The Chilling True Story of The Dating Game Killer
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
Uncover the chilling story of Rodney Alcala, the "Dating Game Killer." From his troubled childhood to his reign of terror in the 1970s, we delve into the life and crimes of one of America's most notorious serial killers. Learn about his shocking appearance on "The Dating Game" and the long road to justice that followed. Discover Alcala's early life, his criminal spree across multiple states, and the unsettling details of his modus operandi. We explore his trials, convictions, and the impact he left on his victims and society. Join us as we examine the dark legacy of Rodney Alcala and the questions that still surround his case.
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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're going over everything we know about one of America's most notorious serial killers, Rodney Alcala[a] - also Known as the "Dating Game Killer."
Early Life
Rodney Alcala was born in San Antonio, Texas, on August 23, 1943, and was the third of four siblings. He spent his early years in Mexico until his family relocated to Los Angeles when he was eight years old. Alcala's childhood was marked by instability and abandonment, particularly after his father left, creating a foundation for what would become a turbulent adolescence and young adulthood. At 17, Alcala joined the U.S. Army, where his commanding officer described him as “manipulative, vindictive, and insubordinate.” He was discharged following a reported “nervous breakdown,” as well as accusations of sexual misconduct. After his ejection, Alcala enrolled in UCLA's School of Fine Arts and Architecture, later transferring to New York University. It’s here that he attended a class with famed director Roman Polanski. In 1977, Polanski himself would go on to be arrested for multiple unlawful offenses against a youth.
Crimes
Described by prosecutors as a cruel killer who toyed with his victims, Rodney Alcala's reign of terror began in the late 1960s and continued throughout the 1970s. Leaving an alarming trail of victims across multiple states, he has been conclusively linked to eight murders, but the actual number is said to be much higher - possibly reaching as many as 130. Alcala’s modus operandi typically involved luring young women with the promise of photographing them. His crimes were not limited to a specific type of victim, however, as he targeted women of various ages and even young men. It’s said that he used his charm and good looks to disarm his victims. Once he had them alone, Alcala would brutally assault, torture, and end their lives. Perhaps most chilling, it's said that he tormented his victims until they lost consciousness, only to revive them and repeat the process - prolonging their suffering.
Crime Spree
Rodney Alcala's criminal acts began in 1968 when he lured young Tali Shapiro[b] to his Hollywood apartment, escaping before police could apprehend him. Later arrested for the assault, Alcala assumed the alias "John Berger" and fled to New Hampshire. It’s here that he briefly worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield and shared an office with serial killer Richard Cottingham - though neither claimed to know of the other's identity. In 1971, Alcala strangled flight attendant Cornelia Crilley in her Manhattan apartment—a murder left unsolved until 2011. Added to the FBI’s list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, he was ultimately captured after two children recognized him from an FBI poster. Alcala was convicted of violating youths but was paroled after serving a short sentence. After his release, he assaulted a minor and was re-arrested. Following this second release, after serving 2 years in prison, it’s believed Alcala killed Ellen Jane Hover, the 23-year-old daughter of nightclub owner Herman Hover and goddaughter of famous crooners Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. Her remains were found on the historic Rockefeller Estate. Alcala later worked for the Los Angeles Times daily newspaper where he persuaded young men and women to pose for him as a fashion photographer. His time in Los Angeles during the late 1970s saw a succession of gruesome killings and assaults, all leading to his eventual final arrest.
Appearance on “The Dating Game”
In 1978, Rodney Alcala appeared as a bachelor on the popular television show "The Dating Game.” Hosted by Jim Lange[c], the game show featured three out-of-view contestants vying for a date with a member of the opposite sex. Producers chose Alcala for his “tall, handsome, and charming” persona, unaware of his dark past. This was because no background check was done. At the time of his appearance, Alcala had already taken the lives of at least two women in Southern California. Introduced as a successful photographer, Alcala managed to charm the audience and the bachelorette, Cheryl Bradshaw. The ABC program was heavy on innuendo, and throughout the episode, he enthusiastically responded to the bachelorette’s suggestive questions. Thanks to his witty responses and boyish good looks, Alcala won the competition and ultimately secured a date with Bradshaw. However, in a turn of fate that may have saved her life, Bradshaw decided not to go on the date, later explaining she found Alcala "creepy" and sensed “something was off.” The footage of his appearance offers a haunting look into Alcala's unnerving ability to mask his true nature and manipulate those around him with ease. The appearance was adapted into a feature film titled "Woman of the Hour," directed by (and starring) Anna Kendrick.
