Richard kuklinski is now the subject of the major motion picture titled the iceman 20, starring james franco, winona ryder, ray liotta, and chris evans. Driver, formerly a producer of tvs americas most wanted, splices segments from his prison interviews of hit man richard kuklinski with the reminiscences of his wife, barbara. Anthony bruno, a writer, after his several interviews with richard wrote a book entitled the iceman. Richard leonard kuklinski was an american murderer and hitman. Oct 15, 2018 richard kuklinski was born in new jersey in 1935 to an alcoholic father and religious, doting mother. His death was labeled suspicious because richard was supposed to testify against a former mobster who was being tried for murder. Richard the iceman kuklinski public group facebook. Operation iceman nabs murderer richard kuklinski history. Apr 28, 2009 philip carlos the ice man spent over six weeks on the new york times bestseller list. He grew up to be a mafia hitman, known as the iceman for frequently immobilizing his casualties to confuse their time of departure. Because of his sheer number of kills, as well as his approach to killing, many believe he should be considered a serial killer.
Richard the iceman kuklinski parlayed his penchant for violence into a hitman contract for some of the most prominent mafia crime families, and is believed to have killed between 100200 men. Richard kuklinski was born on april 11, 1935 in jersey city, new jersey, usa as richard leonard kuklinski. Confessions of a mafia hitman top documentary films. Jan 19, 2017 richard kuklinski the iceman documentary galore. Richard kuklinski, known as the the iceman, killed both professionally and recreationally, racking up one of the mobs highest body counts. Sammy the bull says he did not kill calabro, demeo did not know kuklinski and have used him as a hitman, he did not kill castelano, or galante.
For all the gritty details he loved to share, keep reading to learn 15 terrifying facts about the iceman killer richard kuklinski. Inspired by actual events, the iceman follows notorious contract killer richard kuklinski academy award r nominee michael shannon from his early days in the mob until his arrest for the murder. May 30, 2019 richard kuklinski was one of the most diabolical, and notorious, confessed contract killers in american history. Ive had richard ice man kuklinskis claims on my mind for some time now, and with the fbi recently scouring detroit for jimmy hoffa and a movie starring michael shannon as kuklinski being released in may, this seems as good a time as any to examine what the notorious. He took the credit for over 200 murders while working for various mafia families, including the murder of jimmy hoffa. Richard kuklinski, a suspect in several murders, is arrested by undercover agents at a truck stop off the new jersey turnpike, mark. Married to the iceman as the iceman, a film about the serial killer richard kuklinski, is released, his widow barbara tells her true story to adam higginbotham. Kuklinski employed these vile techniques to hide the murders that he was committing mostly for the decavalcante crime family in newark, n. Nope, nothing to do with danny zuko but richard kuklinski aka the iceman greased a hell of a. The iceman is an appropriate title for this pair of hbo specials, because the words of former mafia enforcer richard kuklinski will chill you to the bone speaking in the monotonous drone of a man who has numbed himself with remorseless brutality, kuklinski was first interviewed in 1991, five years after receiving consecutive life sentences for multiple murders. Using guns, knives, poison, ice picks, tire irons, baseball bats, and bombs, the family man from new jersey killed for fun, for money, to cover up his own crimes, and to. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. As a boy, richard discovered he liked killing animals not as in hunting, but killing neighborhood cats.
Directors and screenwriters change little pieces of the story, often for seemingly no good reason. Really, his days and nights were spent carrying out the dirty work of the american mafia as a hired hit man. Richard kuklinski was one of the most diabolical, and notorious, confessed contract killers in american history. With michael shannon, chris evans, james franco, winona ryder. Arthur rothstein library of congress jersey city in 1939. He was a serial killer who died of natural causes in prison in march, 2006. Undercover agent who took down notorious serial killer. Richard the iceman kuklinski biography famous people. This stomachturning account of the multiple atrocities committed over 43 years by richard the ice man kuklinskias sadistic a killer as most.
Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo. A mob contract killer known as the iceman for hiding a body in an icecream truck freezer, richard kuklinski boasted a personal body count of more than a hundred victims. Naomi ekperigin discusses the life of serial killer richard ramirez, aka the night stalker, from his troubled childhood to his jailhouse marriage. He thought nothing of killing someone for merely annoying him. Philip carlos the ice man spent over six weeks on the new york times bestseller list. Jul 17, 20 the iceman lieth was mafia assassin richard kuklinski full of sh.
Richard kuklinski was born on april 11, 1935, in jersey city to. At home, richard kuklinski was a dedicated suburban family man. Undercover agent dominick polifrone was never more on his guard than during the 18 months he built up a case against the socalled iceman after all, serial killer richard kuklinski s favored. Richard kuklinski bio, wife, daughters, son, other family. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most notorious professional assassin in american history while happily hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban new jersey. Each christmas found the kuklinski home festooned in colorful lights.
