Quick Facts
ScorpioBiography
Steve Railsback (born November 16, 1945) is an American theatre, film, and television actor, born in Dallas, Texas. He is best known for his performances in the films The Stunt Man and his portrayal of Charles Manson in the television miniseries Helter Skelter.
Personal life
Railsback was born Stephen Hall Railsback, in Dallas, Texas, the son of Emerett Spencer (née Sanford) and Clyde Webb Railsback. He had six brothers and no sisters.
Career
Railsback was a student of Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio and in the late sixties and early seventies spent ten years working in theatre in New York City.
He made his film debut in The Visitors, directed by Elia Kazan. He played the parts of two notorious murderers, appearing as Charles Manson in the 1976 television mini-series, 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 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.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Visitors | Mike Nickerson | |
| 1974 | Cockfighter | Junior | |
| 1976 | Helter Skelter | Charles Manson | |
| 1978 | Angela | Jean Lebrecque | |
| 1979 | From Here to Eternity | Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt | |
| 1980 | The Stunt Man | Cameron | |
| 1982 | Deadly Games | Billy Owens | |
| Trick or Treats | The Boyfriend | ||
| Turkey Shoot | Paul Anders | ||
| 1983 | The Golden Seal | Jim Lee | |
| Veliki transport | Pavle Paroški | ||
| 1985 | Lifeforce | Col. Tom Carlsen | |
| Torchlight | Jake Gregory | ||
| 1986 | Armed and Dangerous | The Cowboy | |
| 1987 | Scenes from the Goldmine | Harry Spiros | |
| Distortions | Scott Marshall | ||
| The Survivalist | Jack Tillman | ||
| The Wind | Kesner | ||
| Blue Monkey | Detective Jim Bishop | ||
| Nukie | Dr. Eric Harvey | ||
| 1988 | Deadly Intent | Jeff Kirkwood | |
| 1989 | The Assassin | Hank Knight | |
| 1990 | La Cruz de Iberia | Novak | |
| 1991 | Alligator II: The Mutation | Vincent 'Vinnie' Brown | |
| Scissors | Alex Morgan/Cole Morgan | ||
| 1992 | Forever | William Desmond Taylor | |
| 1993 | Quake | Kyle | |
| Private Wars | Jack Manning | ||
| Final Mission | Col. Anderson | ||
| Save Me | Robbins | ||
| Calendar Girl | Roy's Father | ||
| In the Line of Fire | CIA Agent David Coppinge | uncredited | |
| 1996 | Street Corner Justice | Sergeant Ryan Freeborn | |
| Barb Wire | Colonel Pryzer | ||
| 1997 | Stranger in the House | Jack Derby | |
| Pressure Point | Arno Taylor | ||
| 1998 | Disturbing Behavior | Officer Cox | |
| 1999 | Me and Will | Rob | |
| Made Men | Kyle | ||
| 2000 | Say Goodnight, Michael | ||
| Termination Man | Dylan Pope | ||
| In the Light of the Moon | Ed Gein | ||
| 2001 | Storytelling | Mr. Kirk ('Non-fiction') | |
| Double Down | Charlie | ||
| 2002 | Slash | Jeremiah | |
| 2003 | The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting | Police officer | uncredited |
| The Box | Jake Ragna | ||
| 2005 | Neo Ned | Mr. Day | |
| Intermedio | Old Man | ||
| The Devil's Rejects | Sheriff Ken Dwyer | uncredited | |
| King of the Lost World | Larry | ||
| 2008 | Follow the Profit | Senator Stanton | |
| Plaguers | Tarver | ||
| Ready or Not | Pilot | ||
| Rest Stop: Don't Look Back | Store Clerk | ||
| 2012 | Barstow | In development |
