{{Short description|Canadian actor, model and musician}} {{redirect|Zombie Boy|the Magnetic Fields song|Distortion (The Magnetic Fields album)|the Lady Gaga song|Zombieboy}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Rick Genest | image = Ricogenest02.jpg | caption = Genest in 2011 | birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1985|8|7}} | birth_place = LaSalle, Quebec, Canada | death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|8|1|1985|8|7}} | death_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada | other_names = Zombie Boy<br>Rico the Zombie | occupation = Actor, freak show performer, fashion model | years_active = 2009–2018 | spouse = | children = }}
'''Rick Genest''' (August 7, 1985 – August 1, 2018), also known as '''Zombie Boy''', was a Canadian artist, actor, fashion model, and musician. He held a Guinness World Record for his full-body tattoos.<ref name="time">{{cite magazine |last1=Fernandez |first1=Alexia |title=Model Rick 'Zombie Boy' Genest Dies at 32 |url=https://time.com/5357100/zombie-boy-rick-genest-suicide/?iid=obnetwork |magazine=Time |publisher=TIME USA, LLC |access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref>
==Personal life== Genest was born in LaSalle, Quebec, and grew up in Châteauguay.<ref name="GenestCBC"/> At 14,<ref>{{cite web |year=2013 |title=47 Ronin: Entrevue exclusive avec Zombie Boy |url=http://rickgenest.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=190:47-ronin-entrevue-exclusive-avec-zombie-boy&Itemid=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106034454/http://rickgenest.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=190:47-ronin-entrevue-exclusive-avec-zombie-boy&Itemid=1 |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |language=fr}}</ref><ref name="mirror/13025344">{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Laura |last2=Kindon |first2=Frances |title=Zombie Boy before the tattoos revealed after star dies in suspected suicide |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/zombie-boy-before-tattoos-how-13025344 |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=mirror.co.uk |date=3 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Genest was told he had a brain tumor. After more examinations and tests, six months later,<ref name="psychologytoday/genest-mental">{{cite news |last1=Ali |first1=Shainna |title=Reflecting on Rick Genest: Body Art and Mental Health |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/modern-mentality/201808/reflecting-rick-genest-body-art-and-mental-health |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=psychologytoday.com |agency=Psychology Today |date=August 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="mirror/13025344" /> he had a laser procedure, claiming he was the second North American to survive the laser treatment.<ref name="nytimes/obit/rick-genest">{{cite news |last1=Padnani |first1=Amisha |author-link=Amy Padnani |title=Rick Genest, Tattooed 'Zombie Boy' in Lady Gaga Video, Dies at 32 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/03/obituaries/rick-genest-tattooed-model-known-as-zombie-boy-dies-at-32.html |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=3 August 2018}}</ref>
Genest had himself tattooed over approximately 90% of his body and held the Guinness World Record for the most tattoos of human bones (139).<ref name="time"/> He previously held the Guinness World Record for most tattoos of insects (176), until November 2018, when Joshua Thornton took the title.<ref>{{cite web|website=guinnessworldrecords.com|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-insects-tattooed-on-body/|title=Most Insects Tattooed On Body}}</ref>
==Career== Tattooed as a living skeleton, Genest worked in various sideshows and freak shows across Canada as an illustrated man, eventually starring in his own show, called ''Lucifer’s Blasphemous Mad Macabre Torture Carnival''.<ref name="vogue/genest-suicide">{{cite news |last1=Bobb |first1=Brooke |title=Zombie Boy Rick Genest, Lady Gaga and Nicola Formichetti Muse, Has Died |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/ricky-genest-zombie-boy-suicide-lady-gaga-nicola-formichetti |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=Vogue.com |date=3 August 2018}}</ref> Not long after beginning his facial tattoos, Genest was first introduced to the public on November 13, 2006, in a blog post on Body Modification Ezine (BME)'s ModBlog.<ref>[http://news.bme.com/2006/11/13/you-call-yourself-a-misfits-fan/ You call yourself a Misfits fan?], November 13, 2006</ref> In March 2008 he had his first interview,<ref>[http://news.bme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/pubring/guest/20080318.html Zombie: Living Dead Art] March 18, 2008</ref> by which time his tattoos were largely completed. In this interview, Genest clarified that he preferred the moniker "Zombie" to "Skullboy", as BME had been referring to him.
