25 Famous Actors Next To The Actual Criminals They Played In Movies And TV Shows

    Damon Herriman looks so much like Charles Manson that he played him two different times in Mindhunter and in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.

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

    Albert DeSalvo

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

    David Dastmalchian as Albert DeSalvo

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

    Albert DeSalvo and David Dastmalchian

    2. This is Charles Manson, who was the leader of the Manson Family, a cult that carried out several murders in the late '60s.

    close up of Charles Manson with shoulder-length hair and beard

    Here's Damon Herriman as Charles Manson in the series Mindhunter (2017-2019).

    Damon looking the exact same, even with a Nazi tattoo on his forehead

    And here's a side-by-side of Charles Manson and Damon Herriman in the series.

    Charles Manson and Damon Herriman

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

    Jeffrey Dahmer's mug shot wearing silver rimmed glasses and a mustache

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

    Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer

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

    Jeffrey Dahmer and Evan Peters

    4. This is Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was convicted of second-degree murder for killing her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, after years of abuse from Munchausen by proxy.

    Gypsy sitting for an interview wearing a jacket, hat, and glasses

    Here's Joey King as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in the limited series The Act (2019).

    Joey King in the same outfit looking the exact same as Gypsy

    And here's a side-by-side of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Joey King in the series.

    Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Joey King

    5. This is Michelle Carter, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend over text messages to kill himself.

    close up of Michelle during trial

    Here's Elle Fanning as Michelle Carter in the limited series The Girl From Plainville (2022).

    close up of Ellie Fanning in the same hair cut for the trial

    And here's a side-by-side of Michelle Carter and Elle in the series.

    Michelle Carter and Elle Fanning

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

    Michael Peterson

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

    Colin Firth as Michael Peterson

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

    Michael Peterson and Colin Firth

    7. This is Anna Delvey, who was convicted of grand larceny after pretending to be a German heiress and scamming New York's elite out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    close up of Anna during trail wearing black rimmed glasses

    Here's Julia Garner as Anna Delvey in the limited series Inventing Anna (2022).

    Julia as Anna in prison with the same glasses

    And here's a side-by-side of Anna Delvey and Julia Garner in the series.

    Anna Delvey and Julia Garner

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

    Ron and Dan Lafferty

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

    Sam Worthington as Ron Lafferty

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

    Ron Lafferty and Sam Worthington

    9. This is Elizabeth Holmes, who founded Theranos and was convicted of fraud for engaging in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud investors by making false statements about her technology’s capabilities.

    close up of Elizabeth wearing her hair pulled back and a turtleneck

    Here's Amanda Seyfried as Elizbeth Holmes in the limited series The Dropout (2022).

    Amanda dressed exactly like Elizabeth

    And here's a side-by-side of Elizabeth Holmes and Amanda Seyfried in the series.

    Elizabeth Holmes and Amanda Seyfried

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

    Aileen in a prison jumpsuit and handcuffs trying to raise her hand

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

    close up of Charlize in a jumpsuit with a coat on top

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

    Aileen Wuornos and Charlize Theron

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

    Richard with long curly hair wearing a prison uniform

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

    Zach with long curly hair in civilian clothes

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

    Richard Ramirez and Zach Villa

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

    Ted Bundy in a suit during trial

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

    Zac wearing a very similar suit for the trial scene

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

    Ted Bundy and Zac Efron

    13. This is Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell, who helped two convicted murderers escape a maximum-security prison.

    Joyce in a stripped prison jumpsuit swearing in

    Here's Patricia Arquette as Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell in the limited series Escape at Dannemora (2018).

    Patricia wearing a stripped jumpsuit

    And here's a side-by-side of Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell and Patricia Arquette in the series.

    Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell and Patricia Arquette

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

    Candy wearing large glasses and has short hair

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

    Elizabeth Olsen in "Love & Death"

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

    Candy Montgomery and Elizabeth Olsen

    15. This is David Koresh, who was a cult leader and head of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.

    David with long curly hair and aviator style glasses

    Here's Taylor Kitsch as David Koresh in the limited series Waco (2018).

    Taylor in the same hair style and glasses

    And here's a side-by-side of David Koresh and Taylor Kitsch in the series.

    David Koresh and Taylor Kitsch

    16. This is Christopher Duntsch, who was a neurosurgeon that became known for mutilating his patients and killing two of them.

    close up of Christopher with short hair

    Here's Joshua Jackson as Christopher Duntsch in the limited series Dr. Death (2021).

    Joshua in an office chair with short hair wearing a physician's coat

    And here's a side-by-side of Christopher Duntsch and Joshua Jackson in the series.

    Christopher Duntsch and Joshua Jackson

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

    Mug shot of Andrew wearing circular glasses and short hair

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

    close up of David wearing the same style of glasses and short hair

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

    Andrew Cunanan and Darren Criss

    18. This is Robert Berchtold, who groomed and abducted his 12-year-old neighbor Jan Broberg twice between 1972 and 1976.

    Robert Berchtold

    Here's Jake Lacy as Robert Berchtold in the miniseries A Friend of the Family (2022).

    Jake Lacy in "A Friend of the Family"

    And here's a side-by-side of Robert Berchtold and Jake Lacy in the series.

    Robert Berchtold and Jake Lacy

    19. This is O.J. Simpson, who was charged with the murder of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. He was acquitted at first, but was later found guilty of robbery and kidnapping during a civil trial in 2008.

    O.J. Simpson at trial

    Here's Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson in the series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016).

    Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson

    And here's a side-by-side of O.J. Simpson and Cuba Gooding Jr. in the series.

    O.J. Simpson and Cuba Gooding Jr.

    20. 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.

    both of their mug shots

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

    the actors in civilian clothes

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

    Christopher Edwards, David Thewlis, Olivia Colman, and Susan Edwards

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

    Mark's mug shot wearing dark aviator framed glasses

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

    Jared in civilian clothes wearing the same style of glasses

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

    Mark David Chapman and Jared Leto

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

    John's mugshot where he has a small mustache, gruff, and short hair

    Here's Brian Dennehy as John Wayne Gacy in the limited series To Catch a Killer (1992).

    Brian's clean-shaven mug shot with short hair

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

    John Wayne Gacy and Brian Dennehy

    23. This is Joe Exotic, who was convicted in a murder-for-hire case against animal rights activist, Carole Baskin.

    Joe Exotic mug shot where his hair is bleached blonde and in a mullet and multiple piercings

    Here's John Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic in the limited series Joe Vs. Carole (2022).

    John Cameron wearing a cut off flannel with the same hair style and piercings

    And here's a side-by-side of Joe Exotic and John Cameron Mitchell in the series.

    Joe Exotic and John Cameron Mitchell

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

    his mug shot in a aviator frame glasses and parted hair

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

    David wearing the exact same hair style, glasses, and shirt

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

    Dennis Nilsen and David Tennant

    25. Finally, this is Ed Kemper, who murdered six college students and is also known as the Co-Ed Killer.

    David in his prison uniform with a mustache and glasses

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

    Cameron in a prison scene looking the exact same

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

    Edmund Kemper and Cameron Britton