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. He was famously given the nickname iceman for his method of freezing a victim which masked the time of death. Richard kuklinski was captured in december 1986, at age 51, and incarcerated for life in 1988. For all the gritty details he loved to share, keep reading to learn 15 terrifying facts about the iceman killer richard kuklinski. The ice man is a very detailed book that outlines richard kuklinskis life, how. 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. See more ideas about the iceman, serial killers and mafia. Brunos book on richard kuklinski follows the undercover investigation led by fbi agent dom polifrone and his infiltration of the iceman killer.
The iceman lieth was mafia assassin richard kuklinski full of sh. Confessions of a mafia contract killer, his new york times bestselling book about richard ice man kuklinski. In the 1960s, richard kuklinski is working as a porn film lab tech until his mob bosses persuade him to change his career into that of a contract killer. Marz 2006 in trenton, new jersey, war ein usamerikanischer. Michael shannon as kuklinski in the iceman, a movie based on the killers life. Richard kuklinski bio, wife, daughters, son, other family. Richard the iceman kuklinski parlayed his penchant for violence into a lucrative career for prominent mafia crime families. Confessions of a mafia contract killer and over 2 million other books are available for amazon kindle. The true story of a coldblooded killer from which a film. His first was when he was 14 and he beat a local bully to death with a metal pole and buried his tormentor in a. Jul 16, 2016 the iceman book on tape part 11 of 11 duration. What philip carlo did was capture the heart and soul of richard kuklinski. Later, according to kuklinski, an accomplice started to talk to federal authorities. 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.
Standing at 6foot5 and weighing 270pounds, richard kuklinski was a natural born killer. This is a book for anybody who is interested in the darker side of the mind. Richard leonard kuklinski was an american killer who was sentenced for the murder of five people. Richard kuklinski, byname the iceman, born april 11, 1935, jersey city, new jersey, u. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters had any clue about his real profession. The biography profiles his life, crimes, and timeline. Richard kuklinski richard leonard kuklinski an american serial killer and hitman known as the iceman and the polack. The film, titled the iceman, stars the rangy michael shannon as kuklinski, and the waifish winona ryder as his wife, barbara. Other facts about richard kuklinski books, death a threepart documentary was made and aired in 1992, 2001 and 2003 respectively by the hbo about the crime life of richard kuklinski. Anthony bruno, a writer, after his several interviews with richard wrote a book entitled the iceman. With michael shannon, chris evans, james franco, winona ryder.
Richard kuklinski biography facts, childhood, family of. 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. He was given the nickname the iceman by authorities after they discovered that he had frozen the. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo. 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 iceman showed at the 2012 telluride film festival and the 2012 toronto international film festival before.
This serial killer was active in the following countries. Kuklinski, an american contract killer for the italian mafia, claimed to have killed a couple hundred men before he was eventually caught in 1988. Iceman richard kuklinski the most prolific hitman in. Philip carlos the ice man spent over six weeks on the new york times bestseller list. He wormed his way into barbaras affections and took her virginity. Kuklinski, indicted for six murders, appeared in court after having kidney stones during the previous weekend. 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.
Apr 28, 2009 philip carlos the ice man spent over six weeks on the new york times bestseller list. Starting from his teen years he finds the power that derives from holding someones life in your hands utterly irresistible. Arthur rothstein library of congress jersey city in 1939. The story of richard kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. United states richard kuklinski was born richard leonard kuklinski on april 11th 1935 in jersey city, new jersey, us. Richard kuklinski, known as the iceman, is led into bergen county court.
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. May 30, 2019 richard kuklinski was one of the most diabolical, and notorious, confessed contract killers in american history. He was a serial killer who died of natural causes in prison in march, 2006. The last section of the book, section 5, is called homicide superstar, a 10 chapter section that tells the tale of the final fall of richard kuklinski. Because of his sheer number of kills, as well as his approach to killing, many believe he should be considered a serial killer. His personal body count was over 100, but the police couldnt touch him. Jul, 2019 kuklinski, with his two daughters, was the very model of suburban normality. 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. 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. These two psychopathy measures were chosen to evaluate the deceased criminal richard kuklinski, also known as the iceman killer. Richard the iceman kuklinski public group facebook. 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.
