Alexander Zass, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Alexander Zass

Russian strongman and professional wrestler

Date of Birth: 23-Feb-1888

Place of Birth: Vilnius, Vilnius County, Lithuania

Date of Death: 26-Sep-1962

Profession: strongman, professional wrestler

Zodiac Sign: Pisces


Show Famous Birthdays Today, World

👉 Worldwide Celebrity Birthdays Today

About Alexander Zass

  • Alexander Zass (1888 – 26 September 1962) was a Russian strongman, a professional wrestler, and an animal trainer.
  • He was better known by his stage names, The Amazing Samson, Iron Samson, or simply Samson, Zass has been credited as the "first Russian champion in weightlifting in the pre-Revolutionary era".Zass was born in 1888.
  • in Vilnius, then part of the Russian Empire.
  • While still a young man, Zass' strength training included "bending green branches".During World War I, Zass served in the Russian army, fighting against the Austrians.
  • However, Zass was taken as a prisoner of war four times, but managed to escape each time.
  • As a prisoner, he pushed and pulled his cell bars as part of strength training, which was cited as an example of the effectiveness of isometrics.
  • At least one of his escapes involved him 'breaking chains and bending bars'.
  • He went on to promote the use of isometric exercises.Following the war, Zass joined a circus to perform feats of strength, touring internationally.
  • It has been claimed that Zass was a spy and secret agent working for Russian military intelligence, using his circus travelling as cover.
  • In 1926, his autobiography, The Amazing Samson: as Told by Himself, was published. His first wife, Blanche, died in 1928 while still a teenager.
  • He was still performing as a strongman in the 1930s.Zass has been credited with various feats of strength: Carrying his injured horse in wartime Carrying on his shoulders two lions as part of his circus act Carrying on his shoulders simultaneously a grand piano, a pianist and a dancer. Catching a woman fired from a cannon Suspending a piano from his teeth Bending with his bare hands an iron bar 5 inches long and 0.625 inches square into a U-shape Being able to "pound a 5-inch spike through a 2 inch thick plank using only the palm of his bare hand"From the 1950s until his death, Zass lived in Hockley, Essex, staying in a bungalow along with other former circus acts.
  • Zass died in 1962; after a dawn funeral, he was buried in the parish church of St Peter & St Paul in Hockley, England.
  • He was honoured with a statue in a museum in Orenburg, Russia.

Read more at Wikipedia

See Also