Actor
Steve Railsback
Born November 16, 1945 in Dallas, Texas, USA69 films
Steve Railsback (born November 16, 1945, in Dallas, Texas) is an American theatre, film, and television actor. He is best known for his performances in the films The Stunt Man and Lifeforce, and his portrayal of Charles Manson in the 1976 television mini-series Helter Skelter.
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Railsback was a student of Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio and in the late 1960s and early 1970s spent 10 years working in theatre in New York City. He once said that he found Strasberg extremely difficult to work with.
He made his film debut in The Visitors, directed by Elia Kazan. He portrayed two notorious murderers, appearing as Charles Manson in the 1976 television miniseries Helter Skelter and as Ed Gein in the 2000 film In the Light of the Moon. He also served as executive producer of the latter film.
Other notable roles include the part of Cameron in The Stunt Man with Peter O'Toole, the astronaut Tom Carlsen in Tobe Hooper's Lifeforce, Duane Barry in two episodes of The X-Files, and Joseph Welch in the pilot episode of Supernatural.
In 2008, he appeared in the science fiction/horror movie film Plaguers.
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The best way into Steve Railsback's work
First watchIn the Line of Fire19937.0as CIA Agent David Coppinger (uncredited)Veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan is a man haunted by his failure to save President Kennedy while serving protection detail in Dallas.View filmEssential films
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Filmography
69 films as actor- 2024Unspeakable: Beyond The Wall of Sleep
- 2022Night CallerAndrew Lubitz
- 2018Gone Are the DaysJaden
- 2014InfiltratorsSebastian Koenig
- 2014Wild in BlueCharlie's Father
- 2010Once FallenAryan Boss
- 2010PlaguersTarver
- 2009American Pie Presents: The Book of LoveAlumnus Guy #5
- 2009Follow the ProphetSenator Stanton
- 2009Ready or NotPilot
- 2008Rest Stop: Don't Look BackThe Owner
- 2005King of the Lost WorldLarry
- 2005The Devil's RejectsSheriff Ken Dwyer
- 2005Neo NedMr. Day
- 2005IntermedioOld Man
- 2003The Hitcher II: I've Been WaitingDeputy Jessup (uncredited)
- 2003The BoxJake Ragna
- 2002SlashJeremiah
- 2001StorytellingMr. Kirk
- 2001ZigsCharlie
- 2000Ed GeinEd Gein
- 1999Me and WillRob
- 1999Made MenKyle
- 1998Disturbing BehaviorOfficer Cox
- 1998Termination ManDylan Pope
- 1997Pressure PointArno Taylor
- 1997Vanishing PointSergeant Preston
- 1997Stranger in the HouseJack Derby
- 1996Street Corner JusticeSergeant Ryan Freeborn
- 1996Barb WireColonel Pryzer
- 1994Final MissionColonel Glen Anderson
- 1994Separated by MurderJesse Dixon
- 1994Save MeRobbins
- 1993Private WarsJack Manning
- 1993Calendar GirlEddie Darpinian
- 1993In the Line of FireCIA Agent David Coppinger (uncredited)
- 1993Bonds of LoveKen Smith
- 1992SunstrokeBiggs
- 1992QuakeKyle
- 1992ForeverWilliam Desmond Taylor
- 1991Alligator 2: The MutationVinnie Brown
- 1991ScissorsAlex Morgan / Cole Morgan
- 1990Good Cops, Bad Cops
- 1990The AssassinHank Knight
- 1990The Cross of IberiaNovak
- 1989The ForgottenLt. Jesse Brady
- 1988Deadly IntentJeff Kirkwood
- 1987Blue MonkeyDet. Jim Bishop
- 1987Scenes from the GoldmineHarry Spiros
- 1987NukieDr. Eric Harvey
- 1987DistortionsScott Marshall
- 1987The SurvivalistJack Tillman
- 1986The WindKesner
- 1986Armed and DangerousThe Cowboy
- 1986Spearfield's DaughterTom Border
- 1985LifeforceCol. Tom Carlsen
- 1984TorchlightJake Gregory
- 1983The Golden SealJim Lee
- 1983Great TransportPavle Paroški
- 1982Trick or TreatsBret
- 1982Deadly GamesBilly Owens
- 1982Turkey ShootPaul Anders
- 1980The Stunt ManCameron
- 1977AngelaJean
- 1976Helter SkelterCharles Manson
- 1974CockfighterJunior
- 1972The VisitorsMike Nickerson
- 1972The Last Escape of Billy the KidBilly the Kid
- 1951H: The Story of a Teen-Age Drug AddictBill