Trials and Convictions
The long arm of the law finally caught up with Rodney Alcala in 1979 when he was arrested for the murder of Robin Samsoe[d] in California. Following Samsoe’s death, detectives circulated a sketch of the suspect and an officer recognized him. Tried in 1980, Alcala ultimately received a death sentence. However, in 1984, the California Supreme Court overturned his conviction due to the jury’s exposure to his past crimes. After a second trial in 1986, he was again convicted and sentenced to death. However, this too was overturned in 2001 following an appeal regarding questionable witness testimony. During preparations for a third trial in 2003, Alcala’s DNA linked him to four additional murder cases, resulting in his indictment for those murders. In 2010, he stood trial again, acting as his own attorney and was convicted on five counts of first-degree murder. This conviction led to a third death sentence. In 2011, a New York grand jury indicted Alcala for two additional murders from the 1970s. After being extradited in 2012, he pled guilty - citing a desire to return to California to pursue appeals of his death penalty conviction. He received a sentence of 25 years to life as the death penalty was no longer an option in New York State. Alcala died on death row in 2021 at age 77 of natural causes.
Have you watched the Netflix film depicting Rodney Alcala’s appearance on the “Dating Game” - “Woman of the Hour”? Share your thoughts on the film in the comments below.
[a]al-CAL-uh https://youtu.be/V4G1FNFGHXA?si=YKxSIzzleXLvVBP5&t=334
[b]tawlly https://youtu.be/V4G1FNFGHXA?si=se893CHvhrCGAIw-&t=6
burger https://youtu.be/5agVLNtR41Q?si=K7MI7FnyDo7yEozF&t=6
cotting-ham https://youtu.be/hrWHCr8IjmE?si=uDireVlIbL8kd091&t=5
https://youtu.be/5agVLNtR41Q?si=U_rN6mfx5-9RXZWd&t=54
HOH-vur https://youtu.be/TaAZOQpBtbk?si=pg9amuEpsJbqndje&t=2221 https://youtu.be/Lsmcn4IAjYA?si=_AWmHG_TmTWzLINE&t=228
[c]https://youtu.be/Ss80PkH_R64?si=jx33WSkvRDfhZ9oK&t=1
[d]https://youtu.be/UyoOCx5xGio?si=-km-5FLulpyIvjv7&t=81
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're going over everything we know about one of America's most notorious serial killers, Rodney Alcala[a] - also Known as the "Dating Game Killer."
Early Life
Rodney Alcala was born in San Antonio, Texas, on August 23, 1943, and was the third of four siblings. He spent his early years in Mexico until his family relocated to Los Angeles when he was eight years old. Alcala's childhood was marked by instability and abandonment, particularly after his father left, creating a foundation for what would become a turbulent adolescence and young adulthood. At 17, Alcala joined the U.S. Army, where his commanding officer described him as “manipulative, vindictive, and insubordinate.” He was discharged following a reported “nervous breakdown,” as well as accusations of sexual misconduct. After his ejection, Alcala enrolled in UCLA's School of Fine Arts and Architecture, later transferring to New York University. It’s here that he attended a class with famed director Roman Polanski. In 1977, Polanski himself would go on to be arrested for multiple unlawful offenses against a youth.
Crimes
Described by prosecutors as a cruel killer who toyed with his victims, Rodney Alcala's reign of terror began in the late 1960s and continued throughout the 1970s. Leaving an alarming trail of victims across multiple states, he has been conclusively linked to eight murders, but the actual number is said to be much higher - possibly reaching as many as 130. Alcala’s modus operandi typically involved luring young women with the promise of photographing them. His crimes were not limited to a specific type of victim, however, as he targeted women of various ages and even young men. It’s said that he used his charm and good looks to disarm his victims. Once he had them alone, Alcala would brutally assault, torture, and end their lives. Perhaps most chilling, it's said that he tormented his victims until they lost consciousness, only to revive them and repeat the process - prolonging their suffering.
