Charles Manson

Acting

Charles Manson

Born 1934-11-12 · Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Charles Milles Manson (November 12, 1934 – November 19, 2017) led the California-based Manson Family cult based in the late 1960s. Some cult members committed a series of nine murders at four locations in July and August 1969. In 1971, Manson was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the deaths of seven people, including film actress Sharon Tate. The prosecution contended that while Manson never directly ordered the murders, his ideology constituted an overt act of conspiracy. Before the murders, Manson had spent more than half of his life in correctional institutions. While gathering his cult following, Manson was a singer-songwriter on the fringe of the Los Angeles music industry, chiefly through a chance association with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, who introduced Manson to record producer Terry Melcher. In 1968, the Beach Boys recorded Manson's song "Cease to Exist", renamed "Never Learn Not to Love" as a single B-side, but without a credit to Manson. Afterward, Manson attempted to secure a record contract through Melcher, but was unsuccessful. Manson would often talk about the Beatles, including their 1968 self-titled album. According to Los Angeles County District Attorney, Vincent Bugliosi, Manson felt guided by his interpretation of the Beatles' lyrics and adopted the term "Helter Skelter" to describe an impending apocalyptic race war. During his trial, Bugliosi argued that Manson had intended to start a race war, although Manson and others disputed this. Contemporary interviews and trial witness testimony insisted that the Tate–LaBianca murders were copycat crimes intended to exonerate Manson's friend Bobby Beausoleil. Manson himself denied having instructed anyone to murder anyone. Manson's notoriety as an emblem of insanity, violence, and the macabre influenced pop culture. Recordings of songs written and performed by Manson were released commercially, starting with Lie: The Love and Terror Cult (1970). Since his incarceration, various musicians have covered some of his songs. Although originally sentenced to death in 1971, his sentence was commuted to life with the possibility of parole after the California Supreme Court invalidated the state's death penalty statute in 1972. He served his life sentence at the California State Prison, Corcoran and died at age 83 in late 2017. Description above from the Wikipedia article Charles Manson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Acting credits

Chaos: The Manson Murders poster
6.1

In August 1969, Charles Manson's followers killed seven people on his orders. Why? Explore a conspiracy of mind control, CIA experiments, and murder.

Chaos: The Manson Murders

2025

The Beach Boys poster
6.6

A celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music, and the iconic, harmonious sound they created that personified the California dream, captivating fans for generations and generations to come.

The Beach Boys

2024

When You're Strange poster
7.3

The creative chemistry of four brilliant artists —drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Kreiger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison— made The Doors one of America's most iconic and influential rock bands. Using footage shot between their formation in 1965 and Morrison's death in 1971, it follows the band from the corridors of UCLA's film school, where Manzarek and Morrison met, to the stages of sold-out arenas.

When You're Strange

2010

My Grandfather Charles Manson poster
7.3

Sophia was always the good girl growing up and her father's rock, but her quest to identify her unknown grandfather results in a shocking discovery: He is Charles Manson, history's most notorious criminal; and he bears striking physical similarities to her beloved father. Sophia's discovery propels her into an underworld of Manson family members and unreliable narrators as she traces her grandfather's life. Along the way, her genetics unlock never-before-released records and audio recordings that illuminate Manson's pathology in startling ways. But the more Sophia uncovers, the more her relationship with her father is strained. For Sophia, there's no turning back. What has she inherited, and how will she reckon with her family legacy?

My Grandfather Charles Manson

2026

Charles Manson Then & Now poster
6.0

Tracing America's morbid fascination with the infamous sociopath who was jailed in 1970 after members of his cult "family" went on a murder spree..

Charles Manson Then & Now

1992

Zappa poster
7.3

With the help of more than 10,000 dedicated Zappa fans, this is the long-awaited definitive documentary project of Alex Winter documenting the life and career of enigmatic groundbreaking rock star Frank Zappa. Alex also utilizes in this picture thousands of hours of painstakingly digitized videos, photos, audio, writing, and everything in between from Zappa's private archives. These chronicles have never been brought to a public audience before, until now.

Zappa

2020

LA 92 poster
7.7

Twenty-five years after the verdict in the Rodney King trial sparked several days of protests, violence and looting in Los Angeles, LA 92 immerses viewers in that tumultuous period through stunning and rarely seen archival footage.

LA 92

2017

Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans poster
7.2

Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans interweaves stunning newly discovered footage and voice recordings with original interviews. It is the true story of how a cinema legend would risk almost everything in pursuit of his dream.

Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans

2015

The Killing of America poster
7.2

A documentary of the decline of America, composed of archival material and exclusive footage, carnage, madness, and mayhem with an unapologetic sincerity on the factual depiction of violence in the industrialized nation of the United States. Featuring a juxtaposition of detailed accounts of terrible acts, brutal behavior, and interviews from experts and convicted killers alike.

