The Lizardman (performer)

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The Lizardman
The Lizardman (Erik Sprague).JPG
Born
Erik Sprague

(1972-06-12) June 12, 1972 (age 52)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States
Alma mater Hartwick College (B.A.)
Occupation(s) Freak show and sideshow performer
Known forExtensive body modifications
SpouseMeghan
Website thelizardman.com

Erik Sprague (born June 12, 1972), [1] known professionally as the Lizardman, is an American freak show and sideshow performer. He is best known for his body modification, including his sharpened teeth, full-body tattoo of green scales, bifurcated tongue, subdermal implants and green-inked lips.

Contents

Early life

Sprague was born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and was a Ph.D. candidate at the University at Albany before beginning his transformation. [1] He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. [1]

Career

As a professional freak, Sprague became famous for his heavy body modifications, including tongue bifurcation and tattooing. [2] He regularly performs many classic sideshow acts such as the human blockhead, fire eating and breathing, gavage, sword swallowing, the bed of nails, the Human Dartboard, the cranial corkscrew, and the insectivore.

Sprague participates in many public and private flesh hook suspension groups and events, and is highly involved in the body modification community. He also writes articles on the Body Modification E-zine. [3] His rock band, LIZARD SKYNYRD, released an album in late 2010 and performed in many tours around the world.

Sprague gained the official Guinness World Record for 'heaviest weight lifted and spun with pierced ears' on the set of Lo Show dei Record in Milan, Italy on 19 Jun 2014. [4] He also regularly performs with other sideshow celebrities and world record holders such as The Space Cowboy.

He is featured in many of the "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" books and TV shows. As part of his work with the company, there is a life size statue of him in many of the company's museums. [5]

Sprague has toured with The Jim Rose Circus and hosted the Jägermeister Music Tour, with bands including Disturbed, Slayer, and Slipknot. [1]

Personal life

Sprague resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife Meghan and their pet ferrets. [1]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005 [6] ModifyHimselfDocumentary about body modification
2007 Boxboarders! Himself
2008Sideshow Still AliveHimself
2017 Song to Song Travel AgentCredited as Erik Sprague

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000 Ripley's Believe It Or Not! HimselfAppeared in one episode
2004TabooHimselfTV series documentary
2008Weird, True & FreakyHimselfOne episode
201050 Greatest Plastic Surgery ShockersHimselfTV movie documentary

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">María José Cristerna</span> Mexican lawyer, businesswoman, activist, and tattoo artist

María José Cristerna Méndez, known professionally as The Vampire Woman or, as she prefers, The Jaguar Woman, is a Mexican lawyer, businesswoman, activist and tattoo artist. She is known for her extensive body modifications, which she embarked on as a form of activism against domestic violence. She is recognized by Guinness World Records as the most tattooed woman in the world, with 96% of her body covered, and is one of the most famous personalities in the world of tattoo art.

Diabão Praddo is the pseudonym adopted by Brazilian tattoo artist Michel Praddo, who is known for the extreme body modifications he has undergone, including the removal of the ear and the sewing and removal of some fingers, in addition to having more than 80% of his body tattooed. In 2023, he entered Guinness as the man with the most 'horn' shaped implants in his head.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Frequently Asked Questions". The Lizardman. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  2. O'Byrne, Ellie (July 5, 2016). "Erik Sprague aka The Lizardman is comfortable in his own skin and scale". Irish Examiner.
  3. "BME Blog". Iam.bmezine.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  4. "Heaviest weight lifted and spun with pierced ears". Guinness World Records. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  5. "The Lizardman Wax Figure Unveiling At Ripleys Believe It Or Not Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images". www.gettyimages.com.
  6. "Erik 'Lizard Man' Sprague". IMDb.