Harry Houdini survived many dangerous feats, including being trapped in a box underwater. To add to the Houdini myth, the great dare-devil died on Halloween. What finally did him in?: A punch to the stomach.

But being punched in the stomach and surviving was one of his special tricks. Why, on this occasion, did it lead to his demise? Perhaps not surprisingly, Houdini’s celebrity and personality contributed to his exit.

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The mysteries of Houdini’s death are answered in this video from Smarter Everyday.

Image credit: Tmolini/Flickr