The Killing of America

1981

The Dark Side of Porn: Does Snuff Exist? poster
7.4

BBC look at whether or not Snuff films really exist. Snuff as defined by the FBI and the film is a film that shows some one being killed which was produced for gratification of the viewer who pays to see the film. The film takes a look at the start of the rumors of snuff films, the latching on by exploitation producers and how the ability of anyone to shoot video with things such as mobile phones and put them up on the Internet have made the existence of a such a film likely. A very good very reasoned film that isn't really that graphic (at least with actual footage) the film looks at the subject with filmmakers and law enforcement officials and relates the chilling tales of the people who actually set out to make a film for themselves. The key element is the profit motive since its clear that killers and other people have been using home video equipment to record their nasty deeds, we just don't know if money has changed hands. A film to make you think.

The Dark Side of Porn: Does Snuff Exist?

2006

Manson poster
6.9

Prosecuting attorney Vincent Bugliosi and Manson "family" members Lynette Fromme, Mary Brunner and Sandra Good discuss the Tate-LaBianca murders.

Manson

1973

This Is America Part 2 poster
5.2

The sequel to This is America, aka Jabberwalk. This film goes inside the real America circa 1980 - a world of punks, orgies and worm-eating hicks! Romano Vanderbes back on the film making side and Norman Rose back on narrating duty for the second of the This Is America trilogy. Things kick off slightly louder this time with a performance by The Dictators doing a version of America the Beautiful while the titles role, then right into piece about punk star Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedy's running for mayor of San Francisco. Then back into a more This Is America feeling segment about a crazy fat bloke called Captain Sticky. Among some of the other more interesting segments we get a look at underground vagrants, a piranha attack, martial arts nuns, a family of worm eaters, a drug abusing church and ends with a death row electrocution.

This Is America Part 2

1980

No artwork available
NR

The 20 most brutal murders of Hollywood are discussed.

Horrifying Hollywood Murders

No artwork available
10.0

Reveals through graphic historical and exclusive footage the tragic murders of political and social leaders. These heinous crimes help make the 20th century man's most most violent era. Included also are numerous attempted assassinations and the stories behind those who are driven to kill prominent figures. ASSASSINATED: Malcolm X John F. Kennedy Dr. Martin Luther King Mahatma Ghandi John Lennon Robert Kennedy George Moscone

Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 2: Assassination in the 20th Century

1992

Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir poster
6.5

An interview with film director Roman Polanski conducted during his period of house arrest, discussing his life and work.

Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir

2012

Serious Serial Killers poster
NR

A documentary covering various serial killers including BTK, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, Son of Sam and more.

Serious Serial Killers

2012

Il falso bugiardo poster
NR

Based upon Vincenzoni's biography, "Pane e cinema", the documentary traces the story of the screen play writer who invented many stories that became blockbusters throughout the world.

Il falso bugiardo

2008

Iconoclast poster
7.3

Boyd Rice may well be the only person alive who's been on a first name basis with both Charles Manson and Marilyn Manson. His career has spanned more than three decades, during which time he has remained at the epicenter of underground culture and controversy.

Iconoclast

2010

Hymns from the Abyss poster
NR

Images of moral panic, cult followings and the edges of madness from sex and death.

Hymns from the Abyss

2021

Old Man poster
7.3

For more then 20 years Charles Manson has refused to communicate to the outside world. Until now. These are actual never before heard phone conversations between Canadian best selling author Marlin Marynick and Charles Manson.

Old Man

2012

Charles Manson, The Church of Satan, The Universal Order & The Process Church of Final Judgment poster
NR

Out of the spiritual chaos of the 1960s, more strange cults and unorthodox messiahs have emerged than ever. Charles Manson is seen as the annoying result of libertarianism of the 1960s - the Cain who murdered the Abel from The Love Generation. Or in the words of one commentator; "the Elvis of alienation."

Charles Manson, The Church of Satan, The Universal Order & The Process Church of Final Judgment

2012

Cease to Exist poster
NR

Explores the music motive to the Manson murders and uncovers Charles Manson's relationship with Beach Boys' drummer Dennis Wilson and record producer Terry Melcher.

Cease to Exist

2007

Inside the Manson Cult: The Lost Tapes poster
6.1

Culled from more than 100 hours of new and archival interviews with former Manson cult members, this two-hour special goes inside Spahn’s Ranch, where the Manson cult lived, to offer an intimate and terrifying look into America’s most murderous group.

Inside the Manson Cult: The Lost Tapes

2018

The Last Days of Sharon Tate poster
NR

The documentary profiled the final and last days of Sharon Tate Polanski, a beloved actress and model, who was killed in 1969 by a cult in Los Angeles, California. She was eight months pregnant with her son at the time of her murder.

The Last Days of Sharon Tate

1999

Behind the camera