John Wayne Gacy

John Wayne Gacy (March 17, 1942 – May 10, 1994) was an American serial killer. He was convicted and later executed for the rape and murder of thirty-three men between 1972 and his arrest in 1978. He became notorious as the "Killer Clown" because of the many block parties he attended, entertaining children in a clown suit and makeup.

Cultural References

Writer Stephen King is speculated to have used Gacy as the template for the killer clown in his novel It. Indie musician Sufjan Stevens' song "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." (from the 2005 album Illinois) is about Gacy. Macabre have written a song about Gacy titled "Gacy's Lot"; it appears on the Sinister Slaughter album. Fear Factory has also written a song about Gacy titled "Suffer Age" on the Soul of a New Machine album. The American band Dog Fashion Disco has also written a song about Gacy titled "Pogo the clown" featured on their album Committed to a bright future. Bathory has also written a song about Gacy titled "33 Something" featured on their album Octagon. The keyboardist of Marilyn Manson, Madonna Wayne Gacy (Stephen Bier), adopted his last name. Mad Season was called The Gacy Bunch before changing their name.

Related Topics:
Stephen King - It - Sufjan Stevens - 2005 - Illinois - Macabre - Sinister Slaughter - Fear Factory - Soul of a New Machine - Dog Fashion Disco - Committed to a bright future - Bathory - Octagon - Marilyn Manson - Madonna Wayne Gacy - Mad Season

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It has become a running joke that people with the middle name of "Wayne" become criminals. For example, the humorous news column News of the Weird regularly includes a section where it lists off the names of recently convicted criminals, all men with the middle name of "Wayne."

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John Wayne Gacy was programmed as one of one-hundred and eighty-three personalities within SID 6.7, the nanotech android from the 1995 film Virtuosity. In a deleted scene from the film, SID 6.7 goes into a costume shop asking for a clown suit. A clip from this scene can be seen in the film's trailer.

Related Topics:
Nanotech - Android - 1995 - Virtuosity

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Inevitably, Gacy was later immortalized in a Hollywood biopic called Gacy with character actor Mark Holton in the title role, which went straight to video. The film focused on Gacy near the end of his horrendous crimes, and a young man (a composite character) living under his roof without the knowledge of what his landlord is.

Related Topics:
Gacy - Character actor - Mark Holton

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