Steve Railsback
Known for Acting · 89 credits
- Born
- 1945-11-16 (age 80)
- Place of birth
- Dallas, Texas, USA
Biography
Steve Railsback (born November 16, 1945, in Dallas, Texas) 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.
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.
Known For
TV Shows (13)
Supernatural
2005
as Joseph Welch
The Mentalist
2008
as Fred Kittel
The X-Files
1993
as Duane Barry
Charmed
1998
as Litvack
The Practice
1997
as Walter Dawson
The Twilight Zone
1985
as (segment "Dead Run")
Family Law
1999
as Gary Peres
Femme Fatales
2011
as Dr. Daniel Duryea
Decker
2014
as Fictional General Cotter
The Visitor
1997
as Colonel James Vise
From Here to Eternity
1979
as Pvt. Robert E. Lee Prewitt
The Great Transport
1983
as Pavle Paroški
Helter Skelter
1976
as Charles Manson
Movies (76)
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
2009
as Alumnus Guy #5
Lifeforce
1985
as Col. Tom Carlsen
In the Line of Fire
1993
as CIA Agent David Coppinger (uncredited)
The Devil's Rejects
2005
as Sheriff Ken Dwyer
Barb Wire
1996
as Colonel Pryzer
Turkey Shoot
1982
as Paul Anders
Armed and Dangerous
1986
as The Cowboy
Disturbing Behavior
1998
as Officer Cox
Save Me
1994
as Robbins
Vanishing Point
1997
as Sergeant Preston
Scissors
1991
as Alex Morgan / Cole Morgan
Neo Ned
2005
as Mr. Day
The Forgotten
1989
as Lt. Jesse Brady
Cockfighter
1974
as Junior
The Stunt Man
1980
as Cameron
Storytelling
2001
as Mr. Kirk
Angela
1977
as Jean
Final Mission
1994
as Colonel Glen Anderson
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
2003
as Deputy Jessup (uncredited)
Once Fallen
2010
as Aryan Boss
Me and Will
1999
as Rob
Intermedio
2005
as Old Man
Blue Monkey
1987
as Det. Jim Bishop
Helter Skelter
1976
as Charles Manson
Calendar Girl
1993
as Eddie Darpinian
Scenes from the Goldmine
1987
as Harry Spiros
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
2020
as (archive footage)
Alligator 2: The Mutation
1991
as Vinnie Brown
Forever
1992
as William Desmond Taylor
Deadly Games
1982
as Billy Owens
The Assassin
1990
as Hank Knight
King of the Lost World
2005
as Larry
Not Quite Hollywood
2008
as Self
Gone Are the Days
2018
as Jaden
Made Men
1999
as Kyle
Wild in Blue
2014
as Charlie's Father
Ed Gein
2000
as Ed Gein
Rest Stop: Don't Look Back
2008
as The Owner
Good Cops, Bad Cops
1990
Termination Man
1998
as Dylan Pope
Great Transport
1983
as Pavle Paroški
The Visitors
1972
as Mike Nickerson
Deadly Intent
1988
as Jeff Kirkwood
Quake
1992
as Kyle
Plaguers
2010
as Tarver
Sunstroke
1992
as Biggs
Infiltrators
2014
as Sebastian Koenig
Bonds of Love
1993
as Ken Smith
Unspeakable: Beyond The Wall of Sleep
2024
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #2: Later in L.A.
2020
as (archive footage)
Nukie
1987
as Dr. Eric Harvey
Private Wars
1993
as Jack Manning
The Box
2003
as Jake Ragna
Trick or Treats
1982
as Bret
Spearfield's Daughter
1986
as Tom Border
Street Corner Justice
1996
as Sergeant Ryan Freeborn
The Golden Seal
1983
as Jim Lee
UnConventional
2004
as Self
The Wind
1986
as Kesner
Ready or Not
2009
as Pilot
The Cross of Iberia
1990
as Novak
The Sinister Saga of Making The Stunt Man
2000
Follow the Prophet
2009
as Senator Stanton
Stranger in the House
1997
as Jack Derby
Slash
2002
as Jeremiah
Zigs
2001
as Charlie
Torchlight
1984
as Jake Gregory
Night Caller
2022
as Andrew Lubitz
Separated by Murder
1994
as Jesse Dixon
The Survivalist
1987
as Jack Tillman
Distortions
1987
as Scott Marshall
Pressure Point
1997
as Arno Taylor
Best Served Cold
as Himself
The Making Of Lifeforce
1985
as Self
The Last Escape of Billy the Kid
1972
as Billy the Kid
H: The Story of a Teen-Age Drug Addict
1951
as Bill
About Steve Railsback
Steve Railsback (born November 16, 1945, in Dallas, Texas) 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. 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, directe… With 89 credits spanning from 1951 to 2024, Steve Railsback has appeared in 76 films and 13 TV shows.
Fans searching for Steve Railsback movies, Steve Railsback filmography, or the latest projects starring Steve Railsback can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Steve Railsback Movies
- American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009) — as Alumnus Guy #5
- Lifeforce (1985) — as Col. Tom Carlsen
- In the Line of Fire (1993) — as CIA Agent David Coppinger (uncredited)
- The Devil's Rejects (2005) — as Sheriff Ken Dwyer
- Barb Wire (1996) — as Colonel Pryzer
Where to Watch Steve Railsback Films
Most Steve Railsback movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Steve Railsback, check our movies catalogue and browse page.