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Steve Railsback

Steve Railsback
Railsback in 2010
Born
Stephen Hall Railsback

(1945-11-16) November 16, 1945 (age 79)
OccupationActor
Years active1967–present
Spouses
  • Jacqueline Giroux
    (m. 1980; div. 1988)
  • Marcy Sobel
    (m. 1990)
Children3
Websitesteverailsbackactor.com

Steve Railsback (born November 16, 1945, in Dallas, Texas) is an American theatre, film, and television actor. He is best known for his performances in the films The Stunt Man and Lifeforce, and his portrayal of Charles Manson in the 1976 television mini-series Helter Skelter.[1]

Career

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Railsback was a student of Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio and in the late 1960s and early 1970s spent 10 years working in theatre in New York City. He once said that he found Strasberg extremely difficult to work with.

He made his film debut in The Visitors, directed by Elia Kazan. He portrayed two notorious murderers, appearing as Charles Manson in the 1976 television miniseries 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,[1] the astronaut Tom Carlsen 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.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role 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 Colonel Tom Carlsen
Torchlight Jake Gregory
1986 Armed and Dangerous The Cowboy
Spearfield's Daughter Tom Border
The Wind Kesner
1987 Scenes from the Goldmine Harry Spiros
Distortions Scott Marshall
The Survivalist Jack Tillman
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 Brown
Scissors Alex Morgan / Cole Morgan
1992 Forever William Desmond Taylor
1993 Quake Kyle
Private Wars Jack Manning
Bonds of Love Ken Smith Television film
Final Mission Colonel Anderson
Save Me Robbins
Calendar Girl Roy's Father
In the Line of Fire David Coppinger uncredited
1996 Street Corner Justice Sergeant Ryan Freeborn
Barb Wire Colonel Victor Pryzer
1997 Stranger in the House Jack Derby
Pressure Point Arno Taylor
Vanishing Point Sergeant Preston
1998 Disturbing Behavior Officer Cox
1999 Me and Will Rob
Made Men Kyle
2000 Say Goodnight, Michael Actor
Termination Man Dylan Pope
In the Light of the Moon Ed Gein
2001 Storytelling Mr. Kirk
Double Down Charlie
2002 Slash Jeremiah
2003 The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting Deputy Jessup 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
2018 Gone Are the Days Jaden

Television

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Year Film Role Notes
1985 The Hitchhiker Mickey Episode: "Petty Thieves"
1986 The Twilight Zone Johnny Davis Episode: "Dead Run"
1991 The Young Riders Tyler Episode: "The Peacemakers"
1994 The X-Files Duane Barry 2 episodes: s02e05 "Duane Barry" and s02e06 "Ascension"
1995 Walker, Texas Ranger Jerry Lee Stark Episode: "The Guardians"
1997–1998 The Visitor Colonel James Vise 13 episodes
2000 Charmed Litvack Episode: "Give Me a Sign"
2001 The Practice Walter Dawson Episode: "Killing Time"
2002 Family Law Gary Peres Episode: "Children of a Lesser Dad"
The District Charles "Chip" Renson Episode: "Free-Fire Zone"
2004 The Handler Harley Aimes Episode: "Give Daddy Some Sugar"
2005 Kojak Edward Sawyer Episode: "All Bets Off: Part 2"
Supernatural Joseph Welch Episode: "Pilot"
2010 The Mentalist Kittel Episode: "Ball of Fire"
2012 Femme Fatales Doctor Daniel Duryea 2 episodes
2013 Deadtime Stories Owen Episode: "Invasion of the Appleheads"
2017 Decker Fictional General Cotter Episode: "Same Old Glory"

References

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  1. ^ a b Janet Maslin (October 17, 1980). "The Stunt Man". The New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  2. ^ Plaguers DVD Art and Specs
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