The introductions on RzyM's Channel led to increasingly mainstream media coverage, notably a June 2008 feature in ''Bizarre'' magazine. In the 2009 television film ''Carny'', starring Lou Diamond Phillips as a small-town sheriff, Genest was seen as a Tattooed Man at the Carnival. In the summer of 2010, he was discovered by artist Marc Quinn, in Bromont, Quebec, where Genest was working with the sideshow, ''Alive on the Inside'', at Carnivàle Lune Bleue.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} ===As a model=== In January 2011, Genest was featured in the new Thierry Mugler Autumn/Winter men's collection, headlining it on the brand's website, after his discovery by Formichetti,<ref name="standard/7443900">{{cite news |last1=Willsher |first1=Kim |title=Rico the Zombie |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/esmagazine/rico-the-zombie-7443900.html |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=Evening Standard |date=10 April 2012 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="theguardian/genest-suicide">{{cite news |last1=Kassam |first1=Ashifa |last2=Beaumont-Thomas |first2=Ben |title='Zombie Boy' Rick Genest, tattooed muse to Lady Gaga, dies aged 32 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/03/zombie-boy-rick-genest-dies-suicide-lady-gaga-marc-quinn |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=3 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="wmagazine/genest-dead">{{cite news |last1=Eckardt |first1=Steph |title="Zombie Boy" Rick Genest Has Died at Age 32 |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/zombie-boy-rick-genest-dead |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=W Magazine |date=August 3, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> who was Mugler's creative director.<ref name=TelegraphMuglerMens>{{cite news|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8271374/Lady-Gagas-stylist-Nicola-Formichetti-makes-Mugler-debut.htmlLady|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114063322/http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8271374/Lady-Gagas-stylist-Nicola-Formichetti-makes-Mugler-debut.htmlLady|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 14, 2013|title=Gaga's stylist Nicola Formichetti makes Mugler debut|first=Olivia|last=Bergin|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=January 20, 2011}}</ref><ref name=SHOWmuglermens>{{cite news|url=http://showstudio.com/collection/mugler_paris_menswear_a_w_11|title=Mugler @ Paris Menswear A/W 11|first=Alex|last=Fury|work=SHOWstudio.com|date=January 19, 2011}}</ref><ref name=LATimesMens>{{cite news|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2011/01/paris-fashion-week-thierry-mugler-aw-2011-menswear.html|title=Paris Fashion Week: Mugler menswear is reborn, and Lady Gaga is the midwife|first=Adam|last=Tschorn|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 19, 2011}}</ref><ref name=HorynMuglerMan>{{cite news|url=http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/rethinking-the-mugler-man/|title=Rethinking the Mugler Man|author=Horyn, Cathy|author-link=Cathy Horyn|work=The New York Times|date=January 19, 2011}}</ref> It was Genest's involvement, and Lady Gaga's urging, which resulted in the menswear show, something not originally planned.