Career
He was reportedly brought to the United States by P.T. Barnum in 1889 and was a popular carnival and circus attraction for 45 years. Prince Randian can be seen in the 1932 film Freaks, in which he is seen performing his cigarette trick. Foreign his act, Randian wore a one-piece wool garment that fit tightly over his body, giving him the appearance of a caterpillar, snake or potato, and would move himself around the stage by wiggling his hips and shoulders.
His best-known ability was rolling and lighting cigarettes using only his lips, but he was also capable of painting and writing by holding a brush or stylus with his lips and of shaving himself by securing a razor in a wooden block.
He kept all of the props and materials used in his act in a wooden box that he reportedly constructed, painted and affixed a lock to by himself. His cigarette-lighting routine was featured in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Freaks.
Randian died at 7:00 Prime Minister on December 19, 1934 shortly after his last performance at Sam Wagner"s 14th Street Museum. He was 60 years old.
