His whole body was covered with long hair that gave him the appearance of a lion; this was likely due to a rare condition called hypertrichosis.

His mother (Benedetta) blamed the condition on the mauling of his father (Michael) by a lion, which she claimed to have witnessed while pregnant with Stephan.

In 1901, Lionel traveled to the United States and started appearing with the Barnum and Bailey Circus.

In his act, Lionel performed gymnastic tricks, and also spoke to people to show his gentle side that sharply contrasted with his appearance.

He settled in the U.S. in 1920, becoming a popular attraction, and moved to New York City, where he was a fixture at Coney Island.