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. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking. A bounty hunters story, was nominated for an edgar award in 2001 for best fact crime book. An autopsy was performed but they determined that he died due to natural causes. During his run, kuklinski killed as many as 250 people as a solo assassin and mob hitman.
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. 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. The great and powerful,2 the oscarnominated actor wanted to distance himself from the subject matter. Revisiting the spinechilling murder scenes of richard kuklinski, the notorious contract killer, who claimed to have killed between 100 to 250 people. 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. 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. A throwback to the spinechilling murder scenes of richard. Now kuklinski is the subject of a riveting, fastpaced biography entitled the ice man. The iceman is an appropriate title for this pair of hbo specials, because the words of former mafia enforcer richard kuklinski will chill you to the bone speaking in the monotonous drone of a man who has numbed himself with remorseless brutality, kuklinski was first interviewed in 1991, five years after receiving consecutive life sentences for multiple murders. Anthony bruno, a crime writer, is the author of 11 crime fiction novels and four books of nonfiction true crime. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read 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. Richard kuklinski died on march 5, 2006 at the age of 70. Michael shannon plays kuklinski in the 2012 film the iceman loosely based on anthony brunos book the iceman. The ice man confessions of a mafia contract killer. Ive never read any biographies before, but im glad that the 1st one i picked up was the ice man. Philip carlos the ice man spent over six weeks on the new york times bestseller list. The true story of a coldblooded killer, the hitman also claimed to have slain demeo crime boss roy demeo and organized crime rival jimmy hoffa, who disappeared in 1975 and was never seen again.
The story of richard kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. Barbara kuklinski spinechillingreaders will become so engrossed in the details that theyll forget that this is a true story. The iceman confessions of a mafia hitman 1991 youtube. The film also stars winona ryder as kuklinskis wife renamed deborah, ray liotta as roy demeo, stephen dorff as richards younger brother joey, and chris evans as robert mr. A throwback to the spinechilling murder scenes of richard kuklinski.
During these interviews kuklinski confessed to several coldblooded murders and spoke of his ability to detach himself emotionally from his own brutality. 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. Jun 28, 2011 the book follows the life of richard kuklinski, a contract killer for the new york mafia. Martins press, by renowned true crime author philip carlo. Richard kuklinski, the story of the mafias most prolific hitman. 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. The iceman interview analysis of kuklinski duration. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo this was a highly disturbing glimpse into the double life richard kuklinski lead. He took the credit for over 200 murders while working for various mafia families, including the murder of jimmy hoffa.
For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming. May 30, 2019 while in prison, he was interviewed by hbo for a documentary called the iceman confesses, then later by author anthony bruno, who wrote the book the iceman as a followup to the documentary. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most notorious professional assassin in. With michael shannon, chris evans, james franco, winona ryder. Apr 28, 2009 philip carlo captured the essence of who my husband was. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo. 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. Confessions of a mafia hitman top documentary films. Philip carlos the ice man spent over six weeks on the new york times. 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. Richard kuklinski was born on april 11, 1935, in jersey city to. Mar 26, 20 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. For all the gritty details he loved to share, keep reading to learn 15 terrifying facts about the iceman killer richard kuklinski. Arthur rothstein library of congress jersey city in 1939.
Where richard kuklinski lived and the locations of his haunts. Because of his sheer number of kills, as well as his approach to killing, many believe he should be considered a serial killer. Kuklinski expired on march 5, 2006, in trenton, new jersey, under mysterious conditions. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most notorious professional assassin in american. The iceman, with michael shannon as richard kuklinski. Kuklinski was given the nickname iceman for his method of freezing a victim to mask the time of death. Based solely on what weve written about richard kuklinski in this article, his nickname, the iceman, already feels wholly appropriate. Victims suspects psychological profile richard kuklinski. 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. Richard kuklinski, the story of the mafias most prolific. A ruthless killer with no second thoughts about his actions, kuklinski was stone cold in every sense of the phrase. He was given the nickname the iceman by authorities after they discovered that he had frozen the. 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.
April 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was an american murderer and hitman. With a body count well above 200, kuklinski was a killer motivated by greed with a hairtrigger temper. The ice man confessions of a mafia contract killer audiobook. Brunos book on richard kuklinski follows the undercover investigation led by fbi agent dom polifrone and his infiltration of the iceman killer. Apr 17, 2016 two documentaries, featuring interviews of kuklinski by dr.
Richard kuklinski, the iceman he participated in two documentaries about his life and spoke candidly about the things he did and why. 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. In 1988, he was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of killing two members of his burglary gang and two other associates. The true story of a coldblooded killer bruno, anthony on. Richard leonard the iceman kuklinski with his family.
