungary, the country he regards as his homeland.<ref name="Balázs2004-12-02"/> Merlini cited Harry Houdini, who had also been born in Hungary, as a major source of inspiration.<ref name="1998-10-30">{{cite news |date=1998-10-30 |title=New Houdini wannabe escapes from burning car |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F364C9206680108?p=AWNB |newspaper=Deseret News |accessdate=2016-09-11 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240527232228/https://www.webcitation.org/6kR0HVLCN?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F364C9206680108%3Fp=AWNB |archivedate=2024-05-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Milestones of his career==
===1995=== At Sziget'95 (now called the Sziget Festival), Merlini was strapped in a straitjacket, and was tied to a flaming rope by his feet. His aim was to escape from the rope and descend 20 meters to the platform below with a safety line.<ref name="Ha egyszer Houdini elszabadul">{{cite web|url=http://nol.hu/kultura/ha-egyszer-houdini-elszabadul-1602543 |title=Kultúra: Ha egyszer Houdini elszabadul |website=NOL.hu |date=2016-02-20 |accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref>
===1996=== Merlini was locked and in a perforated steel box, after being chained and padlocked. The box was lowered into the Danube from the Chain Bridge.<ref name="David Merlini newspaper archive">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/mailap19960826 |title=Mai Nap 1996-08-26 : Laura : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive |website=Archive.org |date= 22 January 2017|accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref>
===1997=== Attempts to recreate Houdini's famed Chinese Water Torture Cell, Handcuffed by five sets of regulation police handcuffs, locked with 60 pounds of chains, and padlocked in a metal cage, Merlini was lowered into a transparent tank of water, live at eurovision television programme Jeux Sans Frontieres.<ref name="Hungarian National Television Archive - Performance starts at 46:51">{{cite web|url=http://nava.hu/id/1883394/ |title=Nemzeti Audiovizuális Archívum |website=Nava.hu |date=1997-07-27 |accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref>
===1998=== Handcuffed to the steering wheel of a Mercedes 500, doors are welded shut, the car is set on fire and lifted up to a height of 100 ft. before being released free fall.<ref name="MagicTimes News Archives - Week of November 23–29, 1998">{{cite web |url=http://www.magictimes.com/archives/1998/1998-11_23-29.htm |title=MagicTimes News Archives - Week Of November 23-29, 1998 |website=Magictimes.com |date= |accessdate=2017-01-23 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
===1999=== Strapped in a regulations straitjacket on the main stage of Sziget Festival, he is lifted upside down several hundred feet in the air, before proceeding to escape.<ref name="David Merlini on the cover of Népszabadság TV Magazine, performing the straitjacket escape under helicopter">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Nepszabadsaagtv200408 |title=David Merlini Népszabadságtv 200408 : Laura : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive |website=Archive.org |date= January 2017|accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref> thumb|David Merlini in 1999
===2000=== Strapped in a special underwater straitjacket, Merlini's ankles are secured by handcuffs, padlocks and massive lead weights. He jumps into the giant transparent tank of water along with six tiger sharks, spending a total of 2 minutes and 30 seconds at a depth of 5 meters.<ref name="David Merlini on the cover of Találkozások TV magazine, presenting the shark escape">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Talalkozasok200106a |title=David Merlini - Találkozások Magazin cover : Laura : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive |website=Archive.org |date= 22 January 2017|accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref>
==The New Generation Performances==
===2001=== The stunt named Hyberna sees Merlini strapped in a regulation straitjacket, welded in a steel reinforced glass container filled with water, and set to freeze in a refrigeration cell on Heroe's Square, in Budapest. At the end of the 33 hours process, the one ton ice block is melted with flame throwers.<ref name="Pokoli fiú">{{cite web |url=http://www.terasz.hu/premier/main.php?id=premier&page=cikk&cikk_id=6420 |title=Premier |website=Terasz.hu |date= |accessdate=2017-01-23 |archive-date=2017-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202014733/http://www.terasz.hu/premier/main.php?id=premier&page=cikk&cikk_id=6420 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The show is witnessed live by a crowd of more than 10,000 and on live television broadcast. thumb|David Merlini frozen in a block of solid ice on Heroes Square, Budapest, Hungary, on the 29th of September 2001
