Table of Contents
Introduction
Joe Burrus, a self-taught escape artist who wanted to be the next Houdini, was born in Fresno, California, in 1958. Raised in the Tower District by a single mother, he left school early but gained local fame through bold magic performances. Known for attempting high-risk escape stunts without modern safety tools, Burrus performed over 40 shows from 1986 to 1990.
On Halloween night in 1990, he tragically died at age 32 during a buried-alive stunt involving wet cement. Joe Burrus’s cause of death was linked to a coffin collapse under 7 tons of weight. Despite his low income and lack of national fame, Joe Burrus’s cause of death left a lasting mark on magic history as a cautionary tale of ambition without safety.
| Basics | Details |
| Name | Joe Burrus |
| Born | 1958, Fresno, California |
| Education | Dropped out in 11th grade; self-taught magician. |
| Inspiration | Influenced by Houdini, Randi, and Henning |
| Career Start | Began street magic in the early 1980s |
| Performance Style | Used traditional escape tools; no modern tech. |
| Venues | Local shows: fairs, parties, fundraisers |
| Physical Stats | 5’9″, 162 lbs; practiced yoga and strength training |
| Age at Death | 32 |
| Family | Partner: Linda Arvizo; 2 siblings |
| Net Worth | Under $5,000 |
| Experience | 40+ shows from 1986–1990 |
| Final Stunt | Buried alive under 7 tons of wet cement |
| Joe Burrus’s Cause Of Death | Coffin’s collapse led to suffocation and crushing injuries. |
| Legacy | Remembered locally as a daring escape artist |
Joe Burrus’s Cause Of Death, Final Stunt, and His Escape Setup
Joe Burrus, a 32-year-old escape artist from Fresno, California, lost his life on October 30, 1990, while attempting a buried-alive stunt. Motivated by Houdini, he was buried beneath tons of soil and wet cement after being sealed in a plexiglass coffin and lowered into a pit. Despite warnings, he believed he could survive. Tragically, this performance would be his last due to structural failure and poor planning.
The Heavy Weight That Led to Collapse
- The weight used during the stunt was immense—roughly 3,000 pounds of dirt and 11,000 pounds of wet cement.
- Joe believed his coffin could withstand it, but it was made of unreinforced plexiglass, which lacked the strength for such a load.
- Within seconds of the final layer being added, the structure failed.
- Joe Burrus’s cause of death was linked to this misjudged calculation and choice of unsafe materials.
Immediate Collapse and Burial
The performance took place at Blackbeard’s Family Fun Center in Fresno, attended by 150 spectators, including children and members of the media. As soon as the cement was poured, the coffin cracked under pressure. Wet cement rushed in and crushed the coffin instantly, leaving Burrus trapped without escape. No safety team could react in time. Joe Burrus’s cause of death shocked onlookers and revealed the actual risk of such dangerous illusions.
Failed Rescue and Discovery of Body
Local fire department responders arrived quickly and began the rescue attempt. However, it took approximately 30 minutes to remove the dense cement. By the time they reached the remains of the coffin, Burrus was already deceased. His body was crushed and unresponsive. His cause of death was later confirmed by the Fresno County Coroner’s Office, listing compression asphyxia caused by the massive weight of the materials.
Medical Report and Aftermath of the Stunt
An official autopsy revealed that Burrus suffered multiple internal injuries, including broken ribs and a collapsed chest cavity. His lungs could not expand due to the weight, causing him to suffocate. There were no signs he had escaped the handcuffs, showing he died almost instantly. While no foul play was suspected, medical officials stated Joe Burrus’s cause of death could have been avoided with better planning and safer materials.
Lack of Safety Planning and Expert Warnings
Magicians and stunt experts had advised Burrus not to proceed, citing the coffin’s design as unsafe. Despite this, Burrus insisted on continuing without professional engineering. He had no emergency escape tools, alarms, or backup plans in place. These choices played a significant role in the tragedy. Experts have since cited this event as a poignant reminder of the vital importance of safety in high-risk performances.
No Emergency System or Reinforcement
Burrus’s coffin lacked essential features, such as an air supply, reinforced walls, or an emergency exit mechanism. He had no chance after being buried because of this omission. His team also lacked the necessary equipment to remove the cement quickly. The failure to prepare for worst-case scenarios contributed significantly to the accident. The tragic result highlights the consequences of disregarding professional advice when undertaking life-threatening stunts.
