Local authorities have ruled his death a suicide.
Rick "Zombie Boy" Genest, a Canadian model and influencer known for his numerous tattoos, has been found dead in his Montreal home. He was 32.
Local police have ruled his death a suicide, according to Radio-Canada. He had a history of mental illness, authorities said.
“Zombie Boy […] was loved by everyone who had the chance to meet and know him,” his agency, Dulcedo, said in a statement. "Thank you ZB for these beautiful moments in your company and for your radiant smile."
Genest, who grew up on the French-Canadian punk scene, got his moniker Zombie Boy after undergoing surgery for a brain tumor at 15 years old.
He got his first tattoo the following year, eventually extending them to cover every inch of his body.
“This thing that I’m trying to make is anti-conformity and anti-establishment,” Genest told Inside Edition in a previous interview.
Genest currently holds the Guinness World Record for most human bones tattooed on his body and most insects tattooed on his body, with at least 90 percent of his body inked by local artist Frank Lewis.
"This is my lifestyle, and I can’t picture being any other way," he said.
Over the years, Genest walked the runway for Thierry Mugler, appeared in fashion magazines like GQ and Vanity Fair, and made his name in a plethora of other modeling gigs.
He also appeared in movies like "47 Ronin" opposite Keanu Reeves.
Genest shot to fame for his iconic image after appearing in Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” music video in 2011, and was often called the pop star’s muse.
“The suicide of friend Rick Genest Zombie Boy, is beyond devastating," the pop star tweeted. "We have to work harder to change the culture, bring mental health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can’t talk about it. If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other."
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