Fritz Von Erich was born as Jack Adkisson on August 16, 1929, in Hamlet, North Carolina. He adopted the name “Von Erich” to emulate the persona of a German aristocrat as part of his wrestling gimmick.
Fritz is best known for being the patriarch of the Von Erich family, which produced several famous wrestlers, including his sons Kerry, Kevin, David, Mike, and Chris. Tragically, most of his sons passed away at young ages, many under mysterious or heartbreaking circumstances.
Fritz Von Erich was one of the most influential figures in the World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) promotion. His feud with The Fabulous Freebirds in the 1980s helped cement WCCW’s legacy as one of the premier wrestling promotions in Texas.
As a wrestler, Fritz held numerous championships, including the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship. He was renowned for his tough, brawler style and enjoyed success in both singles and tag team competition.
