Is there an Emmy for "casting murderers with chilling accuracy?" If yes, give Mindhunter all the awards. The show's second season introduces us to a whole new fleet of notorious serial killers (R.I.P. my REM cycle), and it's genuinely scary how much the actors look like their real-life counterparts. Just try telling me the actor they got to play Charles Manson isn't actually him.
1
Jonathan Groff (Holden Ford) vs. John E. Douglas
The thirst trap that is Holden Ford is based on real-life FBI profiler John E. Douglas, who interviewed countless serial killers like Ted "NOT HOT DON'T EVEN THINK IT" Bundy, Charles Manson, and the notorious Son of Sam.
Obviously, Douglas is older than Ford in this picture, but I can see the resemblance. You?
2
Holt McCallany (Bill Tench) vs. Robert Ressler
First of all, if thinking Bill Tench has hot forearms in this picture is wrong, I don't want to be right. He, too, was based on a real person: IRL psychological profiler Robert Ressler, who worked closely with John E. Douglas and also invented the term "serial killer." He also notably worked on cannibal/murderer Jeffrey Dahmer's case, which 😬.
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3
Anna Torv (Wendy Carr) vs. Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess
Yup, Wendy is also based on a real person: Boston College's Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, who really did work with Douglas, Ressler, and the FBI. But in real life, she didn't move to Quantico for the job, and she isn't gay.
"It's not quite exactly the way it happened, which is fun," Dr. Burgess said. "I always have been an academic, but they take her down to [the FBI headquarters at] Quantico. I never moved down there like she did. I have children, and they've been a little bit nervous about the fact that they have me as a lesbian. That's been interesting. That's their right to portray it however they want."
4
Cameron Britton vs. Ed Kemper
Ed Kemper (also known as "the co-ed killer") is a serial murderer responsible for the deaths of 10 people—including his grandparents and his mother. Oh, and he was also a necrophile, meaning he had sex with his victim's dead bodies. I...just...no.
Kemper actually turned himself in after killing his mom, and said he's "happy going about his life in prison." As Mindhunter details, this dude was vital in understanding the mind of a murderer, thanks to his high intelligence and his willingness to talk.
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5
Damon Herriman vs. Charles Manson
Am I alone in thinking Damon Herriman looks more like Charles Manson than Charles Manson looks like Charles Manson? Let me just go ahead and say I am definitely *not* alone because Herriman was also cast as the infamous cult leader in Quentin Tarantino's new film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Apparently, playing Manson is kinda his THING.
Manson appears in season 2 of Mindhunter as Holden's serial killer "white whale," if you will. And in case you aren't already familiar, Manson was best known for ordering his followers to murder multiple innocent people, including the actress Sharon Tate.
6
Jack Erdie vs. Richard Speck
All the murderers on this list are...not great due to being, well, murderers, but Richard Speck might be the very worst. This guy tortured, raped, and killed eight student nurses in a hospital on the night of July 13, keeping them prisoner in a room before killing them one at a time.
Speck only showed up in one episode of Mindhunter's first season, but Jack Erdie nailed it—by which I mean, he was super frightening.
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7
Oliver Cooper vs. Son of Sam
Son of Sam, whose real name is David Berkowitz, is best known for trolling the police (and, ugh, you know, being a serial killer). He left authorities tons of freaky letters during a truly insane manhunt, and notoriously claimed he was obeying the orders of his neighbor Sam's dog Harvey, who he thought was a demon. It's! All! Fine!
8
Sam Strike vs. Montie Rissell
You might recognize Montie Rissell (known as Monte) from season 1 of Mindhunter. Rissell is your standard creepy murderer and misogynist, who raped 12 women and killed five between 1976 and 1977. It goes without saying that his crimes were deeply rooted in sexism and hatred of women. He allegedly killed his first victim, a sex worker, because he thought she enjoyed having intercourse with him. His age was somewhat noteworthy—he kicked off his crime spree at the young age of 14 and was arrested only a few years later when he was 19.
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9
Happy Anderson vs. Jerry Brudos
Happy Anderson is a man with an amazing name who played serial killer/necrophile Jerry Brudos in Mindhunter season 1. Brudos got married and had two kids before committing his string of killings, which predictably/horribly involved murdering women and keeping their shoes and underwear. (His fetish with women's shoes started when he was a kid, which is around the same time that he began to steal his neighbors' underwear. Not great!) He did unspeakably terrible things to his victims' bodies which I won't go into here. A truly evil man.
10
Sonny Valicenti vs. the BTK Killer (aka Dennis Rader)
Mindhunter introduced us to the BTK Killer as the "ADT Serviceman" in the mysterious opening scenes throughout the first season. In real life, Rader was a Kansas-based serial killer who was active for decades—all while he was simultaneously chillin' in church. Rader signed his troll-y letters to police "BTK" (bind, torture, kill) and wasn't arrested until 2005.
