Johnny Eck
Johnny Eck (actually Johnny Eckhardt ) (* August 27, 1911 or 1910 in Baltimore, Maryland, † January 5, 1991 ) was an American actor, artist, magician and musician.
Biography
While his twin brother Robert had no physical peculiarities, Johnny's body was developing normally only up to the ribs; the rest was stunted and useless. Grown Also he only reached a height of 46 cm.
Nevertheless, the boy was viable, learned to read and write very early and soon developed, as well as Robert, a penchant for artistic activities. He was an excellent student. But already in his childhood began Johnny, along with his brother, his unusual body - he always launched the rumor that his body end below the ribs, as if he had been cut - to present in a magic show. In addition to performances in curiosity cabinets and circuses worked Johnny Eck, who had originally planned once to become a preacher, also a painter and photographer, had his own twelve piece orchestra and played in three Tarzan films. He is best known today, however, especially not helped by his role as a boy in the movie freaks.
In the 1930s, Johnny was able to fulfill the dream to buy a race car that he had converted for manual operation and provided with a street legal. Later came yet added a miniature railway that still receive today if is need of restoration.
Johnny Eck and his brother never moved out of her parents house in Baltimore. 1987 Johnny was here the victim of a robbery. He survived this, but lived from this time embittered and fully retracted. Robert survived him by several years. Your house, now owned by the operator of a virtual Johnny Eck Museum, is now in a very seedy neighborhood and its windows and doors are protected by thick steel plates from intruders and shootings.