Final Moments Witnessed by Crowd
Spectators included friends, family, and local journalists from stations like KMPH-TV. They watched with awe as the trick began, but joy quickly turned into horror. The stunt site went silent when the coffin broke and the cement caved in. Among the crowd was his partner, Linda, who was left in shock. This public tragedy remains one of the most somber incidents in modern magic history.
Early Life and Education
In 1958, Joe Burrus was born in Fresno, California, USA. The majority of his early years were spent in the Tower District. Joe faced a challenging upbringing and was raised by his single mother, Margaret Burrus. He dropped out of Fresno High School in the 11th grade but remained passionate about magic. Joe Burrus educated himself by watching films on magicians like Harry Houdini and using materials from the public library.
Career
- Joe Burrus began his career by performing street magic in downtown Fresno in the early 1980s.
- His acts became locally known for their daring nature. Unlike many magicians, he never signed with an agent or toured nationally.
- Instead, Joe Burrus performed at birthday parties, local fundraisers, and county fairs.
- He was primarily known for performing without modern equipment, insisting on traditional escape tools like handcuffs, ropes, and glass boxes.
Height, Weight, and Age
At the time of his tragic death on October 30, 1990, Joe Burrus was 32 years old. He had a lean build, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 162 pounds. He frequently practiced breath-holding, strength training, and yoga to condition his body for high-risk escapes. Burrus claimed in interviews that his physical fitness gave him confidence during stunts that would terrify most performers. His discipline was key to his escape performances.
Family and Net Worth
Joe Burrus was in a long-term relationship with his partner, Linda Arvizo, who supported his dreams and often attended his shows. His father had passed away during his childhood, and he had two siblings: a brother named David and a sister named Carla. Since Joe Burrus spent the majority of his money on equipment and stunt preparation, his net worth was extremely low—it was estimated to be less than $5,000 at the time of his death.
Magical History and Experience
Joe Burrus never studied magic formally or attended an academy like the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood. He relied entirely on observation, experimentation, and second-hand advice from amateur performers. His idols included Harry Houdini, James Randi, and Doug Henning. Joe Burrus focused his practice on escape stunts, particularly underwater lockboxes and buried-alive challenges. His experience came primarily from solo training, often in isolated parks and abandoned buildings around Fresno.
Read More: – Helena Duplantis’s Height
Magical Events
Between 1986 and 1990, Joe Burrus staged over 40 live performances. Some notable events included an underwater tank escape at Roeding Park and a coffin escape trick in Clovis, California. His final event, titled “The Final Houdini Halloween Tribute,” took place at Blackbeard’s Family Fun Center in Fresno. During this act, he attempted to escape a plexiglass coffin buried under seven tons of cement—a stunt that tragically cost him his life before a live audience.
Awards and Achievements
- Though Joe Burrus never received formal recognition from major organizations like the International Brotherhood of Magicians, he was celebrated in local circles.
- The Fresno Bee once referred to him as “Fresno’s Houdini in the Making.”
- While he didn’t win trophies or monetary prizes, Joe Burrus earned immense respect for his bravery.
- Local magic clubs remembered him in newsletters, and several amateur magicians later cited him as a source of inspiration for daring escapes.
Conclusion
Joe Burrus’s cause of death—suffocation and crushing injuries under 7 tons of wet cement and dirt—serves as a tragic lesson in stunt safety. At just 32 years old, with over 40 live performances between 1986 and 1990, Burrus dedicated his life to escaping magic. Despite earning under $5,000 in net worth, he invested everything into his passion. His legacy reminds us of the thin line between daring showmanship and dangerous miscalculation.
Want to know about “Alexander Gunther Martin’s Movies” Check out our “Entertainment” category.
FAQs
Joe Burrus was a self-taught magician from Fresno, California, known for performing dangerous escape stunts inspired by Houdini, often without modern safety gear or professional support.
His most well-known act was being buried alive in a plexiglass coffin under 7 tons of cement during a Halloween tribute performance in 1990, which ended tragically.
The collapse of his unreinforced coffin, which was unable to support the tremendous weight of cement and soil, resulted in compressive asphyxia and his death.
He died on October 30, 1990, at Blackbeard’s Family Fun Center in Fresno, California, during a live stunt gone wrong in front of around 150 spectators.
Burrus was buried beneath roughly 3,000 pounds of dirt and 11,000 pounds of wet cement, which ultimately crushed the plexiglass coffin during the failed escape attempt.
