Steve Railsback
Actor
Biography
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.
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, 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.
As Director
Filmography
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
as Alumnus Guy #5 2009
In the Line of Fire
as CIA Agent David Coppinger (uncredited) 1993
The Devil's Rejects
as Sheriff Ken Dwyer 2005
Lifeforce
as Col. Tom Carlsen 1985
Barb Wire
as Colonel Pryzer 1996
Disturbing Behavior
as Officer Cox 1998
Storytelling
as Mr. Kirk 2001
Armed and Dangerous
as The Cowboy 1986
The Stunt Man
as Cameron 1980
Ed Gein
as Ed Gein 2000
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
as Deputy Jessup (uncredited) 2003
Rest Stop: Don't Look Back
as The Owner 2008
Alligator 2: The Mutation
as Vinnie Brown 1991
Turkey Shoot
as Paul Anders 1982
Not Quite Hollywood
as Self 2008
Calendar Girl
as Eddie Darpinian 1993
Helter Skelter
as Charles Manson 1976