The Enigma (performer)

The Enigma
The Enigma
Born Paul Lawrence
Long Beach, California, United States
Occupation Performer, actor, musician
Known for Extensive body modifications

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", heavily tattooed herself, 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]

Biography

Paul Lawrence in late 1992, before his transformation.

The Enigma was raised in Seattle and began studying music when he was six years old. In 1991, he was a founding 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". He performed at Universal Studios Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights event in fall 2007 with Serana Rose, performing various tricks with fire, electricity, power tools and blades. He has also performed at Detroit's Theatre Bizarre.

Media appearances

The Enigma has appeared in a number of television programs including Penn & Teller: Bullshit! and The X-Files (Season 2 - episode 20 "Humbug")[3] where he played a character called "the Conundrum", loosely based upon himself, which was later made into a toy as part of Palisades Toys' X-Files PALz action figure line. His character was also prominently featured on the X-Files Pinball machine. He appeared in The Gong Show 2008 with Rose performing their own chainsaw stunt known as the kiss of death. The Enigma was featured in the 2005 documentary film Freaky Circus Guy[4] 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. In 2007, he appeared in Billy Talent's music video for their single Fallen Leaves. He released a DVD in 2008 with Rose directed by Robert Monson titled Electric Acid Theatre which he sells at live shows and on his website. Additionally, he has been featured in numerous newspapers, magazines and books. He has twice appeared in National Geographic.[5] In 2013, he was featured on the cover of Ripley's Believe It Or Not![6] He holds a Guinness World Record for his tattoos.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Freaks and Fire: The Underground Reinvention of Circus: Amazon.co.uk: J. Dee Hill, Phil Hollenbeck: Books". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  2. ↑ Tattoos.com Archived March 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Humbug" on IMDb, first aired in October 1995
  4. ↑ Sideshowmovie.com Archived November 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ http://www.theenigmalive.com/bio.htm
  6. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Ripleys-Special-2013-Believe-Not/dp/0545435056
  7. ↑ http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-jigsaw-puzzle-pieces-tattooed-on-body
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