As the son of a famous concert pianist, Heller began his life as a musician studying at the Royal Academy of Music.

After becoming fascinated with magic at age 14, Heller began copying his idol Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, from whom he adopted his first name.

However, he gained a reputation as both a magician and a concert pianist when he arrived in New York in 1852, eventually settling permanently in the United States.

Deciding to try his magic act again, Heller abandoned the accent and image of before and focused on the presentation of his illusions.

In 1878, Heller died suddenly of pneumonia in Philadelphia, United States and was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.