Actors Who Played Real Criminals on Screen Michael, May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Playing a real criminal is one of the most difficult jobs an actor can take on. The role requires research, restraint, and a careful balance between dramatic storytelling and real-world harm. These are not fictional villains. Their actions affected real victims, families, and communities. This article focuses on actors who portrayed real convicted criminals, gangsters, fraudsters, or people tied to major criminal cases in films and television. Charlize Theron Source : Shutterstock Charlize Theron gave one of the most acclaimed true-crime performances of the 2000s as Aileen Wuornos in Monster. Zac Efron Source : Shutterstock Zac Efron took on the role of Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Evan Peters Source : Shutterstock Evan Peters played Jeffrey Dahmer in Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Ross Lynch Source : Shutterstock Ross Lynch played a younger Jeffrey Dahmer in My Friend Dahmer. Cameron Britton Source : Shutterstock Cameron Britton became one of the most memorable parts of Mindhunter through his portrayal of Ed Kemper. Johnny Depp Source : Shutterstock Johnny Depp played Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger in Black Mass. Ray Liotta Source : Shutterstock Ray Liotta played Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Leonardo DiCaprio Source : Shutterstock Leonardo DiCaprio played Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street. Robert De Niro Source : Shutterstock Robert De Niro played Frank Sheeran in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. Margot Robbie Source : Shutterstock Margot Robbie played figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya. Tom Hardy Source : Shutterstock Tom Hardy played both Reggie and Ronnie Kray in Legend. David Tennant Source : Shutterstock David Tennant played serial killer Dennis Nilsen in the British miniseries Des. Zach Villa Source : Shutterstock Zach Villa played Richard Ramirez, also known as the Night Stalker, in American Horror Story: 1984. Michael Shannon Source : Shutterstock Michael Shannon played Richard Kuklinski in The Iceman. Eric Bana Source : Shutterstock Eric Bana played Australian criminal Mark “Chopper” Read in Chopper. Paul Walter Hauser Source : Shutterstock Paul Walter Hauser played suspected serial killer Larry Hall in Black Bird. Jared Leto Source : Shutterstock Jared Leto played Mark David Chapman in Chapter 27. Dominic West Source : Shutterstock Dominic West played British serial killer Fred West in Appropriate Adult. Featured Image Source : Shutterstock Entertainment & Media