Rick Genest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rick Genest
Genest in 2011
Born	(1985-08-07)August 7, 1985 LaSalle, Quebec, Canada
Died	August 1, 2018(2018-08-01) (aged 32) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Other names	Zombie Boy Rico the Zombie
Occupation	Actor, freak show performer, fashion model
Years active	2009–2018

Rick Genest (born August 7, 1985 – died August 1, 2018) was a Canadian artist, actor, and model. Many people knew him as Zombie Boy because of his unique look. He was famous for having almost his entire body covered in tattoos that made him look like a skeleton. He even held a Guinness World Record for having the most tattoos of human bones.

About Rick Genest

Rick Genest was born in LaSalle, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in a town called Châteauguay. When he was 15, doctors thought he had a brain tumor. After more tests, he had a special laser procedure. He was one of the first people in North America to survive such a procedure.

After this, Rick started getting many tattoos. About 90% of his body was covered. He held a Guinness World Record for having 139 tattoos of human bones. He also used to hold the record for 176 insect tattoos.

Rick's Career

Rick Genest was known for his amazing skeleton tattoos. He worked in different shows across Canada. These shows often featured people with unique looks or talents. Rick was known as an "illustrated man." He even had his own show called Lucifer’s Blasphemous Mad Macabre Torture Carnival.

People first saw Rick's unique look online in 2006. This was after he started getting tattoos on his face. By 2008, his tattoos were mostly finished. He told people he liked to be called "Zombie" more than "Skullboy." Soon, magazines like Bizarre wrote about him. In 2009, he appeared in a TV movie called Carny.

As a Model

In 2011, Rick Genest became a fashion model. He worked with famous designer Nicola Formichetti, who was the creative director for Thierry Mugler. Rick was the main model for Mugler's men's collection. He even helped inspire the collection itself.

Rick also worked with the famous singer Lady Gaga. He appeared in her music video for the song "Born This Way." In the video, Lady Gaga wore makeup to look like Rick's tattoos. Rick was also featured in fashion magazines like Vogue Hommes Japan and GQ Style.

Later in 2011, Rick was in a special ad campaign for Dermablend makeup. This makeup can cover up tattoos. In the video, a team covered all his tattoos with makeup. Then, he slowly removed the makeup to show his tattoos underneath. This campaign was very popular. Rick then signed a two-year deal with L'Oréal, a big beauty company. He was their first male spokesperson. Rick also appeared in a music video for the Polish singer Honey.

In 2012, a company called Tonner Doll Company made a special "Zombie Boy" doll that looked like Rick. It was a limited edition doll, and all 500 of them sold out quickly. In September 2012, Rick became the face of Jay-Z's fashion brand, Roc-A-Wear, in Europe. In 2014, photos of Rick were shown in an exhibition at the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris, France.

As an Actor and Musician

Rick Genest also acted in movies. He played a character called "Foreman" in the 2013 film 47 Ronin, which starred Keanu Reeves. Rick was shown in the movie's posters and trailers. However, his role was made smaller in the final movie.

Rick also worked on music. He collaborated with British artist KAV on a song called "Dirty Rejects" in 2013. He also worked with Mike Riggs, a former guitarist for the band Rob Zombie, on an album. Some samples of their songs were released online.

In 2017, Rick shared his story in a video for TEDx. The video was called "Normal is an illusion." In it, he talked about his experiences, including his brain tumor. In 2019, a large statue of Rick was put on display at the Science Museum, London in the UK. The statue is called "Self-Conscious Gene."

Rick's Passing

Rick Genest passed away on August 1, 2018, just six days before his 33rd birthday. He was found after falling from a balcony at his apartment in Montreal. After an investigation, the authorities determined that his death was accidental. Some of his family and friends believed it was an accident all along. His manager thought Rick might have lost his balance and fallen, as he often leaned against or sat on railings.

Film Appearances

Music Projects

Images for kids

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  Zombie Boy (Photo by Colin Singer)

See also

In Spanish: Rick Genest para niños