Photo: This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States between 1931 and 1977, inclusive, without a copyright notice. For further explanation, see Commons:Hirtle chart as well as a detailed definition of "publication" for public art. Note that it may still be copyrighted in jurisdictions that do not apply the rule of the shorter term for US works (depending on the date of the author's death), such as Canada (50 p.m.a.), Mainland China (50 p.m.a., not Hong Kong or Macao), Germany (70 p.m.a.), Mexico (100 p.m.a.), Switzerland (70 p.m.a.), and other countries with individual treaties. / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Fritz Von Erich was a professional wrestler, actor and American football player, born on August 16, 1929 in Jewett, Texas, United States. Fritz Von Erich died on September 10, 1997 at the age of 68. Education on record includes Southern Methodist University. Recorded honors include WWE Hall of Fame and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. The listed height was 198 cm.
My Take
Fritz Von Erich is one of those figures who feels genuinely larger than life — and at 6'4" with a finishing hold called the Iron Claw, he earned that reputation the hard way. Born Jack Adkisson in tiny Jewett, Texas, he played football at Southern Methodist University before trading cleats for boots, and that athletic foundation showed in everything he did inside the ropes. A three-time world champion and a record-setting 20-time NWA United States Champion, Fritz became the iron fist of Texas wrestling and eventually built World Class Championship Wrestling into a cultural institution in the Lone Star State. He's also the patriarch of the entire Von Erich dynasty, which is both his greatest legacy and, given the tragedies that followed, his heaviest burden. WWE Hall of Fame, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame — the honors are there, but honestly the real testament is how vividly fans still talk about him decades after his passing in 1997.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Fritz Von Erich
- Name (Japanese)
- フリッツ・フォン・エリック
- Reading
- ふりっつ・ふぉん・えりっく
- Born
- August 16, 1929 – September 10, 1997
- Origin
- Jewett, Texas, United States
- Height
- 198 cm
- Occupation
- professional wrestler / actor / American football player
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Snake
2. Background
- University
- Southern Methodist University
Awards & achievements
- WWE Hall of Fame
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Fritz Von Erich born?
Fritz Von Erich was born on August 16, 1929.
When did Fritz Von Erich die?
Fritz Von Erich died on September 10, 1997, aged 68.
Where was Fritz Von Erich from?
Fritz Von Erich was from Jewett, Texas, United States.
What did Fritz Von Erich do?
Fritz Von Erich worked as professional wrestler, actor, American football player.
How tall was Fritz Von Erich?
Fritz Von Erich was 198 cm tall.
Where did Fritz Von Erich study?
Fritz Von Erich attended Southern Methodist University.
Professional wrestler — see all → · Actor — see all → · More people from the United States → · More people born on August 16 →