Von Erich wrestling family calls out ‘Iron Claw' movie's 'heart-wrenching' inaccuracies: docuseries
The last surviving brother of the famed Von Erich wrestling family set the record straight on the alleged curse that seemingly plagued the family.
Kevin Von Erich took viewers through a complete family history and the tragic deaths of each of his five brothers – Jack Jr. Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, David Von Erich, Mike Von Erich and Chris Von Erich – in Monday's episode of "Hollywood Demons" on Investigation Discovery (ID).
The five brothers were met with untimely deaths, and their lives were recently explored in the 2023 biopic, "The Iron Claw." Jack Jr. died at the age of 6 due to an electric shock. David died at 25 from acute enteritis. Later, Kerry, Mike and Chris would all die by suicide.
To correct the record, Kevin explained what really led to the family tragedies and pointed out the inaccuracies in "The Iron Claw."
Kevin and the Von Erich dynasty claimed Kerry's entire family – wife and daughters – were left out of "The Iron Claw." "Kerry in the movie was not a family man but in real life he was," Kevin explained in the docuseries.
Kerry shared two daughters, Hollie and Lacey Von Erich, with Catherine Murray. While the two divorced before Kerry's death, they were together for most of Hollie and Lacey's childhood.
"My sister and I were not in the movie as my dad's children, and he didn't have a wife. That was a really big part of my dad," Lacey said during the docuseries. "How he was portrayed in the movie was so inaccurate that it is heart-wrenching."
Kerry's family wasn't the only detail missing from his story. In 1986, the wrestler suffered a severe foot injury during a motorcycle accident. "The Iron Claw" portrayed Kerry's foot amputation as the direct result of the accident – but that's not correct.
"There's a scene in the movie where Kerry gets in an accident and the next time you see him, he does not have a foot. That is not in fact what happened," Dr. Drew Pinsky explained. "He had a very severe crush injury on the foot, but he goes back into the wrestling ring and damages it further and ultimately decides to get half of his foot amputated."
Kerry later died by suicide in 1993 following a drug-related arrest. He was 33.
Most noticeably, "The Iron Claw" didn't include the youngest Von Erich brother, Chris. "They left my little brother Chris out of the movie," Kevin said. "The director combined Mike and Chris' lives."
Mike and Chris were the last two brothers to join the wrestling dynasty, although the youngest Von Erich didn't live up to his own expectations. Diagnosed with asthma at a young age, Chris relied on steroids for medication – which likely stunted his growth. While his brothers ranged from 6-foot-1 to even 6-foot-7, Chris only grew to be 5-foot-5.
"Chris had seen us grow up, and we had this attitude like never quit, and you'll succeed," Kevin recalled. The pro wrestler and his brother Kerry encouraged Chris to go down a different path, but he wanted to be a part of the family business. At 18, he chose to train for wrestling. Chris used drugs to enhance his body. "He would have done anything to be one of the brothers in the business," a former Von Erich bodyguard said. "And it didn't matter to him what it was going to take."
After months of fighting and building up his pro wrestling image, Chris broke his arm in the ring during a 1990 fight and suffered an asthma attack that left him hospitalized. In September 1991, Chris died by suicide at the age of 21.
Mike had died by suicide just four years earlier, in 1987, after his arrest for DUI and marijuana possession. The "The Iron Claw" director, Sean Durkin, told Variety there was a "repetition" to Mike and Chris' deaths that likely would have kept the film from being made, leading to the "impossible choice" not to include the youngest brother's tragedy.
The family also disagreed with the portrayal of patriarch Fritz as a villain.
"I can understand why he was portrayed that way," Kevin's daughter Kristen Nikolas said. "I feel like people want to point at someone and blame someone like, 'Why would three people in the same family [die by] suicide?'"
"If it would have worked out and everyone was still alive, then everybody would be like, 'It is because of his dad. His dad really pushed him.' But when it doesn't work out, that is the first place to look for blame."
Kevin admitted he "probably, in a way," blamed his father for some of the family history, mostly Kerry's death.
"I'm so mad that he didn't take my call," he explained, referring to the phone call he made to Fritz after Kerry expressed suicidal thoughts. "But, he's lost his sons. And that outweighs anything else."
At the end of the day, nobody in the family blames the brothers' untimely deaths on Fritz or the infamous Von Erich curse. "In the movie they keep trying to say it is a curse, a curse, a curse," Dave Manning, a wrestling promoter and family friend, said. "There was never a Von Erich curse. There were some bad choices and some unfortunate deaths."
