Michael Chernus plays John Wayne Gacy in Peacock’s “Devil in Disguise”

Getty Images

Michael Chernus will star as a brutal serial killer in Peacock’s upcoming mini-drama series “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy.”

“I am both excited and humbled by this opportunity. The direction the writers are taking with this project is important. They are focusing on the victims and their families, as well as those who ultimately brought John Wayne Gacy to justice,” says Chernus. “Although Gacy was the perpetrator of these horrific crimes, I am relieved that he will not be the focus of the series. It breaks my heart to think of what his victims (all young men and boys) could have done with their lives if the system had not failed them so tragically. I believe in the power of storytelling and hope that by telling this story in a thoughtful way, we can help prevent something like this from ever happening again.”

Chernus currently plays Dr. Ricken Lazlo Hale in Apple TV+’s “Severance” and will next be seen in Disney+’s feature film “Out of My Mind.” His television credits include “Dead Ringers,” “Easy,” “Orange is the New
“Black”, “Carol & the End of the World”, “Ramy” and “Tommy”.

Inspired by the NBC News Studios and Peacock docuseries “John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise,” the miniseries is produced by UCP. According to the official logline, “the series uncovers the tangled layers of Gacy’s life, weaving together the heartbreaking stories of his mostly gay victims; it explores the grief, guilt and trauma of their families and friends; and it exposes the systemic failures, missed opportunities and societal prejudices that fueled his reign of terror.”

Between 1972 and 1978, Gacy murdered at least 33 young men and boys near Chicago, Illinois, “and no one was the wiser,” the series description states. “All these years, not. Why? He was charming and funny. Had a good, all-American job. Was a community leader. He even volunteered to entertain sick children… dressed as a clown.”

Patrick Macmanus of Littleton Road Production serves as showrunner, writer and executive producer. Executive producers include Kelly Funke, Noah Oppenheim, Liz Cole, Ashley Michel Hoban and Ahmadu Garba.