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True Crime Series ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ Details Crimes of Infamous Serial Killer
Serial killer John Wayne Gacy’s crimes are being documented in the new Peacock true crime series Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy.
In light of the show’s premiere, Life & Style breaks down everything to know about Gacy’s crimes and the scripted show.
Who Was John Wayne Gacy?
Gacy was a notorious serial killer who murdered several people in the Des Moines, Illinois, area, according to the FBI’s website. The FBI and Illinois police worked together to track down Gacy and ultimately arrested him in December 1978.
Gacy was convicted of murdering 33 young men ranging from the ages of 14 to 21 in 1980, per the FBI’s website. He was ultimately sentenced to death and was executed by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center in 1994, according to NBC Chicago.
The killer had a relatively normal middle-class upbringing, though it’s believed he was raised by an abusive alcoholic father, according to History.com. Gacy married Marlynn Myers in 1964, and Gacy managed one of the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises that his wife’s father owned in Iowa.
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Prior to being found guilty for the murders, Gacy was charged and sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting one of his male employees in 1968. He was eventually released early due to good behavior, per History.com.
Gacy and Myers – who shared children Michael and Christine – divorced after his charges. Once he was released, he moved back to Chicago and married his second wife, Carole Hoff. He also started his own construction business and worked as a clown.
Who Stars on ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’?
Michael Chernus stars as John Wayne Gacy on the show, while Gabriel Luna plays detective Rafael Tovar and Marin Ireland portrays the mother of Gacy’s final victim, Elizabeth Piest.
James Badge Dale also stars as chief of detectives Joe Kozenczak, Michael Angarano portrays Sam Amirante and Chris Sullivan plays lead prosecutor Bill Kunkle.
What Is ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ About?
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy explores the killer’s life while including the victims’ stories, as well as breaking down the systemic failures that delayed Gacy’s ultimate arrest in connection to the murders.
When Does ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ Premiere?
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy premiered on Peacock on October 16, 2025. All eight episodes are currently available to watch on the streaming service.
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Actor Michael Chernus Reveals Goal of ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’
Following the show’s premiere, Chernus opened up about the message he wants viewers to take away from the true crime series.
“I really hope that (with this show) we can start to talk about changing the narrative around dehumanizing people who aren’t like ourselves,” Chernus told Today.com. “I really think we are trying to, in a way, address the systemic biases that allowed Gacy to get away with this for so long. And there are still unidentified victims that I hope, in some way, maybe this show allows someone to call in a tip.”
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