“Lizardman” Captured in Florida by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

26. Aug, 2010 Comments Off

ORLANDO, Fla. – (Aug. 26, 2010) – The headline sounds as if it’s been ripped from the Weekly World News: “Caught on Video: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! creates wax figure of half-man, half-lizard!” But this is a true story.

Ripley’s is creating life-size figures of a man who has transformed himself into a reptile

The F/X experts at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! are creating wax figures of Erik Sprague – aka “Lizardman.”

Sprague is a performance artist who has turned himself into a reptile. He has a forked tongue, pointy teeth and is covered in scales, thanks to several hundred hours of tattooing. He says his body-based performance art has been to explore what it means to be human and differentiate himself from other humans.

The Ripley’s F/X team is taking body casts of Sprague this week, the first step in creating Lizardman wax figures for several Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums.

Click image for high resolution; click again for the highest resolution.

: Face casting of Lizardman by Ripley’s Andy Howard and Barry Anderson.

: Ripley artists Andy Howard, left and Bruce Miller casting Lizardman’s body.

: Full body casting of Lizardman by Ripley’s Andy Howard and Barry Anderson.

: Lizardman and Ripley artist Andy Howard

Photos: Todd Day, Motitude

Watch as Ripley’s Believe It or Not! artists prepare Lizardman for a head and shoulder casting!

View an interview with Lizardman where he explains why he has turned himself into a reptile!

Video: Todd Day, Motitude

Media Contact

Tim O’Brien
VP Communications
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
Obrien@ripleys.com
Office – 615-646-7465
Cell – 615-496-5949

About Ripley Entertainment

Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment, entertaining more than 13 million annually at its 80-plus attractions in 11 countries. In addition to its 31 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.