He eventually found a living as a hitman for the genovese, gambino. Library journal reading the ice man left me cold, perplexed, horrified. Richard kuklinski was a contract killerhitman for numerous organized crime outfits in the united states, though he is best known for murders carried out in the service of the decavalcante family. The ice mans greatest hits philip carlo, author of. The book follows the life of richard kuklinski, a contract killer for the new york mafia kuklinski earned the nickname iceman because he experimented disguising the time of death of his victims by freezing their corpses in an. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by carlo, philip isbn. No one today writing about the criminals, the streets, has the insight and innate knowledge of the criminal mind. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life. The true story of a coldblooded killer audiobook written by anthony bruno.
Richard kuklinski was one of the most diabolical, and notorious, confessed contract killers in american history. 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. In 2003, he received an additional 30year sentence after confessing to the murder of a mobconnected police officer. The iceman is a 2012 american biographical crime film about notorious hitman richard kuklinski. The ice mans greatest hits philip carlo, author of richard. When writer anthony bruno interviewed kuklinski for his 1993 book the iceman. What makes kuklinski s story so fascinating isnt just the ghoulish, inhuman nature of his crimesits how he managed to live a double. The medical examiner found ice crystals in the bodys tissues and determined that it had been kept frozen. In the iceman michael shannons mesmerizing portrayal of richard kuklinski, a notorious contract killer, has the paradoxical quality, peculiar to. He was a writer, known for america undercover 1983, the iceman and the psychiatrist 2003 and the iceman confesses. Richard kuklinski was captured in december 1986, at age 51, and incarcerated for life in 1988. He was set to testify in a different crime family homicide, and had told family members before his departure he had been poisoned. He was a serial killer who died of natural causes in prison in march, 2006.
Born in 1935 in new jersey, richard kuklinski suffered a rough upbringing and committed his first murder as a teenager. See more ideas about the iceman, serial killers and big guys. Its somewhat difficult to judge michael shannons performance in the iceman, which is based on the true story of richard kuklinski, a serial killer and mob assassin. Law enforcement officials consider that kuklinski was responsible for somewhere between 100200 homicides. 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 kill. If your interest is in kuklinski, and not what some cops say about. His death was labeled suspicious because richard was supposed to testify against a former mobster who was being tried for murder. Michael shannon is his usual terrific self as richard kuklinski, aka the iceman, one of the most notorious killers in american history. 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. 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. 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.
Confessions of a mafia contract killer by phillip carlo. At home, richard kuklinski was a dedicated suburban family man. The film, titled the iceman, stars the rangy michael shannon as kuklinski, and the waifish winona ryder as his wife, barbara. Carlo the night stalker has written another captivating truecrime book.
Born into an abusive family, kuklinski claimed to have killed for the first time at age 14. He grew up to become a mafia hitman, known as the iceman for often freezing his victims to obscure their time of death. 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. The true story of a coldblooded killer ebook written by anthony bruno. May 16, 20 its somewhat difficult to judge michael shannons performance in the iceman, which is based on the true story of richard kuklinski, a serial killer and mob assassin. Park dietz aired on hbo after interviews in 1991 and 2001 and philip carlo also wrote a book in 2006, entitled the ice man. He was an american contract killer who was convicted for three murders. 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 receiving a limited. This one tells the spinechilling story of richard kuklinski, a. 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. 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.
Mafia torturer the story of richard kuklinski, the iceman. 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. The iceman director and cowriter ariel vromen has made an impressivelook. Richard kuklinski was born on april 11, 1935 in jersey city, new jersey, usa as richard leonard kuklinski. Jun 07, 20 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. The true story of a coldblooded killer by anthony bruno. 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.
Kuklinski was contracted by newarks decavalcante crime family and new yorks five families of the american mafia. Kuklinski claimed to have murdered over 250 men, committing his first at a very early age. 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. Readers expecting insight into the mind of kuklinski, a man who claims to have murdered over one hundred people, will like the iceman reads much more like a crime novel than it does a work of nonfiction. Philip carlo spent more than 240 hours with kuklinski, and hundreds more with his wife and his daughters, as well as with police and underworld sources, researching and ultimately writing this book. Richard the iceman kuklinski biography famous people. In 2001, he was interviewed again by hbo for another documentary called the iceman tapes. Born on april 11, 1935, richard the iceman kuklinski committed his first murder when he was 14. Richard leonard kuklinski was an american murderer and hitman. Nope, nothing to do with danny zuko but richard kuklinski aka the iceman greased a hell of a. The iceman chronicles kuklinskis grisly career and exposes his murderous double life. His personal body count was over 100, but the police couldnt touch him. Jul 16, 2016 the iceman book on tape part 10 of 11 duration. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
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