"I’m voracious as far as background information," Villa said. "Oh, I was watching with the rest of America," he said over the phone the morning after. His taste over the years has been impeccable.". 'American Horror Story': The True Story Behind Zach Villa's '1984' Night Stalker Character By Stacy Lambe‍ 9:32 AM PDT, September 25, 2019 Richard Ramirez and Zach Villa. Ramirez’s story has resurfaced in recent years as part of the recent true-crime craze in film, TV and podcasts. On Sept. 20, 1989, Ramirez was convicted on 13 counts of murder, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries. [Brooke] gets away, I mean, I feel like, if anything serial killers do tend to get obsessed with their victims.”. It’s always a version of this person.” And when it comes to Ramirez appearing on 1984, the actor explains to The Wrap that “Richard was, I mean, obviously a real person, and so I think it’s interesting, like, why he found his way to Camp Redwood. He’s my best friend; he’s my buddy.” The two remained married until his death. While Villa is portraying the real-life serial killer, he tells W magazine that it’s “this magical mashup that happens where -- regardless of how much research you’ve done -- the role becomes something else completely. Happy, he hit it off immediately with another AHS newbie: Glee alum Matthew Morrison. Lifetime produced the 2016 TV film, The Night Stalker, starring Lou Diamond Phillips as the serial killer and Kimberly Jürgen as Lioy, while the killer has been the subject of several podcasts including “Last Podcast on the Left,” “Murder Made Me Famous” and “True Crime All the Time.”. September 20, 2019 3:35 pm Michael Duenas . All rights reserved. For Villa—an actor and musician who is perhaps best known for Rebel and a Basketcase, his musical duet with Evan Rachel Wood—his AHS audition was no exception. Once Villa figured out his character's identity, the research began. "Based on the material, I just knew there was something wrong with this guy," he said. ", But still, Villa faced another challenge: keeping the very top secret role and plot of the season under wraps. New 'American Horror Story' pays homage to '80s slasher films, This beetle can get run over by a car and live to tell the tale, Stephen Colbert moved to tears by Dolly Parton's voice, Bruce Willis reprises iconic role for commercial, 'Legally Blonde' star says iconic scene was cut short, Kim Kardashian tears up recounting Paris robbery, 'They are two peas in a pod': Toddler finds unlikely friend, Derek Hough returns to the floor on 'Dancing with the Stars', Fans torn over color of Billie Eilish's shoes, Mayra Joli identified as 'nodding woman' at Trump town hall, Matt Damon skewers Ben Affleck over new 'Batman', Kristen Bell opens up about husband Dax Shepard's relapse, Justin Bieber's footwear collaboration overwhelms site, Camera captures moment Nobel Prize winner learns he won, Teenager sets world records for longest legs. This time being a slasher-themed season dubbed 1984, about five friends who escape Los Angeles to work as counselors at Camp Redwood. His crime spree initially started on June 28, 1984, when he brutally murdered his first victim -- a 79-year-old woman living in Glassell Park -- by repeatedly stabbing her in bed. I trust that man. In a 1997 interview with CNN, Lioy described Ramirez as “kind,” “funny” and “charming.” She said at the time, “I think he’s really a great person. The new season is set in Los Angeles, where the real Ramirez's murders took place. "But there is kind of this magical mashup that happens where— regardless of how much research you’ve done—the role becomes something else completely. "Honestly, I didn’t think too much about it one way or another. Soon after, however, the family started distancing themselves over her association with the killer. Ramirez, a Satanist, assaults her in her apartment. (CNN)"American Horror Story: 1984" is turning up the fright level by featuring a plot line that includes real-life serial killer Richard Ramirez, also known as "the Night Stalker," in the new season. Soon after he was incarcerated, Lioy started writing him letters. You don’t play Freddie Mercury in a Queen biopic, you play a version of him.