Erik von Markovik, a.k.a. “Mystery,” is featured as one of the main members of the cast in the VH1 reality television series The Pickup Artist. He was born on September 24, 1971 in Toronto, Ontario, where he was also raised in a family of German descent. He has said himself that as he grew up in his teenage years, he was constantly unable to attract the attention and interest of women despite his best efforts, and found himself devoting time to pursuits like Dungeons and Dragons instead. He also called himself a “late bloomer” who did not undergo puberty until he was 16 years old, and did not manage to lose his virginity until he was 21.

Putting together his frustrations and experiences at rejection, over a span of a decade he slowly developed a routine-driven system for picking up women, which he calls the “Mystery Method.” During this time, he also worked as a close-up magician in places such as New York and Toronto, typically in restaurants and public areas. He also kept trying to find employment as a stage magician on a cruise ship. He says that he learned a lot about human interaction from his experiences both as a magician and in trying to attract women.

(Photo courtesy of VH1)