Michael Griffin (escape artist)

Michael Griffin (born April 10, 1961) is an American escape artist, magician and illusionist. He is best known for his $100,000 worldwide challenge to anyone who can keep him prisoner,[1] as well as being the only person to have survived a public hanging.[2]

Michael Griffin
Born (1961-04-10) April 10, 1961
Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationEscape artist Magician
Years active36
Known for$100,000.00 Challenge to anyone who can prevent his escape
Notable credit(s)Winner of World Magic Awards, International Magic Awards, Ultimate Escape Artist
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Awards2x World Magic Awards, 1st Silver Handcuff Award, Ripley's Ultimate Escape Artist
Websitewww.escapeguy.com

Early life

Griffin was born in Lexington, Kentucky.

Notable appearances

He had numerous appearances in the series Masters of Illusion[3] and the Reelz series Extreme Escapes.

In 2012, Griffin was selected to appear on America's Got Talent. Originally scheduled to perform his Navy Sea Bag escape, producers at last minute suggested Griffin have Howard Stern come on stage and tie Michael up with rope.[3] He made his escape but was not selected to continue.

Stunts

Griffin's first "stunt" to bring the escape artist attention occurred in Newport Beach, California. In front of assembled media and onlookers, he was chained up with 15 feet of iron chain secured with four padlocks. He jumped from the bow of one of two yachts used and was able to escape within 30 seconds.[4][5]

During a concert appearance in Cincinnati, Ohio, Griffin sought to disprove the myth that Houdini escaped from under the ice in the Detroit River. A hole was cut into the ice off the dock of the Mike Fink restaurant on the Covington, Kentucky side of the Ohio river. He was locked up with three pairs of police handcuffs and 1 set of leg irons before disappearing beneath the ice, appearing free approx 30 seconds later.[6]

During a show for the prisoners at the Sedgwick County Jail in Wichita, Kansas, Griffin was restrained in 14 pairs of handcuffs and 6 leg irons then secured into an isolation cell. The escape was accomplished in 8 minutes and a sworn certificate signed by the Sheriff attesting to the facts of the escape was given to Griffin.[7] During a three-day appearance at the Sandusky County Fair Griffin in Fremont, Ohio, Griffin was challenged by the Nopper-Veh Funeral Home to escape from a metal coffin designed with an airtight seal.[8] He succeeded in escaping in under 11 minutes. He became the first magician to be granted the use of Houdini's underwater packing box which had been in dry storage for approximately 90 years. Griffin was allowed to examine it and decide to accept or decline the challenge. The escape was successful, but almost cost him his life.[9]

Public Hanging

In January 1984, Griffin attempted to recreate a stunt he had originally performed in Houston, Texas on September 29, 1983.[10] During this attempt a regulation 13 knot noose was used and applied by the Sheriff of Sedgwick County, Kansas (Johnny Darr) as well as tying Griffin's hands behind his back. He made his escape in approximately 37 seconds. According to Griffin "The pain was unbearable, I thought I was dying".[11]

Escape Artist Michael Griffin became the only person in history to survive a real hanging with a regulation 13 knot noose around the neck, hands tied behind the back and pulled off the back of a horse

$10,000.00 Challenge Escape

Griffin had issued a challenge to reward $10,000.00 to anyone who could keep him prisoner.[12][13]

Awards and nominations
  • 1993 Best Escape Artist, World Magic Awards (Award)[14][15][3]
  • 1999 Best Escape Artist, World Magic Awards (Award)[14][15][3]
  • 2004 Silver Handcuffs, World Escape Artist Convention (Award)[16]

References
  1. "Michael Griffin biography". all-about-magicians.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "My Hanging Horror". Globe. January 31, 1984. pp. 3–4.
  3. Turner, Brett (June 27, 2016). "Escape artist thrills at Clark County Fair". springfieldnewssun.com. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  4. "Artist Is Bound to Succeed". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 1982.
  5. "Unchained Mystery". Daily Pilot. August 17, 1982. p. 1.
  6. "It was a performance that really broke the ice". Cincinnati Post. January 24, 1984.
  7. "Jail officials are lucky he's not an inmate". USA TODAY. Gannet. April 13, 1984. p. 7A.
  8. "Powell resident gears up for coffin escape". The Columbus Dispatch. August 15, 2001.
  9. Lacioner, Catherine (2002-10-27). "Crowd mystified as stunt artist Griffin escapes submerged crate, defies death". Boca Raton News. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-12-24 – via Google News.
  10. "Griffin - The Elvis Presley of the Stunt World". The Northwest Star. September 27, 1983. pp. 1–3.
  11. "Sedgwick County". January 2, 1997. Retrieved July 4, 2016 – via IMDb.
  12. "Fit to be tied - for $10,000". Examiner. February 9, 1993.
  13. "Escape artist tops Houdini". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. October 27, 2002.
  14. "Michael Griffin: To Live or Die at Noon Today - Inside Magic". insidemagic.com. October 29, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  15. Ritchie, Mike (June 10, 2016). "America's Escape Hero Michael Griffin performs at SRS Rehearsal Stage". The Guardian. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  16. Sauerwein, Kristina (August 27, 2003). "Slipping the Knots to Fame". Retrieved July 4, 2016 – via LA Times.
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