The Enigma (born Paul Lawrence) is an American sideshow performer, actor, and musician who has undergone extensive body modification, including horn implants, ear reshaping, multiple body piercings, and a full-body jigsaw-puzzle tattoo. His tattooing process began on December 20, 1992, under the needle of Katzen the Tiger Lady, whom he later married,[1] and has since divorced. To date, the Enigma has had more than two hundred tattoo artists work on him, with as many as twenty-three tattoos underway at one time.[2]
The Enigma | |
|---|---|
 The Enigma in 2018 | |
| Born | Paul Lawrence Long Beach, California, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Performer, actor, musician |
| Known for | Extensive body modifications |
Biography
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Lawrence was born in Long Beach, California, and was raised in Seattle. He began studying music when he was six years old. In 1991, he got his start as a member of the Jim Rose Circus, with which he performed around the world until 1998, touring with acts such as Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Godsmack, and once opening for David Bowie. The Enigma then toured with Katzen, playing music and doing sideshow performances under the moniker Human Marvels. After his divorce from Katzen and the dissolution of Human Marvels, The Enigma teamed with fellow performance artist Serana Rose to form their Show Devils act.[3] The duo toured for seven years, including performances at Universal Studios Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights event in 2007, before this act dissolved as well. For three years, The Enigma owned Tattoouija, a tattoo shop in Sidney, Nebraska, before closing the business and moving to Denver, Colorado in June 2023.[4]
Media appearances
editThe Enigma has appeared in a number of television programs including Penn & Teller: Bullshit! and The X-Files (Season 2 - episode 20 "Humbug"), where he played a character named "the Conundrum", loosely based upon himself. Palisade Toys later made a toy based on this character as part of their X-Files PALz action figure line. This character was also prominently featured on the X-Files pinball machine.
The Enigma appeared with Jim Rose on The Gong Show in 2008 performing their own chainsaw stunt known as the "kiss of death." He was also featured in the 2005 documentary film Freaky Circus Guy[5] alongside sideshow performers Katzen, Danielle D'Meux, and William Darke.
In 2004, the Enigma appeared with Mike Patton, Jane Wiedlin, Karen Black, and Katzen in Steve Balderson's film Firecracker. He performed with Rose in a freak show act called Show Devils.[6] In 2007, he appeared in Billy Talent's music video for their single "Fallen Leaves". In 2005, the Enigma toured with Pigface as a guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist during the band's 2005 Free For All tour. A documentary DVD chronicling the tour and its creation featured the Enigma as well. He would also go on to provide vocals for one track on the band's 2009 album, 6.
In 2008, the Enigma released a DVD with Rose, directed by Robert Monson, titled Electric Acid Theatre.
Additionally, the Enigma has been featured in numerous newspapers, magazines, and books. He has twice appeared in National Geographic.[7] In 2013, he was featured on the cover of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Special Edition.[8]
He holds a Guinness World Record for his tattoos.[9]
References
edit- ^ Freaks and Fire: The Underground Reinvention of Circus: Amazon.co.uk: J. Dee Hill, Phil Hollenbeck: Books. ASIN 1932360522.
- ^ Tattoos.com Archived March 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Never fear, the Enigma is here". 23 November 2011.
- ^ Criado, Justin. "Guinness World Record Holder The Enigma Moves to Denver, but His Tattoo Travels Far". Westword. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ Sideshowmovie.com Archived November 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Show Devils". ShowDevils.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ "The Enigma Live".
- ^ Ripley's Believe it or Not!: Special Edition. 2001. ISBN 0545435056.
- ^ "Most jigsaw-puzzle pieces tattooed on the body". Guinness World Records. Retrieved April 4, 2024.