Later, according to kuklinski, an accomplice started to talk to federal authorities. Confessions of a mafia contract killer, kuklinski claimed to know the fate of teamsters union boss jimmy hoffa. 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 satisfy his inner rage. Michael shannon plays kuklinski in the 2012 film the iceman loosely based on anthony brunos book the iceman. For all the gritty details he loved to share, keep reading to learn 15 terrifying facts about the iceman killer richard kuklinski. Today, he is serving multiple life sentences for nearly 200 homicides. 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. Richard the iceman kuklinski public group facebook. Undercover agent who took down notorious serial killer. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo. Naomi ekperigin talks about the early life of serial killer and contract killer richard kuklinksi, aka the. 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. As a boy, richard discovered he liked killing animals not as in hunting, but killing neighborhood cats.
In prison, he allowed interviews with writers, psychiatrists and criminologists, waxing hyperbolic about exactly how many guys he killed up to 200 and appearing in two hbo documentaries. Richard kuklinski biography facts, childhood, family of. He took the credit for over 200 murders while working for various mafia families, including the murder of jimmy hoffa. This book about the iceman, richard kuklinski a six foot five inch 300 plus pound mad who lived a life of crime from dubbing porn to theft to the worst crime a human can commit murder and not just one murder but hundreds so many he cant give an exact number. Richard kuklinski richard leonard the iceman kuklinski april 1935 march richard kuklinski richard leonard the iceman kuklinski april 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was an american contract killer who worked for newarks decavalcante crime family and new york citys five families of the american mafia. Kuklinski, indicted for six murders, appeared in court after having kidney stones during the previous weekend. He was a writer, known for america undercover 1983, the iceman and the psychiatrist 2003 and the iceman confesses. Standing at 6foot5 and weighing 270pounds, richard kuklinski was a natural born killer. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life. At 65 and 270 pounds, kuklinski certainly made a statement when he entered a room. To look at him, you might guess a couple of different theories as to how he received his famous nickname. He was famously given the nickname iceman for his method of freezing a victim which masked the time of death. Richard kuklinski died on march 5, 2006 at the age of 70. Released in 2012 at the venice film festival, the film was directed by ariel vromen, and stars michael shannon as kuklinski, winona ryder, chris evans, and ray liotta.
The biography profiles his life, crimes, and timeline. Kuklinski was married at the time, with two young sons and had once sliced off his first wifes nipples during a violent attack. Click download or read online button to get the iceman book now. 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. With michael shannon, chris evans, james franco, winona ryder. The true story of a coldblooded killer and two cable television documentaries, the iceman. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters had any clue about his real profession. I am reading his book, and i went to invistage further on the murders he claims. As the iceman, a film about the serial killer richard kuklinski, is released, his widow barbara tells her true story to adam higginbotham barbara and richard kuklinski as teenagers. Richard kuklinski bio, wife, daughters, son, other family.
Mar 26, 20 directors and screenwriters change little pieces of the story, often for seemingly no good reason. The true story of a coldblooded killer by anthony bruno. Brunos book on richard kuklinski follows the undercover investigation led by fbi agent dom polifrone and his infiltration of the iceman killer. 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 the subject of the 1983 published book the iceman. 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 kuklinski was sammy the bull gravanos partner in the killing of paul castellano, john gotti hired him. Richard kuklinski is now the subject of the major motion picture titled the iceman20, starring james franco, winona ryder, ray liotta. He wormed his way into barbaras affections and took her virginity. The true story of a coldblooded killer from which a film was adapted in 20 with michael shannon acting as richard kuklinski. Richard kuklinski, on the orders of sammy the bull gravano, took part in the killing of paul castellano at sparks steakhouse. Kuklinski employed these vile techniques to hide the murders that he was committing mostly for the decavalcante crime family in newark, n. Jun 07, 20 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.
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. He was given the nickname the iceman by authorities after they discovered that he had frozen the. 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. Richard the iceman kuklinski is one of the most prolific hitmen in americas sordid mobster history. He could recall his stomachchurning murders without expressing the slightest hint of emotion. This stomachturning account of the multiple atrocities committed over 43 years by richard the ice man kuklinskias sadistic a killer as most. The true story of a coldblooded killer paperback 26 mar 20. He thought nothing of killing someone for merely annoying him. Anthony bruno, a writer, after his several interviews with richard wrote a book entitled the iceman. 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. The ice man is a very detailed book that outlines richard kuklinskis life, how he was raised, and how he became a contract killer. Jan 05, 2019 richard kuklinski, aka the notorious mafia iceman contract killer, was able to commit acts of mindmelting brutality without blinking.
In 1988, he was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of killing two members of his burglary gang and two other associates. Philip carlos the ice man spent over six weeks on the new york times bestseller list. Each christmas found the kuklinski home festooned in colorful lights. 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. For more than forty years, richard the ice man kuklinski led a double life, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in american history while hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban new jersey. He was nicknamed the iceman after he was found to have frozen one of his victims in an effort to disguise the time of death. Released in 2012 at the venice film festival, the film was directed by ariel vromen, and stars michael shannon as kuklinski, winona ryder, chris evans, and ray liotta the iceman showed at the 2012 telluride film festival and the 2012 toronto international film festival before. One evening in 2012, merrick kuklinski attended the premier of a film about her late father, richard, the notorious new jersey killer and reputed mafia hit man. Richard kuklinski, known as the iceman, is led into bergen county court. 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. Undercover agent who took down notorious serial killer, mob.
