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.
The Lizardman | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Erik Sprague June 12, 1972 Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States |
| Alma mater | Hartwick College (B.A.) |
| Occupation(s) | Freak show and sideshow performer |
| Known for | Extensive body modifications |
| Spouse | Meghan |
| Website | thelizardman |
Early life
editSprague 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
editAs 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
editSprague resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife Meghan and their pet ferrets.[1]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 [6] | Modify | Himself | Documentary about body modification |
| 2007 | Boxboarders! | Himself | |
| 2008 | Sideshow Still Alive | Himself | |
| 2017 | Song to Song | Travel Agent | Credited as Erik Sprague |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Ripley's Believe It Or Not! | Himself | Appeared in one episode |
| 2004 | Taboo | Himself | TV series documentary |
| 2008 | Weird, True & Freaky | Himself | One episode |
| 2010 | 50 Greatest Plastic Surgery Shockers | Himself | TV movie documentary |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "Frequently Asked Questions". The Lizardman. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- ^ O'Byrne, Ellie (July 5, 2016). "Erik Sprague aka The Lizardman is comfortable in his own skin and scale". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "BME Blog". Iam.bmezine.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- ^ "Heaviest weight lifted and spun with pierced ears". Guinness World Records. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ "The Lizardman Wax Figure Unveiling At Ripleys Believe It Or Not Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images". www.gettyimages.com.
- ^ "Erik 'Lizard Man' Sprague". IMDb.