Confessions of a mafia contract killer, kuklinski claimed to know the fate of teamsters union boss jimmy hoffa. In 2003, he received an additional 30year sentence after confessing to the murder of a mobconnected police officer. Serial killer richard kuklinski aka the iceman, the polack, was active for 38 years between 19491986, known to have 6 confirmed 100 possible victims. He was given the nickname the iceman by authorities after they discovered that he had frozen the body of one of his victims in an attempt to disguise the time of death. Richard kuklinski, the story of the mafias most prolific hitman. Richard kuklinski the iceman, the polack killed at least 6 victims between 1949 and 1986. Jan 01, 1993 brunos book on richard kuklinski follows the undercover investigation led by fbi agent dom polifrone and his infiltration of the iceman killer. 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. 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. Richard leonard kuklinski was a dreaded american contract killer.
Richard kuklinski was sammy the bull gravanos partner in the killing of paul castellano, then head of the gambino crime family, at sparks. At home, richard kuklinski was a dedicated suburban family man. April 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was an american murderer and hitman. The early spring of 2012 marked a little over a year since my first reading of philip carlos book the ice man a book about the life and times of mafia hit man richard kuklinski. Michael shannon plays kuklinski in the 2012 film the iceman loosely based on anthony brunos book the iceman. The iceman confessions of a mafia hitman 1991 youtube. See more ideas about the iceman, big guys and serial killers. Richard kuklinski was born on april 11, 1935, in jersey city to. Nope, nothing to do with danny zuko but richard kuklinski aka the iceman greased a hell of a. Being one of the most heartless contract murderers in american history, richard kuklinski earned his nickname the iceman primarily through that second definition.
Ive had richard ice man kuklinskis claims on my mind for some time now, and with the fbi recently scouring detroit for jimmy hoffa and a movie starring michael shannon as kuklinski being released in may, this seems as good a time as any to examine what the notorious. Kulinski joined the army of the dead on march 5, 2006, when he died of heart failure in prison. Richard kuklinski is the apocryphal bullied kid who rises to be the one holding the gun. With a body count well above 200, kuklinski was a killer motivated by greed with a hairtrigger temper. 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. 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. Oct 15, 2018 richard kuklinski, known as the iceman, is led into bergen county court.
Naomi ekperigin talks about the early life of serial killer and contract killer richard kuklinksi, aka the. He was convicted of two murders, but claimed to have killed at least 100 more. In the 1960s, richard kuklinski is working as a porn film lab tech until his mob bosses. He thought nothing of killing someone for merely annoying him. 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. Kuklinski was married at the time, with two young sons and had once sliced off his first wifes nipples during a violent attack. Richard kuklinski was born in new jersey in 1935 to an alcoholic father and religious, doting mother. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking. The true story of a coldblooded killer by anthony bruno. Richard kuklinski was one of the most diabolical, and notorious, confessed contract killers in american history. Where richard kuklinski lived and the locations of his haunts. The operation to nab him, his sentencing, his life in jail, those infamous hbo specials, and his end. 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.
Most widely held works about richard kuklinski the ice man. The iceman is a 2012 american biographical film on the true story of longtime notorious hitman richard kuklinski. Richard kuklinski the iceman the very best of duration. Learn more about his life and the murders for which he was convicted. 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. His death was labeled suspicious because richard was supposed to testify against a former mobster who was being tried for murder. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. He could recall his stomachchurning murders without expressing the slightest hint of emotion. Richard kuklinski, aka the notorious mafia iceman contract killer, was able to commit acts of mindmelting brutality without blinking. 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. 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.
To look at him, you might guess a couple of different theories as to how he received his famous nickname. Each christmas found the kuklinski home festooned in colorful lights. Due to the acts of certain fictional characters known to cometh, however, it has also come to refer to a coldblooded killer. Richard the iceman kuklinski biography famous people. In 1988, he was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of killing two members of his burglary gang and two other associates. 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 leonard kuklinski was an american murderer and hitman. 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. 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. He took the credit for over 200 murders while working for various mafia families, including the murder of jimmy hoffa.
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. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo this was a highly disturbing glimpse into the double life richard kuklinski lead. Richard kuklinski, on the orders of sammy the bull gravano, took part in the killing of paul castellano at sparks steakhouse. Kuklinskis steely professionalism earned him the nickname the iceman and his bloodchilling story has been turned into a hollywood film which hits uk cinema screens this week. An autopsy was performed but they determined that he died due to natural causes. 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. I am reading his book, and i went to invistage further on the murders he claims.
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