Can you imagine accusing a brilliant actor of being a murderer? It’s likely everyone would believe their innocence. There might be no signs to give them away, and they could potentially spend their entire lives enjoying impunity.
On second thought, that could make an excellent movie plot. However, reality often surpasses fiction.
There are a few actors who have transitioned from being art lovers to becoming murderers, both voluntarily and involuntarily. Here are their stories.
Actors and Actresses Who Became Murderers
1. Lana Turner
A 1940s sex symbol, Lana Turner lived a tumultuous life. Although she wasn’t the brightest student in her early years, her undeniable beauty caught everyone’s attention, leading a talent scout to discover her and invite her to attend some auditions.
She started with small roles but later landed more significant parts in films like The Great Garrick, They Won’t Forget, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll.
Perhaps the sudden rise to fame led to chaos in her life. Turner was married seven times, and all of her partners claimed she was unstable, with alcohol abuse being notably evident.
When her only daughter, Cheryl, was 14, Turner was in a romantic—and violent—relationship with mobster Johnny Stompanato. In a jealous rage, he was killed. Initially, Cheryl was accused of the crime, having supposedly acted in defense of her mother during a beating. However, a series of letters written by Turner suggested she might have been the mastermind behind the murder.
2. Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick’s acting career was stellar. He delivered prodigious performances in War Games, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Glory, Addicted to Love, Election, and Godzilla. Before becoming an actor, he led a relatively trouble-free life, inheriting a love for the arts from his mother and moral education from his father. He received a privileged education, even attending private schools in Manhattan.
Everything seemed to be going well. Over the years, he married Sarah Jessica Parker, with whom he had three children. However, tragedy struck when he was involved in a car accident in Ireland that resulted in the deaths of two women—a mother and daughter. Although judges ruled that he wasn’t under the influence of alcohol, there are still many doubts about the incident, leaving a lingering stigma of responsibility on Broderick.
3. James Caan
James Caan’s most memorable role was as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. Although he had worked in television series before that, this character seemed to fit his rebellious and criminal personality like a glove. Alleged ties to the mafia in real life led to multiple court appearances for minor offenses.
Soon after, he was accused of throwing a man out of a window from his New York apartment, resulting in the man’s immediate death. Caan was taken to court but was soon released after claiming self-defense. The circumstances surrounding his release remain controversial.
4. John Wilkes Booth
Coming from a family of actors, John Wilkes Booth began his career at 18, playing significant roles in local theaters. Extravagant in character but conventional in mindset, Booth was a staunch supporter of the Confederate States of America and harbored intense hatred for the anti-slavery government.
Read also: ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ Was Allegedly Inspired by a Terrible Murder in 1963
This led him to assassinate President Lincoln at the Ford Theatre in Washington during a performance of Our American Cousin. Using his knowledge of the venue, Booth infiltrated the presidential box and shot Lincoln in the head, shouting “Sic semper tyrannis!”—”Thus always to tyrants!” in Latin—as he fled. Although he managed to escape on horseback, he was soon apprehended along with several accomplices—many of whom were innocent
5. Skylar DeLeon
Skylar DeLeon became the mastermind behind one of the most notorious homicides in recent history: the murders of Thomas and Jackie Hawks, a retired couple from Prescott, Arizona. DeLeon and his accomplices lured the couple under the pretense of taking their luxury yacht for a cruise. Once aboard, they kidnapped the couple, tied them to an anchor, and threw them overboard, leading to their deaths by drowning. DeLeon’s intention was to steal the victims’ yacht.
DeLeon’s troubled childhood included a mother with drug issues and a father who was an ex-convict. The American press sensationalized his connection to the popular Power Rangers series, though he was not part of the official cast but only served as an extra in dangerous scenes.
6. Alec Baldwin
Actor Alec Baldwin accidentally took the life of the director of photography of the movie he was working on in a tragic incident on the set of the movie “Rust” on October 21, 2021.
During the filming of a scene, Baldwin accidentally fired a prop gun loaded with live ammunition instead of blanks, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
The U.S. authority decided to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin after the actor’s defense argued that the prosecution had concealed evidence, causing delays in the investigation.
It’s clear that even movie stars are still human beings with serious flaws. It’s curious how stories of murderers captivate audiences worldwide, often inspiring blockbuster films that generate millions for the industry. Yet, when faced with real-life cases, we’re left with a bitter taste and disappointment in those we once admired on the big screen.
This article was adapted, updated and translated from Cultura Colectiva’s Spanish version. Read it here.
