Filmgoers will get a slice of wrestling history with the new film The Iron Claw, A24’s historical biopic of the Von Erich family. Starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons, the film follows the sons of Fritz Von Erich, who made a name for himself through his trademark move called “The Iron Claw,” where he’d put his hand on his opponent’s face and squeeze.
His five sons–Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris–all went into wrestling together. While the family found success in the ring, however, tragedy cast a dark shadow over their lives. The Von Erich’s first son, Jack, died in an accident at age 7 in 1959. Then, at age 30, David Von Erich died of acute enteritis in 1984.
Mike, Kerry and Chris all committed suicide in 1983, 1991, and 1993 respectively. Kevin Von Erich is the only surviving member among his siblings.
The Iron Claw follows Kevin and his brothers as they navigate their wrestling careers and the pressures of holding up their family legacy. It’s a harrowing drama that’s getting rave reviews, and even has the approval of Kevin Von Erich himself, who, according to Variety, praised Zac Efron’s portrayal of him. It’s clear the film is an authentic look at a family’s very real tragedy, and is a potential Oscar contender for the care it took in telling such a delicate story.
But now that viewers have seen the film, they’re likely wondering what happened to Kevin Von Erich after the events of The Iron Claw. Here’s what we know.
Where is Kevin Von Erich now?
Kevin Von Erich at The Iron Claw premiere.
Kevin Adkisson (Von Erich is actually just a stage name for the family) has been married since 1980 to his wife Pamela. Together they have four children.
Adkisson formally retired from wrestling in 1995, but has made occasional appearances since then. His two sons, Roy and Marshall, have since taken on the Von Erich mantle and have wrestled since 2012. His late brother Kerry’s daughter, Lacey, wrestled from 2007 to 2010.
In 2006, Kevin Adkisson moved to Hawaii with his wife. According to his son Marshall in a 2019 interview with The Dallas Morning News, his father “saw a lot of tragedy in Texas. Everything there was reminding him of his brothers.”
But as of 2023, Adkisson has made plans to move back to Texas, and in September 2023, the 66-year-old hosted a one-man show in Dallas where he shared insight into his career and fielded questions from the audience.
In his storied wrestling career, Kevin Von Erich won multiple championships, and in 2009 he and his family were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Milan Polk is an Editorial Assistant for Men’s Health who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle reporting, and has worked for New York Magazine’s Vulture and Chicago Tribune.