The Von Erich family has always been a source of fascination and admiration in the professional wrestling world. The tales of stardom and tragedy that have come to define this family extend back to the 1950s. The family founder, Jack Adkisson, began his wrestling career under the moniker Fritz Von Erich as he reached the pinnacle of fame when he invented the famous Iron Claw wrestling move. However, the initial tragedy struck the family in 1959 when young Jackie died.
As the decades passed, the Von Erich family saw more sorrowful events. These tragedies ultimately led to the family’s legendary status in the wrestling world. In 2015, ESPN captivated wrestling fans with the 30 for 30 short-documentary titled Wrestling the Curse. More recently, the story of the Von Erich family has been depicted in a star-studded film by A24 called The Iron Claw. The film brings the story of the Von Erichs to a new generation of audiences.
The family patriarch, Jack Adkisson, traded his football career for a wrestling profession and adopted the name Fritz Von Erich. Fritz eventually abandoned his role as a villain to become a good guy, forever keeping the now-iconic name. Tragedy struck the family once again in 1959 when young Jackie passed away as the Von Erich family experienced their first unspeakable event.
The 1980s and 1990s brought more painful losses for the Von Erich family. David, Mike, Chris, and Kerry all suffered untimely deaths. The deaths of these beloved family members were deeply felt by Fritz and surviving son, Kevin. After losing multiple sons to tragic events over the years, the Von Erichs began to encounter feelings of hopelessness and despair.
In 1997, the family patriarch Fritz passed away at the age of 68 after battling brain and lung cancer. This tragic loss would later be followed by the passing of Doris, Fritz’s wife. This year, the surviving son, Kevin and his family decided to relocate to Boerne, Texas.
The real-life story of the Von Erich family has been hitting the big screen in the recent film The Iron Claw. Directed by Sean Durkin, the movie captures the drama, stardom, and tragedies that have embedded the Von Erich family in the hearts of wrestling fans.
Years have passed since the initial tragedies, but it appears that the Von Erich family still lives with the same pain and loss. In a recent interview at a Los Angeles premiere, Kevin reflected on the deep bond he shares with the actor Zac Efron, who portrays Kevin in the film. The stories of the Von Erich family will forever remain in the minds of wrestling fans for generations to come.