<ref name=HintMag032011>{{cite web|url=http://www.hintmag.com/post/the-true-story-of-how-nicola-formichetti-got-rick-genest-the-guy-with-a-scalp-tattoo-to-model-in-mugler--march-20-2011|title=The Incredible But True Story of How Nicola Formichetti Got Zombie Boy to Model in Mugler|author=Carter, Lee|format=Interview|work=Hint Fashion Magazine|date=March 20, 2011|access-date=April 14, 2011|archive-date=January 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119185344/http://www.hintmag.com/post/the-true-story-of-how-nicola-formichetti-got-rick-genest-the-guy-with-a-scalp-tattoo-to-model-in-mugler--march-20-2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> His involvement also influenced Formichetti on the collection itself.<ref name=HintMag032011/> The show was accompanied by a video featuring Genest, shot by fashion photographer Mariano Vivanco.<ref name=SHOWmuglermens/> He later featured alongside Lady Gaga in the fashion show for the women's 2011 Autumn/Winter line.<ref name=CutOdell>{{cite news|url=https://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/03/mugler_highlights_gaga_the_pig.html|title=Mugler Highlights: Gaga, Gaga's Pigtails, Precarious Footwear, and More Gaga|author=Odell, Amy|work=The Cut / New York|date=March 2, 2011}}</ref>
In February 2011, Genest was featured in Lady Gaga's music video for "Born This Way", with Lady Gaga wearing makeup to replicate Genest's tattoos.<ref name=Billboard>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472844/lady-gagas-born-this-way-video-premieres Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Video Premiers], Jillian Mapes (''Billboard''). February 28, 2011.</ref> Genest was featured in the sixth volume of ''Vogue Hommes Japan,'' in an editorial titled "Hard To Be Passive".<ref>"Hard To Be Passive", ''[http://hommes.vogue.co.jp/vol06/ Vogue Hommes Japan VOL. 6] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120708220822/http://hommes.vogue.co.jp/vol06/ |date=July 8, 2012 }}'', Photography by Mariano Vivanco and fashion by Nicola Formichetti. 2011.</ref> In the Summer issue of ''GQ Style'' (UK), Formichetti and Genest are interviewed, with Genest shot in Mugler by Karim Sadli for the editorial.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2011-03/16/gq-style-nicola-formichetti-styles-rick-genest-|title=GQ Style presents Nicola Formichetti|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319111253/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2011-03/16/gq-style-nicola-formichetti-styles-rick-genest-|archive-date=March 19, 2011 |first=Andy|last=Morris|work=GQ Style|date=March 15, 2011|format=Interview (inaccessible) with Sarah Hay}}</ref>
In late 2011, Genest was featured in a campaign entitled "Go Beyond the Cover", promoting Dermablend professional makeup products, appearing in a video where a makeup team covered all the tattoos on his head, torso, arms, and part of his back in its concealer product. The advert then shows him sitting with the phrase "How do you judge a book?". He then proceeds to remove portions of the makeup, starting with a section of his chest to reveal the tattoo underneath, continuing to his face.<ref name="The Montreal Gazette">{{cite web|title=Zombie Boy transformed – temporarily|url=http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2011/10/20/zombie-boy-transformed-temporarily/|work=The Constant Shopper Blog|publisher=The Montreal Gazette|access-date=October 20, 2011|date=October 20, 2011}}</ref>
The video then showed the process of applying the cover-up played backwards.<ref name="The Montreal Gazette"/> The commercial success of this campaign led to a 2-year endorsement contract with L'Oréal for Genest, who became its first-ever male spokesperson. Genest appeared in the music video of the Polish pop singer Honey. The video for her song "Sabotage" was released in January 2012.