===2002=== As part of a live segment for MTV show ''The Fridge''.<ref name="The Fridge on Imdb (TV Series 2001-2003)">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426692/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_4|title=The Fridge : TV Series (2001–2003)|website=IMDb.com|accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref> Strapped in a regulation straitjacket, his ankles are padlocked and handcuffed to lead weights, before jumping in the Baltic Sea in --Karlskrona, Sweden.<ref name="David Merlini, press clipping, article before the stunt">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Blekinge20021009 |title=David Merlini in Sweden Blekinge 20021009 : Laura : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive |website=Archive.org |date= 23 January 2017|accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref>
===2003=== Handcuffed to a metal cross, Merlini is lowered upside down in a tank of water set on fire,<ref name="David Merlini, upside down underwater video link">{{cite web|author= |url=https://vimeo.com/114055614 |title=David Merlini performs his version of the upside down underwater escape in full view. on Vimeo |website=Vimeo.com |date=2014-12-09 |accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref> as part of a segment for MTV show ''The Fridge''.<ref name="The Fridge on Imdb (TV Series 2001-2003)"/>
===2004=== As part of the performance named "The Breakthrough", viewed by two million people on live television, and a large crowd on the banks of the river, Merlini was buried up to his neck in 3.5 tons of freshly set concrete after which the concrete cube was lowered by crane to the bottom of the Danube river.<ref name="2004-09-03"/><ref name="Walker">{{cite web |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/inside-the-budapest-escape-room-that-started-the-worldwide-craze |title=Inside the Budapest Escape Room That Started the Worldwide Craze: Why Hungarians are so good at puzzles—from Houdini and Rubik's Cubes to escape rooms. |work=Atlas Obscura |first1=Jennifer |last1=Walker |date=August 26, 2016 |accessdate=January 23, 2016}}</ref><ref name="David Merlini: the Breakthrough on Getty Images">{{cite web|url=http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/in-a-concrete-cube-hungarian-escape-artist-david-merlini-is-news-photo/51249933?#in-a-concrete-cube-hungarian-escape-artist-david-merlini-is-hoisted-picture-id51249933 |title=In a concrete cube, Hungarian escape art Pictures |publisher=Getty Images |date=2004-08-31 |accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref><ref name="Merlini:N volt trükk A nagy áttörésem">{{cite web|url=http://www.blikk.hu/sztarvilag/merlini-nem-volt-trukk-a-nagy-attores/27qv596 |title=Merlini: Nem volt trükk A nagy áttörés |website=Blikk.hu |date=2015-10-21 |accessdate=2017-01-23}}</ref>
===2005=== Merlini is locked in a capsule on top of the largest non governmental, non military missile ever built, and launched to an altitude of 6,000 feet from the Shipyard Island (Hajógyári Island), as part of the stunt named The Countdown, witnessed live by a crowd of thousands, and broadcast live by Viasat.<ref name="Escape artist breaks world record">{{cite web |url=http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/hislife/features/87133.html |title=iafrica.com Escape artist breaks world record |website=Lifestyle.iafrica.com |date=2007-10-12 |accessdate=2017-01-23 |archive-date=2017-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202092035/http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/hislife/features/87133.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===2006=== Publishes his first autobiographic book titled "Szabadíts ki!' (Free me!)<ref name="David Merlini: Szabadíts ki!">|url=[https://moly.hu/konyvek/david-merlini-szabadits-ki].moly.hu 2006</ref>
===2007=== Merlini received the "Best Escape Artist" award at the 2007 World Magic Awards in Los Angeles.<ref name="László2015-09-20">{{cite news |last=László |first=Szabó G. |date=2015-09-20 |title=Külföldre viszi mutatványait David Merlini |trans-title=David Merlini abroad takes mutatványait |url=http://ujszo.com/online/panorama/2015/09/20/kulfoldre-viszi-mutatvanyait-david-merlini |newspaper=Új Szó |language=Hungarian |accessdate=2016-09-11 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911050100/http://ujszo.com/online/panorama/2015/09/20/kulfoldre-viszi-mutatvanyait-david-merlini |archivedate=2016-09-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===2008=== Merlini set the breath-holding world record in Cannes, France, at the annual trade show MIPCOM after holding his breath for 20 minutes and 39 seconds. He received a certificate from Guinness World Records for "The record for the longest time that someone has held their breath underwater".