Jimmy Darling, played by Evan Peters, is one of the main characters in American Horror Story season 4, Freak Show, and he’s actually based on a real-life figure with a similar physical condition. The fourth season of American Horror Story, as the title would imply, focuses on the last remaining “freak show”, or in current-day terms, “side shows” of the 1950s. This particular traveling carnival is led by Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange) and features many of the usual returning cast members for whom the horror anthology is known, including Sarah Paulson and, of course, Peters.

Named “Lobster Boy”, Jimmy Darling is one of the star members of Elsa’s “freak show,” and a protective member of the carnival, defending the other “freaks” from danger and ridicule. Jimmy grew up a spectacle, with doctors allowing visitors to gawk at him. The reason for their preoccupation, and for his stage name, is that Jimmy has ectrodactyly, a real-life condition that results in Jimmy’s hands and feet taking on a split appearance, resembling a lobster’s claw. Jimmy’s story is not wholly original and was based on a real-life man who spent time as a sideshow attraction.

AHS: Freak Show’s Jimmy Darling Is Based On Grady Stiles Jr.

Grady Stiles Jr. Was A Circus Performer Who Also Had Ectrodactyly

There are a few characters in AHS: Freak Show who are based on real people and Jimmy’s condition is based on that of Grady Stiles Jr. Stiles also had ectrodactyly, though a much more severe form that affected his feet, leaving him unable to walk (via ATI). Born in 1937 and nicknamed “The Lobster Boy”, Stiles was just one of his family members who had the physical characteristic. The Stiles family performed as “The Lobster Family”. They did well for themselves, earning upwards of $80,000 some seasons without having to do much more than pose.

Evan Peters is tied with Sarah Paulson and Lily Rabe for most seasons on American Horror Story with 9 each.

Unfortunately, ectrodactyly, the stage name, and their career paths are just about the only things Stiles and Jimmy have in common. For one, Jimmy dreams of leaving the carnival, never having to suffer the stares of passersby again, while it seems Stiles enjoyed the calling. More tragically, Stiles had a much darker disposition than the generally amiable and affectionate Jimmy. Stiles later in his life became addicted to alcohol and would violently abuse his wife and family. He then murdered his daughter’s fiancé.

It was an upsetting and disturbing end for Stiles, especially when compared with Jimmy’s happier ending in AHS: Freak Show .

When it came time for trial, Stiles was freed as the prison system was unable to handle his condition. With a new arrogance, Stiles continued his violent ways. This is until his wife paid a man to murder her husband. Chris Wyant did so and went to prison along with Stiles’ now-widowed wife and her son from another marriage, Glenn. It was an upsetting and disturbing end for Stiles, especially when compared with Jimmy’s happier ending in AHS: Freak Show.

Jimmy Darling Actor Evan Peters Consulted Jason Black About His Performance

Peters Wanted To Accurately And Respectfully Portray The Character

To prepare for the role, Peters contacted Jason Black, aka the Black Scorpion, an Austin-area performer who also has ectrodactyly (via CBS). Peters worked with Black to understand the physical movements of someone with ectrodactyly and learn the mental state of someone who lives with the physical condition (via GoldDerby). He said about meeting Black,

“…He was nice enough to lend me some information on a lot of the different things that come along with it. There’s a lot of pain involved.”

Black has learned to live with his pain and someone observing him may not realize how strenuous normal movements are, making his insights critical to the performance. Peters also had to deal with the difficulties of using prosthetics,

“The prosthetic hands were hard to keep on. Everything that I touched and used on set as a prop or whatever was constantly destroying the hands, so we would have to be constantly be re-working the hands”

It’s commendable that Peters was willing to do the research to properly portray someone with an underrepresented physical condition and his performance on American Horror Story: Freak Show is made all the better for it.