For the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con, the Tonner Doll Company produced "Zombie Boy", a limited edition character figure in Genest's likeness. He was Tonner's guest at the convention. Included with each doll is a certificate of authenticity signed by Genest, as "Rico the Zombie". The edition was limited to 500 dolls, all of which were sold as of July 27, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tonnerdoll.com/blog/uncategorized/peek-at-the-new-zombie-boy-rick-genest-tonner-doll-a-sdcc-2012-exclusive/ |title=Peek at the new "Zombie Boy" Rick Genest Tonner Doll - A SDCC 2012 exclusive |last=von Douglas-Ittu |first=Kevin |publisher=Tonner Doll |date=July 27, 2013 |orig-year=First published June 14, 2012 |access-date=August 5, 2018}}</ref>
In September 2012, Genest became the face of the Jay-Z music fashion label Roc-A-Wear for its re-launch in Europe.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/tattoo-model-rick-genest-zombie-boy-dies-aged-32-1.3585440|title=Tattoo model Rick Genest, 'Zombie Boy', dies aged 32|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=August 9, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2014, images of Genest, taken by Colin Singer, were exhibited in the Paris-based Musée du quai Branly, Exhibition "Tattoists, Tattooed".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-05 |title=Tatoueurs, Tatoués at Musée Quai Branly |url=https://clairemead.com/2015/03/05/tatoueurs-tatoues-at-musee-quai-branly/ |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=Claire Mead |language=en}}</ref>
thumb|Zombie Boy (Photo by Colin Singer)
===As an actor and musician=== He was cast as the character "Foreman" in the 2013 film ''47 Ronin'',<ref name="Film Credits">Film Credits</ref> featuring Keanu Reeves. Genest was prominently featured in early promotional material for the film, but his role was mostly edited out of the final version of the film after it went through several re-writes and other changes.<ref>{{cite journal |title='47 Ronin': The Inside Story of Universal's Samurai Disaster |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/47-ronin-box-office-bomb-1201012170/ |last1=Setoodeh |first1=Ramin |last2=Foundas |first2=Scott |journal=Variety |date=December 30, 2013 |access-date=May 15, 2018 |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}}</ref>
Genest collaborated with British solo artist KAV on the single "Dirty Rejects", released in May 2013. They spent the first part of 2013 recording an album project, and a video titled "Monsters Versus the World" in Los Angeles. The project was discontinued.
As of January 2015, Genest was working with guitarist Mike Riggs on an upcoming album. On the horror news site Bloody Disgusting, a "Zombie Boy 666 Medley" video was released featuring samples of six songs to be on the upcoming album.<ref name=barkan>{{cite web |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3329034/zombie-boy-zombie-boy-666-medley-lyric-video-premiere-exclusive/ |title=Zombie Boy "Zombie Boy 666 Medley" Lyric Video Premiere |work=Bloody Disgusting |last=Barkan |first=Jonathan |date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=May 15, 2018}}</ref>
In June 2017, as part of the TEDx #DISRUPTyou, Genest released a video titled "Normal is an illusion", which recounted his experiences with a brain tumour, among other things.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pasquini |first1=Maria |title=Inside the Career of 'Born This Way' Video Star Rick Genest, Who Died Following Apparent Suicide |url=https://people.com/music/zombie-boy-lady-gaga-born-this-way-video-rick-genest-dead-inside-career/ |access-date=August 6, 2018 |work=PEOPLE.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Padnani |first1=Amisha |title=Rick Genest, Tattooed Model Known as Zombie Boy, Dies at 32 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/03/obituaries/rick-genest-tattooed-model-known-as-zombie-boy-dies-at-32.html |access-date=August 6, 2018 |work=New York Times |date=August 3, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
Unveiled in 2019, an {{convert|11.5|ft|m|adj=on}} sculpture of Genest, called "Self-Conscious Gene", is a new permanent fixture at the Science Museum, London, UK. The statue was created by British artist Marc Quinn.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/london-science-museum-commissions-zombie-boy-sculpture-new-medical-gallery-180968470/ |title=Sculpture of 'Zombie Boy' Fleshes Out London's Science Museum |journal=Smithsonian Mag |last=Treviño |first=Julissa |date=March 15, 2018 |access-date=May 15, 2018}}</ref>
