Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is an eight-episode, American true crime drama miniseries that premiered on October 16, 2025, on Peacock. It dramatizes the life and crimes of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who murdered dozens of young men and boys during the 1970s. In the United Kingdom, the series premiered on ITVX in January 2026.
Plot The series examines the life of John Wayne Gacy, a respected community member who was convicted of sodomy after he sexually assaulted 15-year-old Donald Voorhees Jr., and who was later discovered to be a serial killer who raped, tortured and murdered at least thirty-three young men and boys between 1972 and 1978 in Norwood Park Township, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The series explores the investigation leading to his capture, the lives of his victims, and the grief their families endured. Beyond detailing Gacy's crimes, the series examines systemic failures, societal prejudices, and missed opportunities that allowed him to evade detection for years.
Cast Michael Chernus as John Wayne Gacy Gabriel Luna as Det. Rafael Tovar James Badge Dale as Joe Kozenczak Michael Angarano as Sam Amirante Chris Sullivan as Bill Kunkle Marin Ireland as Elizabeth Piest, Rob's mother Augustus Prew as Jeffrey Rignall Brandon McEwan as Phillip Paske Ryker Baloun as Robert Piest Cricket Brown as Kerry Piest Thom Nyhuus as Kenneth Piest Quincy Tyler Bernstine as Dr. Healy (uncredited) Brenda Bazinet as Eugenia Godzik, Gregory's mother Ella Rae Peck as Rose Perino, Jeffrey's girlfriend R Austin Ball as Ron Dovenek, Jeffrey's partner Nina Kiri as Mary Amirante Étienne Kellici as Samuel Stapleton Sprague Grayden as Bessie Stapleton, Samuel's mother Mallory Bechtel as Mary Jane, Billy Kindred's girlfriend Levi Shelton as John 'Johnny' Szyc Max Mattern as Billy Carroll Brayden Raqueño as Dale Landingin Ianne Fields Stewart as Sophia St. Laurent Gavin Lewis as Timothy McCoy Eva Foote as Carol Gacy Crede Cooper as John Butkovich
Production Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is based on the similarly named 2021 Peacock docuseries John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise. The 2025 series shifts focus from the killer himself to the impact on his victims and the investigation that brought him to justice. Showrunner Patrick Macmanus emphasized the importance of highlighting the victims rather than sensationalizing Gacy.
Episodes
Reception On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 23 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads, "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy offers a compassionate, morally clear reexamination of the infamous killer's crimes that honors victims and finds fresh purpose in retelling their stories." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
Accolades Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Astra Creative Arts Awards December 11, 2025 Best Hairstyling - TelevisionDevil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy Best Main Title Design - Television Best Makeup - Television Critics' Choice Television Awards January 4, 2026 Best Limited Series Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made For Television Michael Chernus Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made For Television Marin Ireland
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