Steve Railsback
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1945-11-16 (79 years old)
Place of Birth
Dallas, Texas, USA
Steve Railsback
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.
Known For
Acting
Best Served Cold
as Himself
(2025)
(2024)
(2022)
Night Caller
as Andrew Lubitz
(2020)
(2018)
Gone Are the Days
as Jaden
(2014)
Wild in Blue
as Charlie's Father
(2014)
Infiltrators
as Sebastian Koenig
(2010)
Plaguers
as Tarver
(2010)
Once Fallen
as Aryan Boss
(2009)
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
as Alumnus Guy #5
(2009)
Ready or Not
as Pilot
(2009)
Follow the Prophet
as Senator Stanton
(2008)
Rest Stop: Don't Look Back
as The Owner
(2008)
Not Quite Hollywood
as Self
(2005)
The Devil's Rejects
as Sheriff Ken Dwyer
(2005)
King of the Lost World
as Larry
(2005)
Neo Ned
as Mr. Day
(2005)
Intermedio
as Old Man
(2004)
UnConventional
as Self
(2003)
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
as Deputy Jessup (uncredited)
(2003)
The Box - 2003
as Jake Ragna
(2002)
Slash
as Jeremiah
(2001)
Storytelling
as Mr. Kirk
(2001)
Zigs
as Charlie
(2000)
Ed Gein
as Ed Gein
(2000)
(1999)
Made Men
as Kyle
(1999)
Me and Will
as Rob
(1998)
Disturbing Behavior
as Officer Cox
(1998)
Termination Man
as Dylan Pope
(1997)
Vanishing Point
as Sergeant Preston
(1997)
Pressure Point
as Arno Taylor
(1997)
Stranger in the House
as Jack Derby
(1996)
Barb Wire
as Colonel Pryzer
(1996)
Street Corner Justice
as Sergeant Ryan Freeborn
(1994)
Save Me
as Robbins
(1994)
Final Mission
as Colonel Glen Anderson
(1994)
Separated by Murder
as Jesse Dixon
(1993)
In the Line of Fire
as CIA Agent David Coppinger (uncredited)
(1993)
Calendar Girl
as Eddie Darpinian
(1993)
Private Wars
as Jack Manning
(1993)
Bonds of Love
as Ken Smith
(1992)
Forever
as William Desmond Taylor
(1992)
Quake
as Kyle
(1992)
Sunstroke
as Biggs
(1991)
Scissors
as Alex Morgan / Cole Morgan
(1991)
Alligator 2: The Mutation
as Vinnie Brown
(1990)
La cruz de Iberia
as Novak
(1990)
(1990)
The Assassin
as Hank Knight
(1989)
The Forgotten
as Lt. Jesse Brady
(1988)
Deadly Intent
as Jeff Kirkwood
(1987)
Blue Monkey
as Det. Jim Bishop
(1987)
Nukie
as Dr. Eric Harvey
(1987)
The Survivalist
as Jack Tillman
(1987)
Scenes From the Goldmine
as Harry Spiros
(1987)
Distortions
as Scott Marshall
(1986)
Armed and Dangerous
as The Cowboy
(1986)
The Wind
as Kesner
(1986)
Spearfield's Daughter
as Tom Border
(1985)
Lifeforce
as Col. Tom Carlsen
(1985)
Torchlight
as Jake Gregory
(1983)
The Golden Seal
as Jim Lee
(1983)
Great Transport
as Pavle Paroški
(1982)
Turkey Shoot
as Paul Anders
(1982)
Deadly Games
as Billy Owens
(1982)
Trick or Treats
as Bret
(1980)
The Stunt Man
as Cameron
(1977)
Angela
as Jean
(1976)
Helter Skelter
as Charles Manson
(1974)
Cockfighter
as Junior
(1972)
The Visitors
as Mike Nickerson
(1972)
The Last Escape of Billy the Kid
as Billy the Kid
(1951)
Crew
(2000)
Ed Gein
Executive Producer
(1994)
The Flight of the Dove
Director
(1989)
The Forgotten
Screenplay, Executive Producer