A new true crime drama series about notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy is set to air on ITV. Titled Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, the eight-episode miniseries premieres on Friday, January 30 on ITV1. The show originally aired in the United States in October 2024 and received critical acclaim, boasting a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The series explores Gacy's double life as a respected community member and a serial killer. It delves into the investigation that led to his capture, the lives of his victims, and the grief endured by their families. The synopsis notes that the series also examines systemic failures, societal prejudices, and missed opportunities that allowed Gacy to evade detection for years.
John Wayne Gacy was an American serial killer and sex offender who raped, tortured, and murdered at least 33 young men and boys between 1972 and 1978. He earned the nickname 'killer clown' because he performed as a children's entertainer before his crimes were discovered. Gacy lured victims to his home, often convincing them to put on handcuffs under the pretence of a magic trick, before sexually assaulting, torturing, and killing them by asphyxiation or strangulation.
Twenty-six of Gacy's victims were buried in the crawl space of his home, three elsewhere on his property, and four were found in the Des Plaines River. He was caught in 1978 after the disappearance of 15-year-old Robert Piest, who was last seen meeting Gacy after being offered a job. Gacy later admitted to the murders and was convicted in 1980 of 33 counts of murder, as well as sexual assault and taking indecent liberties with a child.
Sentenced to death on March 13, 1980, Gacy was executed by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center on May 10, 1994. The series stars Michael Chernus as Gacy, alongside Gabriel Luna, James Badge Dale, Michael Angarano, Chris Sullivan, Marin Ireland, and Augustus Prew.
