24 Actors Who Look Just Like The Criminals They Play, You'd Swear They Were Doppelgangers

Margot Nolan
Apr 26, 2022
Apr 26, 2022

The true-crime genre. It takes the crimes committed in real life and makes them into Entertainment. Murders, cons, robberies, heists, extortions, etc. It's scary to think about how a human being can end up committing such atrocious crimes. And that there are so many avenues that seem to lead to it, and yet most of us don't resort to a life of crime even given the same environment or circumstances. Just knowing how close any one person could be to that switch flipping, and how easy it is for some of these people to hide it so well and hide in plain sight. It's both terrifying and captivating.
One of the aspects that contribute to the essence of the true-crime genre is how much the actor can embody the characters that they play, because the characters aren't just characters, they're real people. It's unsettling to think about how well an actor can get into a role, to portray a criminal convincingly.
With that being said, here are 24 actors who embody their characters so well that you may consider them to be each others' doppelgangers.

#2 This is Ed Kemper, who murdered six college students and is also known as the Co-Ed Killer.

Source: Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

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

Source: Netflix

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

Source: Discovery Channel / youtube.com

#3 This is David Koresh, who was a cult leader and head of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.

Source: Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Source: Netflix

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

Source: AP / Netflix

#4 This is Christopher Duntsch, who was a neurosurgeon that became known for mutilating his patients and killing two of them.

Source: Warner Bros. / youtube.com

Here's Joshua Jackson as Christopher Duntsch in the limited series Dr. Death (2021).

Source: Peacock / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

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

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

#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.

Source: Kimberly White / Getty

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

Source: Beth Dubber / HULU

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

Source: Getty / Hulu

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

Source: Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Source: Newmarket Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection

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

Source: AP / Everett Collection

#7 This is Richard Ramirez, who was a serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist best known as The Night Stalker.

Source: John Mabanglo / AP

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

Source: FX / Everett Collection

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

Source: AP / FX / Everett Collection

#8 This is Ted Bundy, who confessed to 30 homicides he committed along with seven different states in the '70s.

Source: Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty

Here's Zac Efron as Ted Bundy in the movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019).

Source: Brian Douglas / Netflix

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

Source: Getty / Netflix

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

Source: Rob Fountain / AP

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

Source: Showtime

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

Source: AP / Showtime

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

Source: Pa - Pa Images / PA Images via Getty Images

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

Source: FilmRise

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

Source: Getty / FilmRise

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

Source: Oxygen / youtube.com

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

Source: Hulu

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

Source: Oxygen / youtube.com / Hulu

#12 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.

Source: A&E / youtube.com

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.

Source: Hulu

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

Source: A&E / youtube.com

#13 This is Michelle Carter, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend over text messages to kill himself.

Source: Glenn Silva / AP

Here's Elle Fanning as Michelle Carter in the limited series The Girl From Plainville (2022).

Source: Steve Dietl / HULU

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

Source: AP / Hulu

#14 This is Andrew Cunanan, who went on a killing spree in 1997 where he murdered five people, including Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace.

Source: AP

Here's Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan in the series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018).

Source: FX

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

Source: 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.

Source: Getty Images

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

Source: FX

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

Source: 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.

Source: Channel 5 / youtube.com

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

Source: HBO Max

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

Source: Channel 5 / youtube.com / HBO Max

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

Source: Donaldson Collection / Getty Images

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

Source: Peace Arch Entertainment

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

Source: Getty Images / Peace Arch Entertainment

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

Source: ABC News / youtube.com

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

Source: Bravo

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

Source: ABC News / youtube.com / Bravo

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

Source: Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Source: Bravo

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

Source: 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.

Source: Donaldson Collection / Getty Images

Here's Brian Dennehy as John Wayne Gacy in the limited series To Catch a Killer (1992).

Source: Fox

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

Source: Getty / Fox

#21 This is Joe Exotic, who was convicted in a murder-for-hire case against animal rights activist, Carole Baskin.

Source: Associated Press

Here's John Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic in the limited series Joe Vs. Carole (2022).

Source: Mark Taylor/Peacock

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

Source: AP / Peacock

#22 This is Dennis Nilsen, who was a Scottish serial killer and necrophile that murdered at least 12 young men.

Source: Enterprise News / youtube.com

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

Source: ITV

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

Source: Enterprise News / youtube.com / ITV

#23 This is Charles Manson, who was the leader of the Manson Family, a cult that carried out several murders in the late '60s.

Source: 60 Minutes Australia / youtube.com

Here's Damon Herriman as Charles Manson in the series Mindhunter (2017–2019).

Source: Netflix

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

Source: 60 Minutes Australia / youtube.com / Netflix

#24 And finally, 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.

Source: Timothy A. Clary / AFP via Getty Images

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

Source: Nicole Rivelli / NETFLIX

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

Source: Getty / Netflix

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24 Actors Who Look Just Like The Criminals They Play, You'd Swear They Were Doppelgangers

#1 Robert Hansen, a serial killer best known as "The Butcher Baker."

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

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

#2 This is Ed Kemper, who murdered six college students and is also known as the Co-Ed Killer.

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

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

#3 This is David Koresh, who was a cult leader and head of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.

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

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

#4 This is Christopher Duntsch, who was a neurosurgeon that became known for mutilating his patients and killing two of them.

Here's Joshua Jackson as Christopher Duntsch in the limited series Dr. Death (2021).

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

#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.

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

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

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

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

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

#7 This is Richard Ramirez, who was a serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist best known as The Night Stalker.

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

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

#8 This is Ted Bundy, who confessed to 30 homicides he committed along with seven different states in the '70s.

Here's Zac Efron as Ted Bundy in the movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#12 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.

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.

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

#13 This is Michelle Carter, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend over text messages to kill himself.

Here's Elle Fanning as Michelle Carter in the limited series The Girl From Plainville (2022).

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

#14 This is Andrew Cunanan, who went on a killing spree in 1997 where he murdered five people, including Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace.

Here's Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan in the series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018).

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

#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.

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

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

#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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#20 This is John Wayne Gacy, who was a serial killer that also performed as a clown at children's hospitals and charities.

Here's Brian Dennehy as John Wayne Gacy in the limited series To Catch a Killer (1992).

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

#21 This is Joe Exotic, who was convicted in a murder-for-hire case against animal rights activist, Carole Baskin.

Here's John Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic in the limited series Joe Vs. Carole (2022).

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

#22 This is Dennis Nilsen, who was a Scottish serial killer and necrophile that murdered at least 12 young men.

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

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

#23 This is Charles Manson, who was the leader of the Manson Family, a cult that carried out several murders in the late '60s.

Here's Damon Herriman as Charles Manson in the series Mindhunter (2017–2019).

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

#24 And finally, 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.

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

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