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The Grinning Man
A tall figure with an impossibly wide grin. No nose. No ears. Seen near Mothman sightings and UFO encounters. Indrid Cold—the Grinning Man—appears before disasters.
1966 - Present
New Jersey and West Virginia, USA
50+ witnesses
The Grinning Man is a mysterious figure associated with UFO encounters and the Mothman sightings of the 1960s.
The Legend
According to documented accounts:
The Grinning Man:
- Appeared in 1966
- Near Point Pleasant, WV and New Jersey
- Has an impossibly wide grin
- No nose or ears
- May be named “Indrid Cold”
The First Sighting
October 11, 1966:
- Two boys in New Jersey
- Saw a tall figure behind a fence
- Had no nose or ears
- Grinned broadly at them
- They fled in terror
Indrid Cold
In Point Pleasant:
- Woodrow Derenberger met “Indrid Cold”
- A grinning man from a UFO
- Cold communicated telepathically
- Said he was from “Lanulos”
- Became famous through John Keel’s books
Description
Witnesses describe:
- Very tall (6-7 feet)
- Extremely wide grin
- No nose or ears
- Sometimes greenish skin
- Metallic or tight clothing
- Staring eyes
Connection to Mothman
The Grinning Man:
- Appeared during Mothman flap
- In the same region
- Part of the same phenomenon?
- Associated with the Silver Bridge collapse
- A herald of disaster?
Cultural Impact
The Grinning Man influenced:
- “The Mothman Prophecies”
- Creepypasta and internet horror
- Modern UFO folklore
- Horror media
Sources
- John Keel’s investigations and books