He grew up to be a mafia hitman, known as the iceman for frequently immobilizing his casualties to confuse their time of departure. Richard kuklinski was born on april 11, 1935, in jersey city to. The film also stars winona ryder as kuklinski s wife renamed deborah, ray liotta as roy demeo, stephen dorff as richard s younger brother joey, and chris evans as robert mr. Richard kuklinski was captured in december 1986, at age 51, and incarcerated for life in 1988. He was a mob hitman known as the iceman, a nickname he earned for keeping many of his victims remains locked away in a storage freezer. By his mid20s, richard kuklinski s extreme penchant for murder drew the attention of organized crime and he was hired as a contract killer. 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. 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. At home, richard kuklinski was a dedicated suburban family man.
Richard kuklinski was sammy the bull gravanos partner in the killing of paul castellano, then head. Richard leonard kuklinski was a dreaded american contract killer. 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. Richard kuklinski was born on april 11, 1935 in jersey city, new jersey, usa as richard leonard kuklinski. Being one of the most heartless contract murderers in american history, richard kuklinski earned his nickname the iceman primarily through that second definition, although literal ice did play a macabre role in how he committed these crimes. 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. Iceman richard kuklinski the most prolific hitman in. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo this was a highly disturbing glimpse into the double life richard kuklinski lead. Richard leonard kuklinski was an american killer who was sentenced for the murder of five people.
Richard kuklinskis extreme penchant for murder drew the attention of organized crime and he was hired as a contract killer. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. In 1988, kuklinski was convicted of killing two members of his burglary gang, and some other smalltime crooks he was. Richard leonard the iceman kuklinski was an american serial killer who joined the mafia as a contract killer for financial support. Because of his sheer number of kills, as well as his approach to killing, many believe he should be considered a serial killer.
Apr 28, 2009 philip carlos the ice man spent over six weeks on the new york times bestseller list. With a body count well above 200, kuklinski was a killer motivated by greed with a hairtrigger temper. Richard kuklinski was born in new jersey in 1935 to an alcoholic father and religious, doting mother. Jan 19, 2017 richard kuklinski the iceman documentary galore.
Richard kuklinski, aka the notorious mafia iceman contract killer, was able to commit acts of mindmelting brutality without blinking. This one tells the spinechilling story of richard kuklinski, a. Richard kuklinski the iceman the very best of duration. Richard kuklinski, the story of the mafias most prolific. Carlo the night stalker has written another captivating truecrime book. Jan 01, 1993 the prose and dialogue is very common to that of other crime thrillers. The iceman confessions of a mafia hitman 1991 youtube. Richard leonard kuklinski was an american murderer and hitman. April 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was an american murderer and hitman.
Richard kuklinski, a suspect in several murders, is arrested by undercover agents at a truck stop off the new jersey turnpike, mark. Richard kuklinski is now the subject of the major motion picture titled the iceman20, starring james. The iceman interview analysis of kuklinski duration. Richard kuklinski, the story of the mafias most prolific hitman. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most. Twisted richard cottingham the new york ripper duration.
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. Richard leonard the iceman kuklinski april 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was a polishamerican criminal, convicted murderer and alleged mafia hitman. Readers expecting insight into the mind of kuklinski, a man who claims to have murdered over one hundred people, will the iceman reads much more like a crime novel than it does a work of nonfiction. Richard kuklinski was one of the most diabolical, and notorious, confessed contract killers in american history. Arthur rothstein library of congress jersey city in 1939. May 30, 2019 richard kuklinski was one of the most diabolical, and notorious, confessed contract killers in american history. However, being a true story, i was impressed with how fast moving the book was.
Oct 15, 2018 richard kuklinski was born in new jersey in 1935 to an alcoholic father and religious, doting mother. 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. The story of richard kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. Known as the iceman he was a serial killer associated with the decavalcante crime family of newark, new jersey, and the five families of new york city. Richard kuklinski, byname the iceman, born april 11, 1935, jersey city, new jersey, u. 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.
Actually, it turned out that killing was the thing that gave richard the most pleasure in life. Richard the iceman kuklinski biography famous people. The film, titled the iceman, stars the rangy michael shannon as kuklinski, and the waifish winona ryder as his wife, barbara. His death was labeled suspicious because richard was supposed to testify against a former mobster who was being tried for murder. An autopsy was performed but they determined that he died due to natural causes. The iceman is a 2012 american biographical film on the true story of longtime notorious hitman richard kuklinski. The mafia iceman and his stonecold heart by jim goad updated january 5, 2019. Learn more about his life and the murders for which he was convicted. He was a serial killer who died of natural causes in prison in march, 2006. 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.