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Johnny Eck

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Circus Performer

The Resume

    (August 27, 1911-January 5, 1991)
    Birth name was John Echkardt
    Born without legs
    Appeared in ‘Freaks (1932),’ ‘Tarzan the Ape Man (1932),’ ‘Tarzan Escapes (1936)’ and ‘Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941)’
    Billed as ‘the Half-Boy’

Why he might be annoying:

    When he was born, a woman reportedly fainted in horror.
    He was a smart-ass, and often gave facetious answers to questions.
    He exaggerated a lot.
    He started to write an autobiography, but never finished.
    He appeared in the notorious horror film ‘Freaks,’ which many feel was exploitative, and which was banned in several countries.
    In movies, he was typecast as monsters and animals.
    There was a rumor that Leonardo DiCaprio was going to portray him in a movie.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He weighed only two pounds when he was born.
    His twin brother was born with legs.
    His parents didn’t treat him different from anyone else.
    He was incredibly agile walking on his hands.
    He once climbed all the steps of the Washington Monument using only his hands.
    He had a terrific sense of humor.
    When asked if he wished he had legs, he said: ‘Why would I want those? Then I’d have pants to press.’
    He was never ashamed of himself or his deformity.
    He said: ‘I met hundreds and thousands of people, and none finer than the midgets and the Siamese twins and the caterpillar man and the bearded woman and the human seal with the little flippers for hands. I never asked them any embarrassing questions and they never asked me, and God, it was a great adventure.’
    He had a happy life.

Credit: Wieland Kalligaro


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 19 Votes: 73.68% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 22 Votes: 40.91% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 159 Votes: 54.09% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 35 Votes: 37.14% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 44 Votes: 47.73% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 99 Votes: 48.48% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 197 Votes: 46.19% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 80 Votes: 45.00% Annoying