Steve Railsback 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.
Career 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.Plaguers DVD Art and Specs
Filmography Film YearFilmRole Notes1972 The VisitorsMike Nickerson1974CockfighterJunior1976Helter SkelterCharles Manson1978AngelaJean Lebrecque1979From Here to EternityPrivate Robert E. Lee Prewitt1980 The Stunt ManCameron1982Deadly GamesBilly OwensTrick or TreatsThe BoyfriendTurkey ShootPaul Anders1983 The Golden SealJim LeeVeliki transportPavle Paroški1985LifeforceColonel Tom CarlsenTorchlightJake Gregory1986Armed and DangerousThe CowboySpearfield's DaughterTom Border The WindKesner1987Scenes from the GoldmineHarry SpirosDistortionsScott Marshall The SurvivalistJack TillmanBlue MonkeyDetective Jim BishopNukieDr. Eric Harvey1988Deadly IntentJeff Kirkwood1989 The AssassinHank Knight1990La Cruz de IberiaNovak1991Alligator II: The MutationVincent BrownScissorsAlex MorganCole Morgan1992ForeverWilliam Desmond Taylor1993QuakeKylePrivate WarsJack ManningBonds of LoveKen SmithTelevision filmFinal MissionColonel AndersonSave MeRobbinsCalendar GirlRoy's FatherIn the Line of FireDavid Coppingeruncredited1996Street Corner JusticeSergeant Ryan FreebornBarb WireColonel Victor Pryzer1997Stranger in the HouseJack DerbyPressure PointArno TaylorVanishing PointSergeant Preston1998Disturbing BehaviorOfficer Cox1999Me and WillRobMade MenKyle2000Say Goodnight, MichaelActorTermination ManDylan PopeIn the Light of the MoonEd Gein2001StorytellingMr. KirkDouble DownCharlie2002SlashJeremiah2003 The Hitcher II: I've Been WaitingDeputy Jessupuncredited The BoxJake Ragna2005Neo NedMr. DayIntermedioOld Man The Devil's RejectsSheriff Ken DwyeruncreditedKing of the Lost WorldLarry2008Follow the ProfitSenator StantonPlaguersTarverReady or NotPilotRest Stop: Don't Look BackStore Clerk 2018 Gone Are the Days Jaden
Television YearFilmRole Notes1985 The HitchhikerMickeyEpisode: "Petty Thieves"1986 The Twilight ZoneJohnny DavisEpisode: "Dead Run"1991 The Young RidersTylerEpisode: "The Peacemakers"1994 The X-FilesDuane Barry2 episodes: s02e05 "Duane Barry" and s02e06 "Ascension"1995Walker, Texas RangerJerry Lee StarkEpisode: "The Guardians"1997–1998 The VisitorColonel James Vise13 episodes2000CharmedLitvackEpisode: "Give Me a Sign"2001 The PracticeWalter DawsonEpisode: "Killing Time"2002Family LawGary PeresEpisode: "Children of a Lesser Dad" The DistrictCharles "Chip" RensonEpisode: "Free-Fire Zone"2004 The HandlerHarley AimesEpisode: "Give Daddy Some Sugar"2005KojakEdward SawyerEpisode: "All Bets Off: Part 2"SupernaturalJoseph WelchEpisode: "Pilot"2010 The MentalistKittelEpisode: "Ball of Fire"2012Femme FatalesDoctor Daniel Duryea2 episodes2013Deadtime StoriesOwenEpisode: "Invasion of the Appleheads"2017DeckerFictional General CotterEpisode: "Same Old Glory"
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