Born in Berkersdorf, East Galicia, his family moved to Germany after the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact in 1939. He began performing at the age of sixteen, first as a juggler before becoming a magician and escapologist. Throughout his career he broke eighteen world records.
He retired in 2006 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer"s disease.
They had three children: Hans, Peter and Nicole Moretti, all of whom are also professional magicians.
During the course of his career he won many awards, including the Grand Illusions award of the FISM (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques) in 1976 for a routine in which he escaped, unharmed and having changed into a clown costume, from a box through which swords had been thrust by members of the audience, and the Mentalism Award of the FISM in 1979, for a routine in which he played Russian roulette with two loaded revolvers. He was a Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, and was appointed to the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in recognition of his achievements.
