Trending:
- Chris Evans surprised a superfan while he completed his Captain America-themed tattoo last month
- The customer “was in shock” upon seeing the actor, owner Josh Lord tells PEOPLE exclusively
- Evans portrayed his superhero role in various Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, from Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) to Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Chris Evans’ Captain America might have “America’s ass” — but one superfan now has America’s arm.
Last month, the actor, 43, made a special visit to a New York City tattoo shop, where a man was completing his tribute to Evans’ Marvel comic book character after a year and a half.
Scott Clayton started going to artist Luke Atay at East Side Ink Tattoo in October 2023, “because he wanted to create a realistic mechanical arm similar to the Winter Soldiers,’ with Captain America’s shield painted on the steel,” shop co-owner Josh Lord tells PEOPLE exclusively.
“But to make it even harder,” Lord adds, the customer “wanted it to look like it was battle-worn, with laser beam marks ripping out from the skin.”
Coming in from out of state every few months to have work done on the tattoo, Clayton was surprised in March, when Evans was there to see his ink completed. “The moment he realized that the actor who played his favorite character was sitting right there after finishing his sleeve was one of my favorite moments tattooing, ever,” Lord says.
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According to Lord, he first met Evans back in 2018, when the actor and his Avengers costars — Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Chris Hemsworth — came into the New York shop to get tattoos to commemorate their time as the original members of the Marvel team.
“I’ve known Chris for many years now, and he’s one of my favorite people,” the artist says, adding: “I’ve done a few of his tattoos.”
Evans and his Marvel costars even all worked together to give Lord his own Avengers-themed tattoo years ago.
“I can say that out of all of the Avengers, he was definitely the most focused, and his line is the least shaky,” Lord says, referring to Evans. “They all did great, though.”
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Lord says that Clayton is a perfect tattoo shop customer.
“He’s such a solid guy, never shows pain, knows everyone at the shop by name and always is so nice,” he explains, adding that Clayton “boasts an extensive collection of Captain America memorabilia — including 3 shields! — and he has the actual look of a superhero, so he wears that tattoo perfectly.”
For Clayton, he “carefully chose” artist Atay to craft his Captain America body art, Lord states, also praising the skilled tattooist as “definitely the best man for the job.”
“He’s been part of the crew for two years now, from Hawaii, and he is brilliant,” the co-owner says. “He really can do any style … and he brings everyone together and makes us a better crew. Days when he works, everyone is happier.”
Evans portrayed his superhero role in various Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, from Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) to Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Recalling more of the moment when Evans surprised Clayton to see his tattoo tribute finalized, Lord tells PEOPLE the customer “was in shock.”
“Chris went out of his way to introduce himself and asked Scott to wait and take a picture together,” he continues. “That is a classy guy.”
Overall, Lord — who says he has “been tattooing mainly in N.Y.C. since the late 1900s” — adds that it was “just a great day at the shop all around.”
“I really wish I could say more,” he continues. “But all the best stories are the ones you probably shouldn’t tell.”
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