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Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
While the filmThe Iron Clawtugs at your heartstrings with the tragic story of the Von Erich brothers rising to wrestling stardom amidst personal turmoil, the real-life story goes even deeper. The plot revolves around the four brothers of the Von Erich wrestling legacy—Kerry, Kevin, David, and Mike—who achieved significant success in the ’70s and ’80s. However, beyond the glitz of the wrestling ring, their lives were marred by a succession of personal tragedies.
But the Von Erichs also had another brother named Chris Von Erich. , who isn’t included in the film. The youngest of six. But in the film, there is no mention of him. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times,Iron Clawfilmmaker Sean Durkin explained why he decided not to include him.
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The Iron ClawDirector Discusses the Exclusion of the Youngest Von Erich Brother
A striking difference in the film lies in the absence of Chris Von Erich, the youngest of Fritz Von Erich’s sixth child. But, He’s entirely erased fromThe Iron Claw. There are five total siblings in the film.
Director Sean Durkin, in an interview with theLos Angeles Times, opened up about this deliberate omission. Durkin explained that the original plan was to include Chris Von Erich inThe Iron Claw. But he ultimately feared including the youngest brother would overload the film with tragedy.
“There was a repetition to it, and it was one more tragedy that the film couldn’t really withstand… I honestly don’t know if it would have gotten made,” Durkin said, adding that“Chris was in the script for five years”and that he fought to keep him included before ultimately agreeing that it was best for the film’s narrative to leave him out.
“When you’re trying to get a film made, you have to separate it at some point and say, ‘These are characters on a page, and this is a film, and there’s no way you’re going to fully capture the life of a person in a film,’”the director continued.“You have to make difficult choices to try and get to something truthful or representative or emotional that reflects the core of the journey you’re choosing to tell within this family.”
Specifically regarding the exclusion of Chris, Durkin toldEntertainment Weekly: “That was one of the toughest decisions I had to make.”
“You could make nine hours of ‘The Godfather’ on this family,” he said. “I didn’t have that opportunity, so I had to make choices of what could fit in a movie.”
The director told EW that his version of Mike Von Erich is an amalgamation of his real-life counterpart and Chris Von Erich.
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The True Story Behind Chris Von Erich
Chris Von Erich, the youngest among his brothers, faced a tragic end at a tender age. In contrast to his older siblings, he grappled with establishing himself in the wrestling industry. Unfortunately, he succumbed to suicide in 1991, marking a premature departure at the age of 21.
Diverging from his brothers, Chris lacked the imposing physique traditionally associated with wrestlers. Standing at approximately 5 feet 5 inches and weighing around 160 lbs, he also contended with various health challenges. He battled asthma and fragile bones that frequently broke during wrestling maneuvers, adding a layer of difficulty to his already demanding career.
Following the suicide of his brother, Mike Von Erich, in 1987, Chris Von Erich spiraled into a state of depression and developed a substance addiction. Frustrated by his physical limitations, which hindered his ascent in the wrestling world, Chris reached a breaking point. The culmination of these struggles led him to tragically take his own life on July 29, 2025.
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He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 along with other members of the Von Erich Family.
The Iron Clawis now in theaters.
Prantik Prabal Roy
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Prantik Prabal Roy is a content writer at FandomWire. With over three years of experience in content writing for various media houses, he takes great interest in telling stories about Hollywood celebrities and the world revolving around them. He has done his Master’s in English literature and diploma course in journalism. Being a literature student, he has the ability to delve into the matter and analyse it thoroughly to give the readers a clear view on the specific topics.
