Von Erich Brother Pushes Back Against Iron Claw’s Depiction Of His Father: “He Comes Off Pretty Rank”

Warning: This article contains spoilers from The Iron Claw and mentions suicide and depression.

Kevin Von Erich disagrees with The Iron Claw‘s portrayal of his father. Played by Zac Efron in the 2023 film, Von Erich was one of several wrestling icons in his impressive family, including his father, the professional wrestler Fritz Von Erich. Directed by Sean Durkin, The Iron Claw centers on the family as they seek to make history in the world of professional wrestling during the early 1980s amid successes and hardships. While the biopic recounts real historical events, some significant parts were changed or omitted, such as the exclusion of one of the brothers, Chris Von Erich.

During a conversation with Chris Jericho on the Talk Is Jericho podcast (via Wrestling Inc), Kevin Von Erich stated that another place in which the film took creative liberties was its depiction of his father Fritz, played by Holt McCallany. According to Von Erich, The Iron Claw did not accurately portray his father. The retired wrestler expressed that Fritz “was an honorable, good man” despite the fact that he “comes off pretty rank in this movie.” See what Von Erich had to say below:

“First, with this movie coming out, I’d like people to know that it’s a movie. It’s made for entertainment. It’s not quite as historical, but I’ll tell you my dad was a great man. I loved him so much. He was an honorable, good man. What he said, his word was his bond. When you shook his hand, it was a contract, it was honorable. I want everyone to know he comes off pretty rank in this movie. You would think that the pressure that Fritz put on us is why my brothers would commit suicide. I mean, why would anyone commit suicide, that is so far beyond me, but it’s drugs. Drugs did it. That, and the fact that Kerry lost his foot and wouldn’t be able to come back. Mike, with that fever, he was not coming back. It was a hopeless feeling inside to let everyone down and you just feel like dirt. All my brothers were super loyal, and that’s what it was, the shame and guilt for failing. It was not my dad.”

What Else Iron Claw Left Out

Von Erich’s comments indicate that various factors outside the pressure created by Fritz ultimately led to the tragic suicides of Kerry Von Erich (Jeremy Allen White) and Mike Von Erich (Stanley Simons), namely drugs and the physical issues that would keep them from continuing to wrestle at their level. While Von Erich also blames his loyal brothers’ “shame and guilt for failing,” he positions them as not living up to their own expectations rather than those of their father, firmly saying “it was not my dad.” The film’s depiction of Fritz is not the only area that diverges from reality, with several parts of the true story left out.

While it is true that Kevin is the last Von Erich brother still living, not all of his brothers appeared in the film, as mentioned before. Chris Von Erich was unable to compete at his brothers’ and father’s levels due to health conditions such as asthma and brittle bones, eventually becoming depressed and killing himself at age 21 after the death of his brother Mike. Durkin has discussed the removal of Chris from the story, stating that it made more sense to combine Chris and Mike’s stories into the Mike that appears and avoid the tragedy of yet another brother’s death in the two-hour film.

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What Happened To Fritz Von Erich & Doris After The Iron Claw

Kevin Von Erich’s parents, Fritz and Doris Von Erich, play pivotal roles in The Iron Claw, and here is what happened to them after the movie.

The Iron Claw changed other historical details, such as the births of Kevin’s two daughters, the timing of Kerry’s motorcycle accident, Kevin finding his brother Kerry after his death rather than their father, and a few other tragic real-life components. The changes made ultimately make the biopic a more cinematic experience, using the truth of the Von Erichs’ history to fuel a compelling narrative about their legacy. Kevin’s reminder that The Iron Claw was ultimately “made for entertainment” is an important distinction that will hopefully compel viewers to research the true story.