While reflecting on the deaths of his five brothers, Kevin explained what was really to blame for the endless tragedy the Von Erich family faced.
"In truth, the real bad guy was us," Kevin noted. "Our weaknesses in our hearts and our personality. We were never quitting and never giving up. No matter what, it was a challenge to be overcome. That mindset maybe did get dangerous in the end, but that was how we were raised to think."
Kevin continued: "When you look at the story and the deaths, there was a time I didn't want to wrestle, but I would have never thought to give up. No matter how uncomfortable it was, it was a family business. The love of the brothers is what is important. I know I will see my brothers again."
"Hollywood Demons" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Investigation Discovery.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
These Wilmington-area locations are featured in a new Netflix drama
A gritty, soapy thriller of a TV series whose locations showcase Wilmington will soon be seen by viewers worldwide. "The Waterfront," which shot in and around Wilmington and Southport in 2024, will drop all eight episodes of its first season on Netflix at 3 a.m. Thursday, June 19. The cast includes Holt McCallany ("Mindhunter," "The Iron Claw"), Maria Bello ("NCIS"), Melissa Benoist ("Supergirl"), Topher Grace ("That '70s Show," the supervillain Venom in "Spider-Man 3") and North Carolina actor Brady show follows the saga of the Buckley family, owners of a fishing business as well as a popular restaurant in the small, fictional coastal North Carolina town of Havenport. By the time "The Waterfront" opens, however, the prominent Buckley clan has fallen on hard times and turned to drug dealing on the open seas as a way to maintain their or not it gets a second season, Wilmington, Southport and to a lesser extent Wrightsville Beach get plenty of screen time in season one. There are multiple scene-setting drone shots of downtown Southport by day and by night, as well as drone shots of Fort Fisher, downtown Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach. In Southport, the exterior and deck of Fishy Fishy Cafe play the Buckley's waterfront restaurant in numerous scenes, with other sequences set at Potter's Seafood, the Southport waterfront, Yacht Basin Drive, Morningstar Marina and the Southport City Pier. (The Buckley restaurant interior is actually an elaborate set.) One deceased character is laid to rest during a funeral at the Southport Community Building, and the Havenport sheriff's office is the International Longshoremen's Local 1838 on 10th downtown Wilmington, the Chamber of Commerce just off the Riverwalk plays the exterior of the Havenport hospital, and two characters have dinner outside The Basics in the Cotton Exchange. The downtown post office plays the exterior of the Havenport courthouse, and William E. Poole Designs on Market Street is transformed into a hardware store, with Caprice restaurant and the Black Cat Shoppe seen in the background. The old City Hall portion of Thalian Hall is repurposed as a bank, and one scene on South Water Street has Grace driving a vehicle in a direction that, to locals, is "the wrong way." 'The Waterfront' in 2024: Locations, casting info released as Netflix series starts production in Brunswick Elsewhere in Wilmington, the Suites on Market portray a seedy motel, a house at 4011 Cherry Ave. plays the home of teenager Diller, and multiple scenes take place around Greenfield Lake. The South Banks Channel Bridge at Wrightsville Beach pops up in a couple of scenes, and locals might be amused by a sequence that shows a character biking over a bridge at Wrightsville before cutting to him riding his bike in downtown not yet known whether "The Waterfront" will have a second season, or if a greenlit second season would shoot in Wilmington. Season one's finale, however, does set up a potential season two. The show was created and co-written by Kevin Williamson, a native of New Bern who has said the show's story is loosely inspired by his late father, who spent time in prison. Williamson, who was also the showrunner of "The Waterfront," has a long history in Southeastern North Carolina. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Netflix's 'The Waterfront': Wilmington, NC, locations seen in the show
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Kerry Katona 'petrified' over threat to kidnap daughter Molly