==Death== On August 1, 2018, Genest was found dead after a fall from the third floor balcony at a close friend's apartment,<ref name="Coroner">[https://globalnews.ca/news/6091404/montreal-zombie-boy-death-coroner-report/ Montreal artist and model known as Zombie Boy died accidentally: Quebec coroner], Kalina Laframboise, Global News, 28 October 2019.</ref> in the Le Plateau-Mont-Royal district of Montreal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zombie Boy from Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Jumped to His Death |url=https://www.tmz.com/2018/08/03/zombie-boy-lady-gaga-born-this-way-suicide-jumped-balcony-family/ |date=August 3, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |website=TMZ |publisher=EHM Productions, Inc.}}</ref> A police source initially told CBC News that the death was likely a suicide.<ref name="GenestCBC">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/zombie-boy-dead-1.4772315 |title=Model and artist known as Zombie Boy dead at 32 |website=CBC |language=en-US |access-date=August 3, 2018}}</ref> In October 2019, coroner Melissa Gagnon ruled that the death was accidental.<ref name="Coroner" /><ref name=BBC>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50214342 "'Zombie Boy' Rick Genest's death accidental, says coroner"], BBC News, October 28, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Décès de M. Rick Stephan Genest : La coroner dévoile ses conclusions |url=https://www.coroner.gouv.qc.ca/medias/communiques/detail-dun-communique/332.html |website=Bureau du coroner |access-date=1 August 2024 |language=fr |date=28 October 2019}}</ref> Her investigation concluded that Genest died from head trauma after landing on the sidewalk and noted a high level of alcohol in his system with traces of cannabis, with no "unequivocal" evidence of suicidal intent.<ref name="Coroner"/><ref name=BBC/>
He left no suicide note, had recently become engaged, and by all accounts found his career fulfilling.<ref name="Coroner"/> Some relatives and friends believed all along it had been an accident.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/music/zombie-boy-rick-genest-family-believes-death-was-accidental/amp/|title=Rick 'Zombie Boy' Genest's Family Believe He Accidentally Fell to His Death: 'There's Too Many Inconsistencies'|date=August 3, 2018|work=People|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref> His manager, of a similar height to Genest (5'10"), noted the balcony railing ends below his hips.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/manager-of-rick-zombie-boy-genest-believes-death-was-an-accident/507-580508088|title=Manager of Rick 'Zombie Boy' Genest believes death was an accident|date=August 4, 2018|website=KING}}</ref> He speculated that Genest lost his balance and fell, explaining Genest often leaned against or sat on railings while smoking.<ref name=BBC/>
== In popular culture ==
* In 2025, Lady Gaga released the song "Zombieboy" in tribute to Genest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Camp |first=Alexa |date=2025-03-06 |title=Lady Gaga 'Mayhem' Review: An Album That Falls Short of Its Title |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/lady-gaga-mayhem-album-review/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Filmography== <!-- do *not* add rowspans to this table as it breaks the sorting feature --> {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2009 | ''Carny'' | Carny | |- |rowspan="3"| 2013
| ''Aquario'' | Zombie Boy | Short
|- | ''47 Ronin'' | Foreman | A larger role was initially developed<ref name="Film Credits"/> |- | ''In Faustian Fashion'' | Phoenix | {{plainlist| * Also executive producer * Short }} |- | 2014 | ''Love at Last Sight'' | Zombie Boy |{{plainlist| * Official Selection Montreal World Film Festival * Short }} |- | 2017 | ''Silent Witness'' | El Buitre |{{plainlist| * BBC One TV Series * Series 20, Episode: Awakening Part 1 & Part 2 }} |}
==Music==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Album ! Song |- | rowspan="6" | TBA<ref name=barkan/> | rowspan="6" | TBA | "That Terrible Song" |- | "Monster Inside" |- | "Monster Man" |- | "Yeah Bebe Yeah" |- | "Darkness Falls" |- | "Bad to the Bone" |}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{commons category}} * {{official|https://web.archive.org/web/20180914142926/http://rickgenest.com/}} * {{IMDb name|4868107}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes person|rick_genest}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Genest, Rick}} Category:1985 births Category:2018 deaths Category:Canadian male models Category:Canadian male film actors Category:Canadian male television actors Category:People known for being heavily tattooed Category:Male actors from Montreal Category:Models from Montreal Category:People from LaSalle, Quebec Category:Anglophone Quebec people Category:21st-century Canadian male actors Category:Accidental deaths from falls in Canada Category:Accidental deaths in Quebec Category:Sideshow performers Category:Alcohol-related deaths in Canada