Richard leonard kuklinski was an american killer who was sentenced for the murder of five people. Born in 1935 in new jersey, richard kuklinski suffered a rough upbringing and committed his first murder as a teenager. Richard kuklinski, the story of the mafias most prolific hitman. Richard leonard kuklinski was a dreaded american contract killer. While we were reading the book, neither one of us spoke to the other for days. He was famously given the nickname iceman for his method of freezing a victim which masked the time of death. Dec 19, 2008 is richard the ice man kuklinski a liar. Richard kuklinski, a suspect in several murders, is arrested by undercover agents at a truck stop off the new jersey turnpike, marking the culmination of the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, and. Richard kuklinski earned his place in the serial killer hall of fame by killing for the east coast mafia as well as killing as his violent temper urged him on. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo this was a highly disturbing glimpse into the double life richard kuklinski lead. Richard kuklinski, american serial killer, known as the iceman, who was convicted of five murders and who in a series of media interviews later confessed to having killed at least 100 more and to having been a mafia hit man. Michael shannon plays kuklinski in the 2012 film the iceman loosely based on anthony brunos book the iceman. He eventually found a living as a hitman for the genovese, gambino. However, being a true story, i was impressed with how fast moving the book was.
For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking. Rather than ever showing shame or remorse of any kind, kuklinski reveled in the attention until his dying day. Richard kuklinski died on march 5, 2006 at the age of 70. We had no idea our churchgoing dad was the iceman killer who murdered 200 people over 30 years, shot his victims in the adams apple and fed them alive to rats. Softie the partner of richard kuklinski that drove an ice cream truck was killed by the iceman on a park bench and left there to be found later. Jun 07, 20 as the iceman, a film about the serial killer richard kuklinski, is released, his widow barbara tells her true story to adam higginbotham. I am reading his book, and i went to invistage further on the murders he claims. Once behind bars, the iceman claimed that, between 1948 and 1986, he killed over 100 men on the job. The iceman confessions of a mafia hitman 1991 youtube. Richard kuklinski is now the subject of the major motion picture titled the iceman20, starring james franco, winona ryder, ray liotta. Standing at 6foot5 and weighing 270pounds, richard kuklinski was a.
Richard kuklinski, the story of the mafias most prolific. Mar 06, 2008 top mafia hit man, and doting father, for 30 years, richard the ice man kuklinski led a double life beyond anything ever seen on the sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in american history while hosting neighbourhood barbecues in suburban new jersey. Jan 01, 1993 the prose and dialogue is very common to that of other crime thrillers. April 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was an american murderer and hitman. An autopsy was performed but they determined that he died due to natural causes. Learn more about his life and the murders for which he was convicted. With a body count well above 200, kuklinski was a killer motivated by greed with a hairtrigger temper. Jan 05, 2019 richard kuklinski, aka the notorious mafia iceman contract killer, was able to commit acts of mindmelting brutality without blinking.
Brunos book on richard kuklinski follows the undercover investigation led by fbi agent dom polifrone and his infiltration of the iceman killer. Mar 26, 20 directors and screenwriters change little pieces of the story, often for seemingly no good reason. Meet the undercover cop who brought the iceman to justice. The biography profiles his life, crimes, and timeline. Confessions of a mafia contract killer, kuklinski claimed to know the fate of teamsters union boss jimmy hoffa. Michael shannon giving a strong performance as the hitman with the calculating and creepy demeanor of a psychopathic killer with no conscience who can still flip the switch back to. Later, according to kuklinski, an accomplice started to talk to federal authorities. A the iceman killed this victim louis masgay and then put him in a freezer for two years, then later dumping the body in a dump site. Richard the iceman kuklinski was one of the most diabolical selfconfessed contract killers in american history, who took credit for over 200 murders, including the murder of jimmy hoffa. In 2003, he received an additional 30year sentence after confessing to the murder of a mobconnected police officer. Richard kuklinski s career as a businessman was a guise. Mar 22, 2018 richard kuklinski, better known as the iceman, was convicted of murdering six people, but he claimed to have killed hundreds and the prosecutors didnt doubt it. He was a writer, known for america undercover 1983, the iceman and the psychiatrist 2003 and the iceman confesses. The iceman a biopic based on new jersey hitman richard kuklinski who managed to murder at least 100 and possibly up to 250 victims in a span of almost 40 years.
Died on this day in 2006, aged 70 richard the iceman kuklinski known as the iceman due to the fact he would often freeze his victims to obscure their time of death, was described as one of the most violent contracted hitmen who worked for numerous prominent mafia crime families. Richard kuklinski biography facts, childhood, family of. In 1988, he was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of killing two members of his burglary gang and two other associates. Iceman richard kuklinski the most prolific hitman in. The true story of a coldblooded killer from which a film was adapted in 20 with michael shannon acting as richard kuklinski. Though richard kuklinski is now dead, this book causes his very scary spirit. In a tawdry account, barbara kuklinski describes 25 years of abuse at the hands of her husband, a convicted new jersey hit man who claims to have killed dozens of times. He was given the nickname the iceman by authorities after they discovered that he had frozen the. The true story of a coldblooded killer by anthony bruno.