<ref name="Hache2008-10-14">{{cite news |last=Hache |first=Valery |date=2008-10-14 |title=Hungarian artist David Merlini presents his world record certificate |url=http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/hungarian-artist-david-merlini-presents-his-world-record-news-photo/83261089 |publisher=Getty Images |accessdate=2016-09-27 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927060005/http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/hungarian-artist-david-merlini-presents-his-world-record-news-photo/83261089 |archivedate=2016-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="MIPCOM awaits David Merlini stunt">|url=[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mipcom-awaits-david-merlini-stunt-120939]. hollywooodreporter.com October 13, 2008</ref><ref name="World record holds MIPCOM breathless">|url=[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/world-record-holds-mipcom-breathless-120962]. hollywoodreporter.com October 13, 2008</ref>
thumb|David Merlini (HUN) breaks his own record for holding breath underwater with a time of 21 minutes and 29 seconds. Formula One World Championship, Rd 4, Bahrain Grand Prix, Race Day, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday 26 April 2009. Photo courtesy of Sutton Images
===2009=== Breaks the world record for the longest time underwater on the starting grid of the Formula 1 World Championship in Bahrain, before the start of the race. The event was covered live worldwide. The new world record stands at 21 minutes and 29 seconds.<ref name="2009 Formula One season, wet & dry">|url=[https://archive.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/05/2009_formula_one_season_wet_dr.html]. boston.com. May 5, 2009</ref>
===2010=== Merlini is on tour. Performing on 17 different venues, presenting his signature escapes.
===2011=== Breaks the breath-holding world record in Baofeng lake, Hunan, China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.people.cn/90001/90783/7380073.html|title=Italian man refreshes Guinness World Record for underwater breath holding - People's Daily Online|last=F_129|website=en.people.cn|access-date=2016-09-03}}</ref>
===2012=== Plays chess upside down with chess World Champion Susan Polgár, after successfully escaping a regulation straitjacket.<ref name="globalchessfestival article about the performance">|url=[http://www.globalchessfestival.com/fesztival/archiv/2012]{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}. globalchessfestival.com. November 27, 2012</ref>
===2013=== Merlini consulted for the ''Houdini'' miniseries as magical and escape advisor, training actor Adrien Brody, who played the role of Houdini, how to escape from handcuffs while holding his breath.<ref name="technical"/>
===2014=== Merlini was set on fire during his "Witch trial" stunt. Tied at the stake with ropes, and soaked with flammable material, he had to escape before the protective coating on his skin would volatilize.<ref name="Extreme Escapes -Series-">|url=[http://www.tvtango.com/series/extreme_escapes]. tvtango.com. November 29, 2014</ref>
===2015=== Merlini presented "Houdini in Milano", a live theatrical show featuring real escapes, for the closing ceremony of Expo 2015 at the Auditorium in Milan, Italy.<ref name="LUngheria cerebra Houdini all' Expo">|url=[http://www.hestetika.it/lungheria-celebra-houdini-allexpo/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202034013/http://www.hestetika.it/lungheria-celebra-houdini-allexpo/ |date=2017-02-02 }}. hestetika.it October 29, 2015</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2015/10/houdini-in-milano-october-22-29.html |date=October 3, 2015 |title=Houdini in Milano, October 22–29 |work=Wild About Harry |first1=John |last1=Cox |accessdate=January 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2015/11/photos-from-houdini-in-milano.html |date=November 11, 2015 |title=Photos from "Houdini in Milano" Escape artist |quote=David Merlini shares with us today photos from the recent Houdini in Milano exhibition at the Expo Milano 2015. The display was presented by David and the General Commissioner of Hungary and marked the first major Houdini exhibition in Europe.|first1=John |last1=Cox |accessdate=January 23, 2017}}</ref>