Kerry Katona is wrapping up filming on Celebs Go Dating and while she praises it as the "best TV show I've ever done," she is keeping the lid on what we can expect from the series. The mum of five has been filming alongside Love Island star Olivia Hawkins too. Opening up on whether she has been watching the show, which began its 12th series last week, Kerry admitted she is hooked and binged watch alongside her kids. "We love it – the drama, people falling in love and being vulnerable with their emotions," she said. And whether she wants one of the kids to go on? Kerry will be front and centre rooting for them... Filming on Celebs Go Dating comes to an end this week, which I'm really sad about. I love everyone on the show, especially Donna Preston and Olivia Hawkins. I think I'm going to Olivia's 30th birthday party soon. I can't tell you what happens – I went into it wanting to get some therapy and the pay cheque, but you won't believe what happens. Best TV show I've ever done, hands down. READ MORE: Footballer James Maddison and girlfriend expecting second set of twins READ MORE: Nightcrawlers star and DJ John Reid dies aged 61 as tributes pour in It looks like Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones are an item, doesn't it? Helen's a good friend of mine and I absolutely adore her. She and I have been through quite similar difficult times publicly. I'm so happy for her – I think they look like a great couple and their relationship seems to have happened so organically and naturally. She deserves true love after all that she's been through. I hadn't had a chance to watch any of the new Love Island series because I was so busy filming Celebs Go Dating , but last weekend I binge-watched it with the kids. We love it – the drama, people falling in love and being vulnerable with their emotions. If one of my kids wanted to do it, I'd absolutely support them. I'd be like, 'Get on there, have a great time, take the money and buy Mum a house!' I'd go on there myself if they ever did a version with older contestants, like Davina McCall wants to do. Ed Sheeran has revealed he has 24-hour security for himself, his wife and their kids out of fear of 'dangerous people' after an attempted break-in at his house. I totally get how terrified he must have felt. When I was living in Ireland and Molly was a baby, we had a threat to kidnap her. It's petrifying to think something could happen to someone you love, just because of who you are. You feel like a sitting duck. I saw my good friend Katie Price got some backlash about her body – particularly her bumlift – after she appeared at a Pride gig in Portsmouth earlier this month. It's her body, she's a grown woman – let her live her best life. It's nobody's business! Katie has a beautiful heart, she's a total grafter and I am in awe of her. It's so easy to give up, but she keeps picking herself up and going on. That should be applauded. Yet so many people want to criticise her – it's really hard to deal with.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Katherine Schwarzenegger Honors 'Amazing' Husband Chris Pratt on His First Father's Day as a Dad of 4
Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt honored her husband Chris Pratt and her dad Arnold Schwarzenegger with an Instagram post on Father's Day Chris welcomed his fourth child, his third with Katherine, in November 2024 "Happy Father's Day to these two amazing dads," Katherine wrote in the captionKatherine Schwarzenegger Pratt is honoring Chris Pratt on his first Father's Day as a father of four. On Sunday, June 15, the children's book author, 35, shared a sweet tribute to her husband, 45, in honor of the special day. The couple share three children, Lyla Maria, 4, Eloise Christina, 3, and Ford Fitzgerald, who they welcomed in November 2024. The Marvel star is also a father to son, Jack, 12, whom he shares with ex Anna Faris. Katherine's Instagram post honored both Chris and her own dad, Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Happy Father's Day to these two amazing dads! I love you both," she wrote in the caption. The tribute began with a red carpet photo of Katherine, Chris, Arnold and other members of the Schwarzenegger family. She also included a throwback photo of Arnold holding her in his arms when she was a toddler. The post continued with an intimate picture of Chris cradling a baby to his chest, a snap of the family coloring at a kitchen table and one of Chris and his two daughters with a horse. Chris showcased the same kind of love to his wife on Mother's Day in May, during which he showcased a carousel of photos of Katherine on Instagram. "How do moms do it? Seriously. It's like running a circus, a hospital, and a five-star kitchen all at once. Our kids hit the jackpot with you, and so did I. We love you. Happy Mother's Day, Chief!" he wrote. The couple have had a celebratory couple of months since welcoming their son, Ford, in November. "We are overjoyed to announce the birth of our son, Ford Fitzgerald Schwarzenegger Pratt. Mama and baby are doing well and Ford's siblings are thrilled by his arrival. We feel so blessed and grateful. Love, Katherine and Chris," the couple wrote in a joint Instagram post on Nov. 11. Chris gave an update on his son during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in February. 'He's a really, really chill baby. He's sleeping. I sleep through the whole night, but Mama's breastfeeding so she's up every couple of hours but he is really chilled," he said of Ford at the time. "He's not colicky or anything; he's not super loud. He's got this look on his face at all times that I just call resting bewilderment face," Chris added. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. His wife shared with PEOPLE back in May that changing a baby's diaper is the number one lesson she learned as a boy mom. Read the original article on People
