19 Actors Who Played IRL Criminals And Serial Killers In Movies And TV Shows

This post deals with topics like domestic violence and sexual assault of adults and minors.  

1.This is Candy Montgomery, who murdered her friend by striking her with an axe 41 times.

Here's Elizabeth Olsen as Candy Montgomery in the limited series Love & Death (2023).

And here's a side-by-side of Candy Montgomery and Elizabeth Olsen in the series.

2.This is Larry Hall, who is suspected of killing over 50 young women but has never been charged because he has recanted dozens of confessions.

Here's Paul Walter Hauser as Larry Hall in the miniseries Black Bird (2022).

And here's a side-by-side of Larry Hall and Paul Walter Hauser in the series.

3.This is Richard Ramirez, who was a serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist best known as The Night Stalker.

Here's Zach Villa as Richard Ramirez in the series American Horror Story: 1984 (2019).

And here's a side-by-side of Richard Ramirez and Zach Villa in the series.

4.This is Jeffrey Dahmer, who was convicted of murdering and dismembering 17 men and boys.

Here's Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in the series Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022).

And here's a side-by-side of Jeffrey Dahmer and Evan Peters in the series.

5.This is Ted Bundy, who confessed to 30 homicides he committed across seven different states in the '70s.

Here's Zac Efron as Ted Bundy in the movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019).

And here's a side-by-side of Ted Bundy and Zac Efron in the movie.

6.This is Aileen Wuornos, who was dubbed the world's first female serial killer.

Here's Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in the movie Monster (2003).

And here's a side-by-side of Aileen Wuornos and Charlize Theron in the movie.

7.This is Andrew Cunanan, who went on a killing spree in 1997 where he murdered five people, including Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace.

Here's Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan in the series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018).

And here's a side-by-side of Andrew Cunanan and Darren Criss in the series.

8.This is Christopher and Susan Edwards, who were convicted of killing Susan's parents, burying them in their backyard, and using their identities to commit fraud.

Here's David Thewlis and Olivia Colman as Christopher and Susan Edwards in the limited series Landscapers (2021).

And here's a side-by-side of Christopher and Susan Edwards and David Thewlis and Olivia Colman in the series.

9.This is Mark David Chapman, who was convicted of murdering former Beatles member, John Lennon.

Here's Jared Leto as Mark David Chapman in the movie Chapter 27 (2007).

And here's a side-by-side of Mark David Chapman and Jared Leto in the movie.

10.This is Fred West, who, along with his wife, murdered several people and hid their bodies.

Here's Dominic West as Fred West in the miniseries Appropriate Adult (2011):

And here's a side-by-side of Fred West and Dominic West in the series.

11.This is John Wayne Gacy, who was a serial killer that also performed as a clown at children's hospitals and charities.

Here's Brian Dennehy as John Wayne Gacy in the two-part television film To Catch a Killer (1992).

And here's a side-by-side of John Wayne Gacy and Brian Dennehy in the movie.

12.This is David Berkowitz, who is the serial killer best known as the "Son of Sam."

Here's Oliver Cooper as David Berkowitz in the series Mindhunter (2017–2019).

And here's a side-by-side of David Berkowitz and Oliver Cooper in the series.

13.This is Ed Kemper, who murdered six college students and is also known as the Co-Ed Killer.

Here's Cameron Britton as Ed Kemper in the series Mindhunter (2017–2019).

And here's a side-by-side of Ed Kemper and Cameron Britton in the series.

14.This is Dennis Nilsen, who was a Scottish serial killer and necrophile that murdered at least 12 young men.

Here's David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen in the limited series Des (2020).

And here's a side-by-side of Dennis Nilsen and David Tennant in the series.

15.This is Robert Hansen, who was the serial killer best known as "The Butcher Baker."

Here's John Cusack as Robert Hansen in the movie The Frozen Ground (2013).

And here's a side-by-side of Robert Hansen and John Cusack in the movie.

16.This is Albert DeSalvo, who admitted to murdering 13 women in the Boston area between 1962–1964 and was nicknamed "The Boston Strangler."

Here's David Dastmalchian as Albert DeSalvo in the movie Boston Strangler (2023).

And here's a side-by-side of Albert DeSalvo and David Dastmalchian in the movie.

17.This is Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his second wife Kathleen Peterson in 2003.

Here's Colin Firth as Michael Peterson in the limited series The Staircase (2022).

And here's a side-by-side of Michael Peterson and Colin Firth in the series.

18.This is Myra Hindley, who, along with her boyfriend, carried out the murders and rapes of five children in a spree that's now known as the Moors Murders.

Here's Samantha Morton as Myra Hindley in the movie Longford (2007):

And here's a side-by-side of Myra Hindley and Samantha Morton in the movie.

19.Finally, this is Ron Lafferty, who, alongside his brother Dan, was charged with the homicide of his sister-in-law and niece.

Here's Sam Worthington as Ron Lafferty in the miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven (2022).

And here's a side-by-side of Rob Lafferty and Sam Worthington in the series.