===2016=== Merlini opened The House of Houdini, presenting the largest permanent collection of original Houdini artifacts in Europe.<ref name="Walker"/><ref name="technical">{{cite web |url=http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2013/10/meet-houdinis-technical-advisor-david.html |date=October 23, 2013 |title=Meet Houdini's technical advisor: David Merlini |quote=David Merlini is serving as technical advisor on the Houdini miniseries currently shooting in Budapest. |accessdate=January 23, 2017}}</ref> Its artifacts were previewed at Budapest's National Széchényi Library.<ref name="preview">{{cite web |url=http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2016/03/new-houdini-museum-rises-in-budapest.html |date=March 29, 2016 |title=New Houdini Museum Rises in Budapest |work=Wild About Harry |first1=John |last1=Cox |accessdate=January 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Fenyo">{{cite news |first1=Krisztina |last1=Fenyo |first2=Krisztina |last2=Than |first3=Alison (Editor) |last3=Williams |last4=Szabo |first4=Bernadette (Photographer) |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hungary-houdini-idUSKBN1491PQ |title=Budapest museum lifts lid on Houdini's magic, Hungarian roots |agency=Reuters |website=Reuters|date=December 20, 2016 |accessdate=January 23, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Murphy">{{cite news |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20161208-handcuff-king-houdinis-secrets-unlocked-hungary |first1=Peter |last1=Murphy |date=December 8, 2016 |publisher=France24 |title='Handcuff king' Houdini's secrets unlocked in Hungary |quote=Set high in the capital's lofty Castle district, the House of Houdini lifts the veil on the box of tricks used by the famous magician, who lived most of his life in the United States. |accessdate=January 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202033630/http://www.france24.com/en/20161208-handcuff-king-houdinis-secrets-unlocked-hungary |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The museum's collection includes original Houdini memorabilia: ''e.g.'', handcuffs, personal correspondence, and "precious artifacts." A bible one owned by Houdini is part of the collection.<ref name="SAM">{{cite web|url=http://www.magic-compass.com/house-houdini-opens-hungary/ |title=House of Houdini Opens in Hungary |author=Compeer |date=December 13, 2016 |work=The Magic Compass |publisher=Society of American Magicians |accessdate=January 23, 2017 |quote=It's true, the American illusionist was Hungarian, born in Budapest in 1874, the son of a rabbi and part of a large family with seven children.}}</ref><ref name="Zalman">{{cite news |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/219699/museum-dedicated-to-harry-houdini-opens-in-budapest |title=The Scroll: Museum Dedicated to Harry Houdini Opens in Budapest |work=Tablet |date=December 9, 2016 |first1=Jonathon |last1=Zalman |accessdate=January 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Malay">{{cite news |url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/legendary-handcuff-king-houdinis-secrets-unlocked-in-hungary |title=Legendary 'handcuff king' Houdini's secrets unlocked in Hungary |work=Malay Mail |date=December 6, 2016 |accessdate=January 23, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202131852/http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/legendary-handcuff-king-houdinis-secrets-unlocked-in-hungary |url-status=dead }}</ref> It also includes original props from the latest "HOUDINI" film {{ndash}} ''Oxygen'' (1999), which featured Adrien Brody, an Oscar winner, and the later miniseries.<ref name="Opening">{{cite web |url=http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2016/06/the-house-of-houdini-opens-today-in.html |date=June 16, 2016 |title=The House of Houdini opens today in Budapest |work=Wild About Harry |first1=John |last1=Cox |accessdate=January 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Houseofficial">{{cite web |url=http://www.houseofhoudinibudapest.com/ |title=House of Houdini Official website |publisher=The House of Houdini |accessdate=January 22, 2017}}</ref>
==Accidents and injuries== In 2008 During a World Record attempt in Cannes, France, Merlini's assistants smash the giant water tank in order to rescue him, resulting in an injured arm caused by broken glass .
In 2014 he presents Hyberna, the ice escape in Italy on Canale 5. During the escape, the 1 ton ice block breaks, causing a fracture of Merlini's tibia and fibula. Merlini calmly thanks the audience for the support, before being rushed to the hospital.<ref name="Tu si que vales, David Merlini, Incidente,">|url=[http://www.tvblog.it/post/684200/tu-si-que-vales-lescapologo-david-merlini-si-rompe-una-gamba]. tvblog.it. November 15, 2014</ref> Few weeks later, he performs a new underwater escape, the "upper body escape", where only his head and torso is submerged underwater, due to the cast on his leg.<ref name="Tu si que vales, wittytv">|url=[http://www.wittytv.it/tu-si-que-vales/david-merlini-la-finale/499148/]{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}. expo2015.org. November 29, 2014</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.merlini.com}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merlini, David}} Category:Living people Category:Entertainers from Budapest Category:Escapologists Category:Year of birth missing (living people)