Crime Spree
Rodney Alcala's criminal acts began in 1968 when he lured young Tali Shapiro[b] to his Hollywood apartment, escaping before police could apprehend him. Later arrested for the assault, Alcala assumed the alias "John Berger" and fled to New Hampshire. It’s here that he briefly worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield and shared an office with serial killer Richard Cottingham - though neither claimed to know of the other's identity. In 1971, Alcala strangled flight attendant Cornelia Crilley in her Manhattan apartment—a murder left unsolved until 2011. Added to the FBI’s list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, he was ultimately captured after two children recognized him from an FBI poster. Alcala was convicted of violating youths but was paroled after serving a short sentence. After his release, he assaulted a minor and was re-arrested. Following this second release, after serving 2 years in prison, it’s believed Alcala killed Ellen Jane Hover, the 23-year-old daughter of nightclub owner Herman Hover and goddaughter of famous crooners Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. Her remains were found on the historic Rockefeller Estate. Alcala later worked for the Los Angeles Times daily newspaper where he persuaded young men and women to pose for him as a fashion photographer. His time in Los Angeles during the late 1970s saw a succession of gruesome killings and assaults, all leading to his eventual final arrest.
Appearance on “The Dating Game”
In 1978, Rodney Alcala appeared as a bachelor on the popular television show "The Dating Game.” Hosted by Jim Lange[c], the game show featured three out-of-view contestants vying for a date with a member of the opposite sex. Producers chose Alcala for his “tall, handsome, and charming” persona, unaware of his dark past. This was because no background check was done. At the time of his appearance, Alcala had already taken the lives of at least two women in Southern California. Introduced as a successful photographer, Alcala managed to charm the audience and the bachelorette, Cheryl Bradshaw. The ABC program was heavy on innuendo, and throughout the episode, he enthusiastically responded to the bachelorette’s suggestive questions. Thanks to his witty responses and boyish good looks, Alcala won the competition and ultimately secured a date with Bradshaw. However, in a turn of fate that may have saved her life, Bradshaw decided not to go on the date, later explaining she found Alcala "creepy" and sensed “something was off.” The footage of his appearance offers a haunting look into Alcala's unnerving ability to mask his true nature and manipulate those around him with ease. The appearance was adapted into a feature film titled "Woman of the Hour," directed by (and starring) Anna Kendrick.
Trials and Convictions
The long arm of the law finally caught up with Rodney Alcala in 1979 when he was arrested for the murder of Robin Samsoe[d] in California. Following Samsoe’s death, detectives circulated a sketch of the suspect and an officer recognized him. Tried in 1980, Alcala ultimately received a death sentence. However, in 1984, the California Supreme Court overturned his conviction due to the jury’s exposure to his past crimes. After a second trial in 1986, he was again convicted and sentenced to death. However, this too was overturned in 2001 following an appeal regarding questionable witness testimony. During preparations for a third trial in 2003, Alcala’s DNA linked him to four additional murder cases, resulting in his indictment for those murders. In 2010, he stood trial again, acting as his own attorney and was convicted on five counts of first-degree murder. This conviction led to a third death sentence. In 2011, a New York grand jury indicted Alcala for two additional murders from the 1970s. After being extradited in 2012, he pled guilty - citing a desire to return to California to pursue appeals of his death penalty conviction. He received a sentence of 25 years to life as the death penalty was no longer an option in New York State. Alcala died on death row in 2021 at age 77 of natural causes.
Have you watched the Netflix film depicting Rodney Alcala’s appearance on the “Dating Game” - “Woman of the Hour”? Share your thoughts on the film in the comments below.
[a]al-CAL-uh https://youtu.be/V4G1FNFGHXA?si=YKxSIzzleXLvVBP5&t=334
[b]tawlly https://youtu.be/V4G1FNFGHXA?si=se893CHvhrCGAIw-&t=6
burger https://youtu.be/5agVLNtR41Q?si=K7MI7FnyDo7yEozF&t=6
cotting-ham https://youtu.be/hrWHCr8IjmE?si=uDireVlIbL8kd091&t=5
https://youtu.be/5agVLNtR41Q?si=U_rN6mfx5-9RXZWd&t=54
HOH-vur https://youtu.be/TaAZOQpBtbk?si=pg9amuEpsJbqndje&t=2221 https://youtu.be/Lsmcn4IAjYA?si=_AWmHG_TmTWzLINE&t=228
[c]https://youtu.be/Ss80PkH_R64?si=jx33WSkvRDfhZ9oK&t=1
[d]https://youtu.be/UyoOCx5xGio?si=-km-5FLulpyIvjv7&t=81
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