24 Famous Actors Who Looked So Much Like The Real-Life Criminals They Played, I Had To Do A Double Take

1.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
Hulu

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

  A&E / youtube.com

2.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
Glenn Silva / AP

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
Steve Dietl / HULU

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

  AP / Hulu
AP / Hulu

3.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
60 Minutes Australia / youtube.com

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

Damon also played Manson in the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

Netflix

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

  60 Minutes Australia / youtube.com / Netflix
60 Minutes Australia / youtube.com / Netflix

4.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
Timothy A. Clary / AFP via Getty Images

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

Julia as Anna in prison with the same glasses
Nicole Rivelli / NETFLIX

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

  Getty / Netflix
Getty / Netflix

5.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
Kimberly White / Getty

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

Amanda dressed exactly like Elizabeth
Beth Dubber / HULU

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

  Getty / Hulu
Getty / Hulu

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

Aileen in a prison jumpsuit and handcuffs trying to raise her hand
Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

close up of Charlize in a jumpsuit with a coat on top
Newmarket Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection

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

  AP / Everett Collection
AP / Everett Collection

7.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
John Mabanglo / AP

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

Zach with long curly hair in civilian clothes
FX / Everett Collection

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

  AP / FX / Everett Collection
AP / FX / Everett Collection

8.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
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty

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
Brian Douglas / Netflix

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

  Getty / Netflix
Getty / Netflix

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

Joyce in a stripped prison jumpsuit swearing in
Rob Fountain / AP

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

Patricia wearing a stripped jumpsuit
Showtime

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

  AP / Showtime
AP / Showtime

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

Jeffrey Dahmer's mug shot wearing silver rimmed glasses and a mustache
Pa - Pa Images / PA Images via Getty Images

Here's Ross Lynch as Jeffrey Dahmer in the movie My Friend Dahmer (2017).

Ross in civilian clothes with the same type of glasses
FilmRise

And here's a side-by-side of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ross Lynch in the movie.

  Getty / FilmRise
Getty / FilmRise

11.This is Candy Montgomery, who murdered her friend with an axe on Friday the 13th.

Candy wearing large glasses and has short hair
Oxygen / youtube.com

Here's Jessica Biel as Candy Montgomery in the upcoming limited series Candy (2022).

Jessica in the same style as hair and glasses during trial

Elizabeth Olsen is also playing Candy Montgomery in the upcoming series Love and Death.

Hulu

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

  Oxygen / youtube.com / Hulu
Oxygen / youtube.com / Hulu

12.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
Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Taylor in the same hair style and glasses
Netflix

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

  AP / Netflix
AP / Netflix

13.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
Warner Bros. / youtube.com

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
Peacock / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

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

  Warner Bros. / youtube.com / NBC / Getty Images
Warner Bros. / youtube.com / NBC / Getty Images

14.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
AP

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
FX

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

  AP / FX
AP / FX

15.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 the murders during a civil trial in 2008.

  Getty Images
Getty Images

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

  FX
FX

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

  Getty / Fox
Getty / Fox

16.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
Channel 5 / youtube.com

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

the actors in civilian clothes
HBO Max

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

  Channel 5 / youtube.com / HBO Max
Channel 5 / youtube.com / HBO Max

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

Mark's mug shot wearing dark aviator framed glasses
Donaldson Collection / Getty Images

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

Jared in civilian clothes wearing the same style of glasses
Peace Arch Entertainment

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

  Getty Images / Peace Arch Entertainment
Getty Images / Peace Arch Entertainment

18.This is John Meehan, who was a serial con man that pursued women and extorted them for money.

close up of John on the beach
ABC News / youtube.com

Here's Eric Bana as John Meehan in the series Dirty John (2018).

Eric has the same hair style and length
Bravo

And here's a side-by-side of John Meehan and Eric Bana in the series.

  ABC News / youtube.com / Bravo
ABC News / youtube.com / Bravo

19.This is Betty Broderick, who was convicted of killing her ex-husband and his new wife.

Betty smiles and wears her hair short
Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Here's Amanda Peet as Betty Broderick in the series Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story (2020).

close up of Amanda smiling also with short hair
Bravo

And here's a side-by-side of Betty Broderick and Amanda Peet in the series.

  AP / Bravo
AP / Bravo

20.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
Donaldson Collection / Getty Images

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
Fox

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

  Getty / Fox
Getty / Fox

21.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
Associated Press

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
Mark Taylor/Peacock

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

  AP / Peacock
AP / Peacock

22.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
Enterprise News / youtube.com

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

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

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

  Enterprise News / youtube.com / ITV
Enterprise News / youtube.com / ITV

23.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
Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

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

Cameron in a prison scene looking the exact same
Netflix

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

  Getty Images / Netflix
Getty Images / Netflix

24.And finally, this is Robert Hansen, who was a serial killer best known as "The Butcher Baker."

Robert wearing glasses and a flannel posing with large animal horns
Discovery Channel / youtube.com

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

John in a similar haircut and glasses
Lionsgate

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

  Discovery Channel / youtube.com / Lionsgate
Discovery Channel / youtube.com / Lionsgate