A24/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kevin Von Erich is finally speaking out about everything The Iron Claw got wrong about his famous wrestling family — including his brothers’ deaths.
During the newest installment of Investigation Discovery’s Hollywood Demons, which premieres on Monday, April 21, Kevin, 67, and other members of the Erich family made rare comments about the inaccuracies in the 2023 sports film.
“I have been a big brother my whole life. I had so many little brothers, and I loved them so much and I am the only one left now,” Kevin said. “I endorsed the movie, but I have to correct the record. Their lives are worth more than just, ‘Pretend this happened.’ Because it didn’t.”
The Iron Claw followed the pro wrestling dynasty Von Erich family, which consisted of Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) and his sons. The family was plagued by a series of tragedies outside of the ring, spawning the myth of a “Von Erich curse.” In addition to McCallany, Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson and Stanley Simons rounded out the cast.
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While the film became a success because of the tear jerking story about Kevin (Efron) becoming the sole surviving son of Fritz after every other Von Erich brother died. Kevin previously showed his support for the film, but he has since walked back the praise — alongside his daughter, Kristen Rain, and the late Kerry Von Erich‘s daughters: Hollie Adkisson and Lacey Von Erich.
Lacey Von Erich, Kevin Von Erich and family. Amanda Edwards/WireImage
The Von Erich’s specifically weren’t thrilled by The Iron Claw not mentioning Kevin’s youngest brother, Chris, or Kerry’s family. Kevin and the family’s inner circle also called out the onscreen insinuation that there was a “curse” that affected their family.
“In truth the real bad guy was us. Our weaknesses in our hearts and our personality. We were never quitting and never giving up,” Kevin explained in the docuseries. “No matter what, it was a challenge to be overcome. That mindset maybe did get dangerous in the end but that was how we were raised to think.”
Kevin continued: “But when you look at the story and the deaths, there was a time I didn’t want to wrestle but I would have never thought to give up. No matter how uncomfortable it was, it was a family business. The love of the brothers is what is important. I know I will see my brothers again.”
Keep scrolling for a breakdown of every inaccuracy from The Iron Claw that the Von Erich family called out:
Not Asking for Their Input
Kevin previously confirmed that he wasn’t involved in The Iron Claw, but Hollywood Demons confirmed no one from the Von Erichs was “consulted” about their depiction.
“We heard about the movie through social media. We knew nothing about this,” Kerry’s daughter Hollie admitted. “So we just start rolling with it because what else are you going to do? The train is already moving so you have to jump on or be left behind.”
Kerry’s Personal Life
Kerry, Chris, Doris, Candy, David, Mike, and Kevin. Investigation Discovery
“When I saw Zac in the movie, I felt like I had a responsibility to tell the truth,” Kevin explained before addressing White’s portrayal of his brother. “Kerry in the movie was not a family man but in real life he was.”
Lacey specifically voiced her displeasure about being cut from the story, adding, “My sister and I were not in the movie as my dad’s children and he didn’t have a wife. That was a really big part of my dad. How he was portrayed in the movie was so inaccurate that it is heart wrenching.”
Kerry, who was the fourth oldest in the family, was married to Catherine Murray from 1983 to 1992. Following a motorcycle accident in 1986, Kerry badly injured his right leg, which only got worse when he continued to wrestle post-surgery against doctors’ orders. Kerry’s foot was ultimately amputated, at which point he was prescribed painkillers, and that led to drug problems later on.
After two arrests, Kerry died by suicide at age 33 in 1993.
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Kerry’s Injury
Brian Roedel/A24/Courtesy Everett Collection
Hollywood Demons featured interviews with Dr. Drew, who pointed out that Kerry’s personal struggles weren’t accurate on screen, saying, “There’s a scene in the movie where Kerry gets in an accident and the next time you see him, he does not have a foot. That is not in fact what happened.”
He continued: “He had a very severe crush injury on the foot, but he goes back into the wrestling ring and damages it further and ultimately decides to get half of his foot amputated.”
The Chris Erasure
Mike and Chris. Investigation Discovery
In addition to Kevin and Kerry, Fritz and his wife, Doris, shared kids Jack, David, Mike and Chris. Jack died as a child before his siblings got into wrestling so his absence made sense, but Chris was the only other brother not mentioned in The Iron Claw.
“They left my little brother Chris out of the movie,” Kevin noted. “The director combined Mike and Chris’ lives.”
Director Sean Durkin previously explained why he decided not to include the youngest Von Erich. (Chris also wrestled but not successfully due to his asthma and brittle bone condition. He died by suicide in 1991 at age 21.)
“There was a repetition to it, and it was one more tragedy that the film couldn’t really withstand,” Durkin told Variety in December 2023 of a version that included all the brothers. “I honestly don’t know if it would have gotten made.”
Durkin confirmed that Chris was “in the script for five years” before getting cut out, which was “an impossible choice” that the filmmaker fought against. According to the director, Durkin decided not to contact Kevin until the script was finished.
“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,’” he explained. “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.”
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The Von Erich Curse
A24/Courtesy Everett Collection
In a confessional, a friend of the family slammed a scene where Efron’s version of Kevin told a story about a curse that plagued the Von Erich.
“In the movie they keep trying to say it is a curse,” he said. “There was never a Von Erich curse. There were some bad choices and some unfortunate deaths.”
Von Erich’s Patriarch
Kerry, David, Fritz, Mike, and Kevin. Investigation Discovery
Kevin’s daughter weighed in on how Fritz was “definitely the villain” on screen.
“I can understand why he was portrayed that way. I feel like people want to point at someone and blame someone like, ‘Why would three people in the same family [die by] suicide?'” she said. “If it would have worked out and everyone was still alive then everybody would be like, ‘It is because of his dad. His dad really pushed him.’ But when it doesn’t work out, that is the first place to look for blame.”
