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After 20 years off the grid, Kevin Von Erich has come back home to Texas with stories and life lessons

Posted: Nov 6th 2023 By: Paul Wedding & Matt Howerton

Hundreds of fans packed the sold-out Majestic Theatre in September to see one of North Texas' most beloved sons -- Kevin Von Erich, the last surviving member of the world famous Von Erich brothers.

But Von Erich's wrestling days are long behind him.

This time, the fans in attendance were there to hear Von Erich speak -- sharing words of wisdom, lessons learned from loss and hilarious stories from his days as a wrestler in the '80s, back when North Texas was a hotbed for the entertainment medium.

"I love it so much," Von Erich said of Dallas. "I haven't been there for 18 years. Everything comes right back."

Von Erich is perhaps most well-known now for the tragic story of his family. He is the last surviving member of six brothers -- three of whom died by suicide, and two others who died from tragic accidents.

"I wrestled all that time ago and they liked me then, but by now, I think they identify with the suffering and the losing loved ones and that kind of crisis, and the spirit to keep coming back," Von Erich said.

In the early '80s, it'd be hard to find anyone who hadn't at least heard of the Von Erichs.

Kevin Von Erich -- along with his brothers Kerry and David Von Erich, and later Mike and Chris Von Erich -- would draw thousands of people on a weekly basis to buildings like the Dallas Sportatorium and the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth.

Several times a year, they would also draw crowds of 20,000 or more to venues like Reunion Arena, the Cotton Bowl and Texas Stadium.

"I spent so much time there, it's hard to believe it's gone," Kevin Von Erich said of the Sportatorium, which burned down in December 2001 and is now merely a field.

Back then, the Von Erichs were drawing huge crowds, and gaining attention around the world with their weekly television show airing not just in Dallas, but in other parts of the country like Boston, and even other countries like Israel and Lebanon.

But their image was tarnished by legal troubles that the brothers would run into, and the tragedy that would follow -- starting with the untimely death of David Von Erich in 1984, followed by the suicides of Mike Von Erich in 1986, Chris Von Erich in 1991 and Kerry Von Erich in 1993.

"It's been like a nightmare, y'know," family patriarch Fritz Von Erich told reporters at the time of Kerry Von Erich's death. "It doesn't get easier."

Following all of that tragedy, Kevin Von Erich stepped away from wrestling and the public spotlight in the '90s. Later, he moved away from Texas entirely and settled down in Hawaii.

"There was a time when I was really down and low, and I mean crazy," Kevin Von Erich said. "I was in a bad way, but it didn't destroy me and made me stronger."

The tragic story of the Von Erich family will be coming to the big screen this Christmas. With Kevin Von Erich being portrayed by Zac Efron, "The Iron Claw" will detail the family's rise and tragic fall as iconic figures in the wrestling world.

Since he disappeared from the spotlight, Kevin Von Erich has raised two sons of his own -- Marshall and Ross Von Erich -- who followed in their father's footsteps and became pro wrestlers.

They recently moved back to Texas themselves. Along with their father, they bought a ranch near San Antonio.

Kevin Von Erich, who was once a hero to so many in the ring, now serves to inspire those who are going through their own depression and loss.

"I've seen death," he said. "I've seen that it is serious. When you lose someone, they're gone. You learn a lot from things that, at one time, you think this is destroying you. But maybe it's destroying something that needs destroying. Because I would never have had this grasp that I do now."

The world premiere of "The Iron Claw" will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Dallas' Texas Theatre. Actors from the film will be in attendance for a red carpet even prior to the film's screening, as will Kevin Von Erich himself.