Why Does the Actor Who Plays Richard Speck in ‘Monster’ Look So Familiar? The Shocking Answer (Exclusive)
WHAT TO KNOW
- Tobias Jelinek, best known as Jay from the Halloween classic Hocus Pocus, plays the notorious mass murderer Richard Speck in Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
- Jelinek’s transformative performance as Speck, who is depicted post-transition in prison, is a stark contrast to his earlier roles and required extensive makeup and character exploration.
- Fans may be surprised to recognize Jelinek, who has since built a steady TV career, as he disappears into the chilling and unsettling role in the latest Ryan Murphy series.
For those watching Netflix’s latest installment in Ryan Murphy‘s Monster franchise, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the tale of the reclusive killer (Charlie Hunnam) who became one of history’s most infamous madmen is a chilling descent into a mind where grotesque fixations blur the line between sanity and monstrosity.
Blending fact with stylized fiction, the series explores the twisted psyche of the man who inspired Psycho‘s Norman Bates and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre‘s Leatherface. But the series also delves into a few of the more notorious characters from recent history as well.
The limited series features a cast that disappears into their roles through transformative performances, period detail, and haunting makeup. From Tom Hollander as Alfred Hitchcock to Will Brill as Tobe Hooper, each actor is wholly consumed by their character.
Yet none so much as the character of Richard Speck, a.k.a. “The Birdman,” the notorious mass murderer who was responsible for the brutal 1966 killings of eight student nurses in Chicago. Introduced in Episode 8, “The Godfather,” Speck is seen behind bars, putting on filthy undergarments and sporting a full set of women’s breasts. He saunters through the jail cell in his frilly robe, selling sex and making drug deals while boasting a pen pal relationship with his hero, Ed Gein.
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution / Photo by Keith Pratt
But it isn’t the character nor his appearance that are the most shocking, though it does leave quite an impression. It’s who is behind the push-up bra and chilling demeanor.
Even for fans of Hocus Pocus, it might be hard to recognize Tobias Jelinek since his days as Salem’s resident bully, Jay. Back then, he sported a leather jacket, long hair, and hung out with his buddy Ice. Best known for stealing Max’s (Omri Katz) shoes and later getting trapped in cages by the Sanderson Sisters, Jelinek was a perfect low-threat foil for the Halloween classic.
Hocus Pocus was Tobias Jelinek’s first film role, and he went on to have a steady career in TV, appearing in shows like Stranger Things, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., This Is Us, and Mayfair Witches. But fans of the 1993 classic Halloween comedy might find his latest role a bit surprising.
“Initially, I was very drawn to the fact that we are meeting my character, Richard Speck, after he transitioned in prison. When I found out we would be shooting at Stateville Prison, where Speck and John Wayne Gacy were actually incarcerated, I knew Ryan Murphy was taking this season to the next level,” said Jelinek.
“The director, Max Winkler, gave me all the permission needed to explore and take the character where he needed to go, which was a very dark place. It was a complete transformation, and having an incredible team of effects artists was a big part of the creative process,” continued the actor.
“Monster is much scarier and spookier territory than my beloved October mainstay, Hocus Pocus. Although, then again, I played a character locked in a cage, so maybe there is a thread. But I don’t think Jay would last long at Stateville, even with the help of Ice and hormones.”
