5 Real-Life Serial Killers Who Inspired Movie Characters:

► Ed Gein provided inspiration for a number of movies and acted as the foundation for some of our most iconic horror characters, including Deranged (1974), Ed Gein (2001), pretty much every member of the Firefly family from House of 1000 Corpses (2003) and The Devil’s Rejects (2005), Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (2007), Hitchcock (2012), Norman Bates (Psycho), Leatherface (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), Buffalo Bill (The Silence of the Lambs), Dr. Oliver Thredson (American Horror Story: Asylum). [AOM #21]

► Dennis Nilsen inspired the fictional character of Andrew Compton from the serial killer novel Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite. The story revolves around the relationship between Jay Byrne (Jeffrey Dahmer) and Compton (Nilsen). Compton is a convicted serial killer who manages to escape his prison and eventually meets — and teams up with — Jay Byrne, a budding murderer, and necrophiliac. Nilsen was also the inspiration behind the Macabre song “You’re Dying to Be with Me” and Dahmer inspired a number of films and books including the acclaimed graphic novel My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf. [SKF #1]

► Ivan Milat (later known as the Backpack Killer) inspired the terrifying Wolf Creek franchise, which spawned two films and one TV miniseries and follows the activities of Mick Taylor (John Jarratt), a psychotic man in the Outback who kidnaps and brutally tortures a group of young backpackers. [AoM #1]

► Aileen Wuornos was the inspiration behind the "Devil's Night" episode of American Horror Story as well as Charlize Theron's Oscar-winning portrayal of the murderous prostitute in Monster. The 2003 film documents Wuornos's murders of seven men (although she was only tried for six), all shot at point-blank range in Florida between 1989 and 1990. She was executed by lethal injection in 2002 in Florida. [SKF #19]

► Ed Kemper inspired several films and TV show characters. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) drew inspiration from several serial killers, including Edmund Kemper. The film Kemper: The Co-Ed Killer (2008) was based on the true story of Ed Kemper, a serial killer who murdered ten (including his mother) in Santa Cruz, CA during the late sixties and early seventies. Kemper is played by actor Cameron Britton, who serves as a major antagonist in the Mindhunter TV series, serving as the main antagonist in the first season and a minor antagonist in the second season. [SKF #9]

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